Feds feared Vermont woman was part of terrorist plot

Boston Herald ^ | August 17, 2006 | Boston Herald Media Reporter

[Past Your Eyes]

A Vermont woman whose bizarre behavior forced a Washington, D.C.-bound plan to make a dramatic landing in Boston yesterday was thought to be a diversion for a “possible terrorist attack,” according to an FBI affidavit released today. One of two male passengers - either a U.S. air marshal and a correction officer - whose help was solicited by the flight crew “had become concerned that she might be acting as a diversion for a possible terrorist action,” according to the affidavit. During the flight, Catherine Carse Mayo, 59, made reference to United Flight 93, one of the four planes hijacked in the September 11 attacks, urinated on the floor and told the captain she’d been kicked off a flight in the United Arab Emirates for saying two words the flight crew believed to be “Al Qaeda.”

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

True, but it would be worth seeing who she is communicating with. It could be that she's just nutty, but it is strange.

[HereInTheHeartland]

" As a columnist for the Daily Times of Pakistan, Mrs. Mayo criticized President Bush -- calling him "a president not elected by the people"-- and the war in Iraq. "The folksongs of the 1960s will never be written again because of President George Bush. He has hampered the liberties of my country in the name of September 11. Songs now can only talk of patriotism they cannot mention peace," she wrote. "

And people wonder why conservatives have a problem with media people.

[Tokra]

She should have been thrown off the plane - at thirty thousand feet over the mid-Atlantic.

God help the sharks.

The sharks wouldn't have touched her.

"Professional Courtesy"

[LikeLight]

...tell us what she was really doing in Pakistan

I sincerely hope the feds developed the film she supposedly had of "awful things" she photographed in the mountains of Pakistan. I sincerely hope so.

[Albertafriend]

If she was so claustrophobic, why did her attack suddenly end once she was held down and hand-cuffed to a seat? If the panic had been genuine wouldn't she have continued to create a ruckus even if she couldn't get out of her seat.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

what she was really doing in Pakistan

If the US is so bad why did she come back?

[Past Your Eyes]

I also wonder why they took her to Boston, a very busy place, rather than Bangor, Maine where they have diverted flights in the past.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Shut up and fly, pilot and copilot. Let your cabin crew make the decisions while you get the plane on the ground. You were lucky this time. Learn from the mistake.

There are certain defensive procedures in place for the flight deck. Also, there will be no mention of how many of the flight crew were armed. The captain did the correct thing.

As an aside, how come nobody is asking about the "pictures of Pakistan" that this woman had? No comments from the passengers, no mention of the content of the pictures from media. The woman lawyered up real quick.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

It is not just that she was in Paki. It is exactly where she was in Paki, and exactly when:
To: ARealMothersSonForever
OK, so she claims she was in Pindi on the same day Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was arrested in Pindi?
I'm not sure what you're getting at with that. Is there anything in it, other than that she might have been there?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's possible she's more than just a nut or a fabulist who is, at bottom (so to speak), harmless.

But given her rantings, I think she's so unstable, it's not likely Al Qaeda would use her as a real player in a terrorist plot, a la the protagonist in The Little Drummer Girl.


250 posted on 08/17/2006 1:53:16 PM CDT by shhrubbery! (Max Boot: Joe Wilson has sold more whoppers than Burger King)
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[NonValueAdded]

How can you say the captain did the correct thing? He opened the cockpit door when there was a disturbance in the back of the plane. I'm sure they have defensive procedures but those are last resort measures. OK, fine, perhaps the copilot was armed and could shoot the first guy through the door before the second bad guy got him and the pilot and gained access to the flight controls. No, the captain wanted to exercise his "command perogative" and see for himself. In a real attack, that would make a fitting epitaph for the captain, "he wanted to see for himself" but a tragic one for the rest of the souls on board. That door needs to remain shut and locked. period. The gun is for final defense against the door being compromised by explosives or brute force.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

I can say that the captain did the correct thing based upon the fact that the aircraft landed safely. There are many, many more safeguards in place today. Long distance flights require flight crew changes, and these are done safely every single day. There were communications with other security personnel prior to the door being opened. The media has not been, and will not be briefed on the exact details and sequence of events. Rightfully so.

Let us put the blame for the whole security problem where it belongs; squarely on Pakistan and Dubai. The British share in the security flaw. Bet you that international arrivals into Gatwick and Heathrow get re-screened now.

Here is my point- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and all other middle-eastern countries must be pressured to impose draconian search policies on THEIR passengers in order to be allowed the PRIVELEGE to connect through any western airport facility offering connecting service to the USA. Think of it as expanding the security perimeter to the initial source of the threat. The USA still, to this day, allows Saudi flights directly here. And we do NOT require them to screen to the same standards as the British.

Next time we get hit, and we will, it will be through a connecting situation just like this woman did. Her Paki handlers will kill her, no matter what she does or does not reveal. She thinks her lawyer is going to protect her. Heck, even the Boston Glob gave her son's name. The ex-hubby has been named as well. Her decisions have impacted the safety and well being of anyone related to her for two generations.

[mkjessup]

I can say that the captain did the correct thing based upon the fact that the aircraft landed safely.

All that means is that they were lucky this time.

Here is my point- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and all other middle-eastern countries must be pressured to impose draconian search policies on THEIR passengers in order to be allowed the PRIVILEGE to connect through any western airport facility offering connecting service to the USA. Think of it as expanding the security perimeter to the initial source of the threat. The USA still, to this day, allows Saudi flights directly here. And we do NOT require them to screen to the same standards as the British.

Now on this, I agree with you 100 percent, however I doubt that we can ever trust ANY Islamic nation 100 percent in screening their air passengers efficiently and safely because the Islamofascist/Jihadist/Suicidal virus cannot be detected all that easily, the smiling Muslim who appears to be as calm and peaceful as the day is long might well be the next Mohammed Atta (PBUH - Pork Be Upon Him).