American Air Jet Diverted in 'Security Incident'

Reuters ^ | 9.11.02

[Enemy Of The State]

American Air Jet Diverted in 'Security Incident'

 

HOUSTON (Reuters) - An American Airlines jet bound for Dallas returned to Houston Intercontinental Airport shortly after takeoff on Wednesday because of what an airlines spokesman called "a security incident" on board.

An FBI spokesman told a Houston television station there may have been an attempted hijacking on board.

"It appears to be an attempted hijacking, but I do not have that confirmed," FBI agent Robert Doguim told KHOU-TV in Houston.

News reports said passengers reported seeing two men in the cabin with what appeared to be a weapon, possibly a folding knife. The reports said the men were taken into custody.

American spokesman Gus Whitcomb told Reuters that two U.S. air marshals were on the flight, as were four crew members and 50 passengers.

[nevergore]

"Hmmm. Thank God for air marshals. I suppose we could have averted it by strip searching some of the geriatric grandmothers, though. "

The Air Marshalls aren't there to arrest or detain the suspects but to protect them from the rest of the passengers.....LOL

You won't see Achmed or Mohammed hijacking any American flight again.......

NeverGore :^)

[AdamSelene235]

I am for arming pilots, but I would rather they fly the planes an let the air marshalls carry the guns : )

So what percent of planes have Air Marshalls aboard? The plane can pretty much fly and land itself.

[ladysusan]

CBS in Dallas just reported - no one injured, people shaken up emotionally

[Naspino]

Expect this from the passengers: "I feared for my life but not from the knife wielding terrorist, from the marshall wielding the gun like a cowboy.."

[xyggyx]

more news at http://www.khou.com/news/local/KHOU020911_rc_BushInterIncident.113a18b0.html

[rintense]

I'm anxious to hear how this all went down and if the air marshalls jumped the guy.

[mhking]

How many incidents does this make for today?

And the even larger question - how much of this is real versus our collective skittishness?

And if much of it is real, I'm feeling pretty damn good so far. Of course the cynical curmudgeon in me keeps screaming "Just wait until the other shoe drops!!!"

[KineticKitty]

I tend to agree, I would rather see the pilots doing their job, and the air marshals taking care of the rest. Now the problem is, how many flights have air marshals on them? and how do we make it 100%? But if there are no air marshal's on a flight, then yes arm the pilots.

[Mixer]

So what percent of planes have Air Marshalls aboard?

I don't have a clue. I hope to see 100% though soon. That would/should be kept secret though.

[AdA$tra]

a VERY painful hemorrhoid treatment...

Clears up the itch though.

[SeattleTiger]

Seems like a lot going on in Houston these days related to terrorism. Operation Tarmac, the cell phones, and now this. Any thoughts from Texas folks?

[rintense]

I'm an idiot then. There is NO WAY I'm gonna let a bunch of souless terrorist bastards keep me from my life. And if I'm going down, I'm taken a few of them with me.

[cinFLA]

Expect this from the passengers: "I feared for my life but not from the knife wielding terrorist, from the marshall wielding the gun like a cowboy.."

That was a really BAD post; especially on 9/11.

[KineticKitty]

"The plane can pretty much fly and land itself."

Serious question, no sarcasm really! Do Passenger airlines have the capabilities to land themselves now? If so I was completely unaware of this.

[brewcrew]

Can you imagine actually getting on an airplane these days. You have to be an idiot.

What?

[Dog Gone]

We Houstonians like to catch folks and execute them. At least that's what all the papers say.

[zarf]

Special Report on the incident on WNBC in Nashville. Planes ultimate destination was Nashville.

[justlurking]

Do Passenger airlines have the capabilities to land themselves now?

No, they don't. There's quite a bit of automation, including the landing itself, but it must be set up and monitored the pilots. There is no "find an airport and land" button.

[Naspino]

I don't see why. So far its 100% accurate -- or had you not seen the 15000 interviews that Judge gave that was aboard the flight where the marshall drew his weapon?