Muslim leaders removed from Delta Connection flight

[Zero Sum 305]

Muslim leaders removed from Delta Connection flight

By George Mathis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

11:12 a.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011

Two Muslim religious leaders say they were asked to leave a commercial airliner in Memphis on Friday and were told it was because the pilot refused to fly with them aboard, but another passenger has a different take on the incident.

Masudur Rahman, who is also an adjunct instructor of Arabic at the University of Memphis, said by phone to the Associated Press from the terminal at Memphis International Airport that he and another imam had already been allowed to board their Delta Connection flight to Charlotte, N.C., before they were asked to get off the plane.

Rahman told the AP he was dressed in traditional Indian clothing and his traveling companion, Mohamed Zaghloul, of the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis, was dressed in Arab garb, including traditional headgear.

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Jon Allen in Atlanta confirmed the incident and said it was not initiated by that agency.

Another passenger aboard the flight called the AJC Saturday and said the pilot told him a different story.

Sean McKinney, an accountant from Greeenville, S.C., said he spoke to the pilot after landing in Charlotte and the pilot told him that TSA requested the plane return to the terminal.

"That seems more reasonable to me," said McKinney, 38, who was traveling for business. "Why would the pilot pull away from the gate if he had a concern with the passengers?"

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which operates the flight, could not be reached for comment Saturday. Spokesman Jarek Beem said Friday evening the incident is under investigation.

McKinney said the Muslim men were screened by TSA along with other travelers before boarding the 8:40 a.m. flight.

"I had no problem with them. They seemed very cordial and professional," said McKinney, who said he overheard the men speaking in English while waiting to board.

McKinney said the men "stood out" but he noticed no passenger concern until after the plane returned to the terminal and TSA began searching the overhead luggage bins near where the men sat.

McKinney said the aircraft pulled away from the gate but the pilot announced they were turning around before reaching the runway.

TSA workers boarded the plane, removed Rahman and Zaghloul and began searching the overhead bins and the area near their seats, said McKinney, who landed in Charlotte two hours late.

Beem said the Muslim men were put on another flight to Charlotte later that day. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused," Beem said.

The men contacted the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

"It's racism and bias because of our religion and appearance and because of misinformation about our religion." Rahman said. "If they understood Islam, they wouldn't do this."

He said a Delta manager apologized for the pilot's actions, but that he and Zaghloul never spoke directly with the pilot.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this article

[one...two...tree 2,762]

BOSTON (Reuters) – Two Muslim scholars headed to a conference on American fears of Islam were pulled from a morning flight on Friday, and were later told that the pilot had refused to fly with them aboard.

Masudur Rahman, a professor of Arabic at the University of Memphis, and Mohamed Zaghloul, Imam at the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis, were asked to deplane Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight 5452 from Memphis to Charlotte. They were subjected to additional security checks after the plane had pushed back from the gate, Rahman told Reuters by telephone.

After additional screening, the two men were cleared by Delta representatives to re-board the plane, but were then told the pilot would not take them, Rahman said.

Rahman said both men had been cleared for check-in and boarding by airline and Transportation Security Administration officials during normal pre-flight procedures.

According to a TSA spokesman, the decision to remove the two passengers was made by the airline.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a regional partner operating as a Delta Connection, apologized for any inconvenience caused, but offered no further explanation.

The flight "returned to the gate to allow for additional screening of a passenger and the passenger's companion. We take security and safety very seriously, and the event is currently under investigation," an airline statement said.

The two men were headed to a North American Imams conference where they were scheduled to lead prayers. This year's conference is discussing Islamophobia or fears of Islam and discrimination against American Muslims.

Since the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces in Pakistan last week, U.S. government officials have warned that al Qaeda may attempt retaliatory attacks.

Rahman said Delta officials told them it was not passengers who were uncomfortable with the men's presence, but the pilot.

Given the men had been cleared by security, the pilot may not understand Muslim culture, the Islam religion or how they typically dress with their body fully covered, said Rahman.

"People are losing freedom," he said of the incident, which he said happens to other Muslim men and women traveling together.

Rahman and Zaghloul arrived nine hours late to the conference, he said.

(Reporting by Lauren Keiper; Editing by Greg McCune)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110507/us_nm/us_muslims_plane

[luckytxn 2,265]

Very wrong this happened.

[Pooky 3,830]

Already posted http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/308739-muslim-leaders-removed-from-delta-connection-flight/

[Darnell 8,479]

I don't see any issue, Steven - what is yer personal take on this?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Travel by air sucks these days. That's the moral here.

[Darnell 8,479]

I'd be interested to read Steven's personal take on this. Should he deign to bother with it.

[^_^ 5,021]

I don't see any issue, Steven - what is yer personal take on this?

I'd be interested to read Steven's personal take on this. Should he deign to bother with it.

You should post something on this thread every hour until he does. That'll show him

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I see Steven start a lot of threads, but rarely do I see him debate anything on them.

[^_^ 5,021]

I see Steven start a lot of threads, but rarely do I see him debate anything on them.

Is this where I sign up to lynch that DFH?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Is this where I sign up to lynch that DFH?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Is this where I sign up to lynch that DFH?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I'd be interested to read Steven's personal take on this. Should he deign to bother with it.

With most articles you can assume he agrees 200% with the author. Hell, just assume he is the author and the entire article is his opinion. Makes it easier.

I tried saying that in certain articles for awhile asking about his opinion, but it's must easier to do drive-by posting I guess. *shrugs*

on the topic at hand... If the pilot felt that strongly, he should have removed himself from the flight and switched routes with someone else for the day... Not only did he inconvenience those two men for no reason, he also inconvenienced the rest of the passengers on board as well... stupid.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

With most articles you can assume he agrees 200% with the author. Hell, just assume he is the author and the entire article is his opinion. Makes it easier.

I tried saying that in certain articles for awhile asking about his opinion, but it's must easier to do drive-by posting I guess. *shrugs*

on the topic at hand... If the pilot felt that strongly, he should have removed himself from the flight and switched routes with someone else for the day... Not only did he inconvenience those two men for no reason, he also inconvenienced the rest of the passengers on board as well... stupid.

You are just jealous because Steven can read.

[웃 910]

Get with the program, this article has been posted 3 or 4 times already!