Posted on 03/11/2007 12:27:20 PM PDT by Huber
This report was posted in mid-February, and has received no media coverage whatsoever. Jacobsen confirmed that the incident did occur, with an American Airlines spokesperson.
This is not meant to scare, but it probably will. Consider yourself informed and warned that the threat is real. This crew reported that they were not prepared that something of this nature could be happening to them.
Flt 62, Paris to MIA [Miami], a few weeks ago. 2 maybe 4 mid-eastern types causing minor disturbance from the get-go. Nothing that the FAs [flight attendants] couldn’t deal with, but, in hindsight, they seemed to be pushing the envelope. Cross-cabin activity, hanging out in the forward galley, complaining about everything, etc. Mid-Atlantic, the FO [First Officer, or Co-Pilot] called to return to the cockpit after his crew-rest break. One of the perps [perpetrators] was in the forward galley, was instructed by a FA to go aft, but didn’t. As the cockpit door opened, another perp suddenly appeared from around the galley, dropped his shoulder into FO while the first one got in the way of the FO’s attempt to block the other...here I’m not certain...so....wait for the movie.
FO (one of our first FFDO’s [Federal Flight Deck Officers*]) was about to pull his flashlight to use as a weapon in a counter attack, but thought better of it not knowing how many more perps he might have to fight, called “lockdown” to the FB [secondary “B” First Officer], inside the cockpit, who slammed the door. As soon as the perps heard the word lockdown, they retreated to their seats.
I’m not doing justice to the story, but, if not an attempt on the cockpit, this was a serious probe.
Crew considered divert, but since the threat diminished and seemed to be contained, they pressed on towards MIA. Flight was met in MIA by FBI, FAMS [Federal Air Marshal Service] (none aboard, by the way), AA [American Airlines] Security suits, etc. During the de-brief, which lasted several hours, the FAMs told the pilots that they would have “dropped” both of the perps with the first shove near the cockpit door. Perps claimed to not understand English, were detained for 4 days and deported, back to Paris, when they are free to attend Sunday school, tell their buddies of their Adventure and plan their next move.
Enjoying the story so far? It’s good we can’t carry guns on Int’l [International] trips, eh?
Upsetting is that we all have to learn of this, by happenstance. Why didn’t you and your last crew know of this? We took a delay yesterday while this FB detailed the entire event to my crew. Believe me, there were no disbelievers that the terrorist threat is real in my crew by the time we boarded.
I’m more than upset that this is still a secret! The FB is a man I’ve flown with often, trust completely and attended FFDO (Federal Flight Deck Officer) training with a year ago January. I hope I’ve presented his story accurately, but am certain that the basic details are very close.
Just unbelievable. Sooner or later an airliner is going down.
This is an email going around. Someone posted it last week. I have no idea if it is true or not.
I thought one of the procedures implemented after 9-11 was to have everyone away from the forward lav when one of the cockpit crew needed to leave the cockpit?
It is only a matter of time. Catch and release is stupid.
This is very scary. I saw that our airlines are all on high alert again. So there is probably much truth to this warning from the people who saw this happen.
saganite, I see you posted on the thread linked at 5. Could you address my comment in 4?
Last time I flew both domestic and international, that was the case.
Lots of male fliers I know are just HOPING something like this happens on a flight they're on. My husband, a 6'6" 250-lb trucker, firefighter, and a former semi-pro defensive lineman, is totally itching to take out a terrorist, LOL.
Yeah, the meet and greets are history. The flight attendants announced that the forward lavatory would be off limits while a member of the flight crew was "on break". They pulled the curtains to the forward lav and stood in the aisle, in front of the curtains and made sure no one approached until the flight crew member was safely back in the cockpit and the door closed and locked.
Sounds very similar to the stunt by the supposed "Imams" - where the passengers got nervous and demanded the men be removed from the plane.
Looks like that might have been the first trial run .. let's see how far we can push the passengers and crew.
If these guys were so difficult to handle .. why weren't they removed before the plane took off ..?? Or were they calm and unassuming PRIOR to the plane getting into the air ..??
Is the threat of a lawsuit damaging the bottom line more important than allowing ME's to destroy the lives of hundreds of people - including the crew (and all the families of the passengers) ..?? Seems to me .. that lawsuit (by the families of the passengers) would take the airline out of business even faster.
Good grief! Have we learned NOTHING ..????
No I don't believe we have. PC will be the death of us!
This doesn't make sense. How come they weren't restrained and arrested?
Something sticks in my gray matter that we should replace the hot looking, weight restricted flight attendants with people like M. Thatchers husband.
PING.
American Flight 62 isn't from Paris to Miami. Its Miami to Paris.
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