Pilots Wonder if Odd Conduct Is Terrorism

Newsday ^ | 12/31/03 | Leslie Miller

[Tim Osman]

WASHINGTON -- Every day, a commercial pilot or flight attendant notices something odd on a plane or at an airport that could be a terrorist probing for security weaknesses.

A passenger asks an inordinate number of questions about airline procedures or takes pictures on the plane. Someone follows a pilot at an airport. Young, Middle Eastern-looking men change their seats during a flight or argue with a flight attendant.

EXCERPT

[Tim Osman]

I hope they're also keeping an eye out for passengers toting almanacs - they are the worst.

[DefCon]

More from the article:
- - -
Could they be testing the reactions of air marshals or flight attendants? Security experts say it's possible, since terrorists prepare for attacks months and years in advance by following people, looking at things, taking pictures.

Aviation remains high on the list of terrorist targets. The government recently warned that al-Qaida has shown a continuing interest in trying to sneak improvised bombs onto planes using personal items, such as cameras, socks or jacket linings.

Steve Luckey gets several calls a week from pilots who wonder whether the odd things they see on the job are part of terrorist preparations. Luckey, a retired captain who chairs the Air Line Pilots Association's national security committee, said he gets the calls because pilots don't think they have anyplace else to go.

[Atlantic Friend]

The most suspect would be those that seem to enjoy their airplane food, IMHO... Highly suspicious behavior !

[jocon307]

"Young, Middle Eastern-looking men change their seats during a flight or argue with a flight attendant."

Let me tell you, if I had any young or old Middle Eastern looking men do any of this I'd report them immediately upon landing. And I certainly hope this is being done. I'm not of the "there's-bound-to-be-another-attack-in-the-US" school of thought, but I'm 100% certain there are folks here, young, male Middle Eastern folks, who are determined to try.

Who thinks there were only 19, or 20, or 50?

[leadpenny]

It looks to me like the Terrorist Threat Integration Center is just another bureaucratic layer. If the flight crews expect the information they pass to their companies to make it unscathed through the TSA to the TTIC, they probably do have reason to feel frustrated.

[BlackbirdSST]

Let me tell you, if I had any young or old Middle Eastern looking men do any of this I'd report them immediately upon landing.

The question that begs to be answered? Why are these scum allowed to board the flight to begin with? Perhaps you should word it, you'd report them IF you land. Security is joke, a very sick one. Blackbird.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Young, Middle Eastern-looking men change their seats during a flight or argue with a flight attendant.

Passengers seeing young, ME-looking men arguing with flight attendants need to tell the young, ME-looking men to STFU.

[Gerasimov]

I was on a flight about a year ago from Denver to Dayton. I was seated next to a normal, business class looking passenger when four arab looking men in their twenties or thirties boarded, speaking some gibberish. The guy next me said, "Oh f**k this, I can get another flight..." and promptly debarked the plane.

I stayed on the plane and made it safely, obviously. But was a bit more nervous after my seat-neighbor's quick departure...

[FreedomPoster]

That's the time to start sizing up your neighbors for potential allies.

[tkathy]

They need to replace the useless stewardesses with trained guards who could serve pop etc. I for one would appreciate it.

[joesnuffy]

Only if the almanac toters are blue haired white women or disabled WWII vets with those dangerous artifical limbs

[Joe Marine 76]

....prepare for attacks months or years in advance...

I remember an incident that was reported to the FBI by the actor James Woods about what he determined to be suspicious activity by a group of four or five Middle Eastern men aboard an commercial airline in which he was travelling well in advance of "9-11". It turned out that two of the individuals checked out to be some of those involved in the 9-11 attacks. I think James Woods gave an extensive interview about the incident on "The O'Reilley Factor?"

[ThanhPhero]

The most suspect would be those that seem to enjoy their airplane food, IMHO

KAL food is actually quite good and very pleasantly served.

[verity]

If odd conduct is an indicator of Terrorism, be very concerned with the Democrat Presidential hopefuls!

[MHGinTN]

Carry a disposable camera and take their picture for reference to the authorities. ... That'll work until the ACLU steps in to cry 'discrimination'.

[Tim Osman]

They couldn't do anything if you, as a private citizen, snapped some pictures!

[Political Junkie Too]

"Coincidence means you weren't paying attention to the other half of what was happening."
-- Samuel R. Delany, Sci-Fi author, Dhalgren

-PJ