[Stoat]

[twin2]

Interesting, but one question bothers me..why would they hide box cutters in blankets? The bins are open when boarding the plane, with the blankets clearly visable. People come down the isle and grab a blanket while heading to their seats. Chances are that the hidden box cutters would fall out. I don't think terrorists would hide box cutters in a place where the tools would be exposed before they wanted to retrieve them.

This story could be plausible, but I have reservations.

[bandleader]

Isn't she an ANGEL!I think The Libs call her"Atilla,The Honey"!!!

[traumer]

"..noticed a single Middle Eastern man sitting near...."

[melbell]

I have a series (and hugh) question.

If I am on a plane, getting ready to pull out, and someone boards that makes me feel uncomfortable, would I be able to leave the plane and transfer to another flight? I mean, without losing my money and having to pay for another ticket?

[JustAnotherSavage]

BTT

[longtermmemmory]

This story also points out that if a breach occurs, security NEEDS TO KEEP ALL THE PASSENGERS CONTAINED IN ONE AREA. There is no excuse for the disapearing bad guys.

[joesnuffy]

And Minetta...the lefty...so called head of TSA has refused to obey congress by obstructing the arming of commercial and cargo airline pilots...

And the Bush administration looks the other way....

imo

[Johnnyboy2000]

Too bad boxcutters were not even really used on 9/11. That is a government cop out to conceal the fact that the terrorists smuggled knives on the planes. In fact, they could possibly have smuggled tasers, mace, or even guns on this flight. I'm unaware of the goernment finding an intact boxcutters at ground zero. If they did it owuld be even more suspicious. Where does this assertion that boxcutters were used even come from?

[VOA]

bump

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Why does FAMS director Tom Quinn continue to enforce idiotic pre-boarding policies that expose marshals' identities to observant passengers?"

I'm a very frequent flyer in the top rank of United's "Mileage Plus" program (which is excellent, by the way). I fly a mix of domestic and international flights, long and short flights, non-stop and connected flights, airliner and gooney-bird flights. Because of my mileage status, I'm routinely upgraded, and even when I'm not I get to board with the First Class passengers. Since I typically use carry-on luggage, I try to be one of the first people on the plane so there's sure to be space for me. Usually, in fact, I'm the very first one on, unless a family with small kids or an elderly person in a wheelchair has been pre-boarded.

Never, not once, have I found other passengers that could be flight marshals sitting on the plane when I board. Not once.

This part of the story strikes me as inaccurate, then. But it's essential to the storytelling...

[RWCon]

You shouldn't post these. You'll have a lot of our men
emigrating to the Phillipines.

[joesnuffy]

USA Today-Air marshals charge new policies could endanger passengers

Is bureaucracy stalling armed-pilot legislation

Michelle Malkin on Air Marshal dress code

[wideminded]

Is Dr. Bob a psychiatrist?

[piasa]

Shortly after the flight attendants completed their post-boarding check of the overhead bins, an announcement came from the cockpit: the pilot stated that there had been a security breach, and everyone needed to deboard the plane for a second, more thorough, security screening. The Air Marshall and his partner were confused, as they had not triggered the security alert nor been notified of it prior to the announcement

I've pretty sure I've heard this story before on FR (rings a bell because of the phrase in bold) but for the life of me I can't recall if the source was good or not... it should be under keywords "isolatedincidents" and "airportsecurity" and "airline security" if it's still here.

[Isabelle]

Wonder if these Middle Eastern men slimmed over the Mexican border.