Those supposed "suitcase nukes" are more sci-fiction than real. They weigh several hundred pounds.
They didn't know what this plane was gonna do... but the point is, they judged the situation correctly in this case. It's not an easy call.
Big terrorist attacks don't bring this country down, piddly vandalistic ones wouldn't either, And that's good news, because eventually, something will happen again that's real. It can't be prevented. Many many good people will try, and often succeed in stopping, deterring and foiling attacks. They will also have to deal with a lot of scares that aren't really attacks. Myself, I pray for their continued wisdom and luck. I'll not fire the lot of them and change all the protocols because a couple of people looked funny running on TV.
"Science Fiction?" "Several Hundred Pounds?"
Boy, glad we have so many "experts" around here.
Mayhaps you should go back and check my post #58?
And while you are at it, here are a few more sites to check out:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/russia/suitcase/comments.html
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/News/DoSuitcaseNukesExist.html
http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/040213.htm
Yes, this may be nothing but "science fiction;" just one big "Global Conspiracy of Lies." Then on the other hand . . . . .
BTW, here are the stats on the 150:
Weight
empty : 501kg (1,100lb)
max : 757kg (1,670lb)
That leaves 570 lbs.
If one considers (depending on where it took of from) that 5 Gal of avgas (approx 30 lbs) would probably get it (@ 100 mph and a rate of fuel of approx 6/gal/hr) some 90 miles. And if you add the rate of a small person (approx 150 lbs) that leaves room (570 lbs - 180 lbs) for a 390 lb bomb--and that does not even take into account, stripping the plane.
VERY possible to get 500 lbs of high explosives on board--even if one discounts all other scenarios: biological, nuclear, dirty bomb.
Glad you and so many are nonchalant about this!