Airline says bias wasn’t factor in canceled flight
DETROIT (AP) — A lawyer for American Airlines said Friday it was the suspicious behavior of five men of Iraqi descent, not discrimination, that caused the pilot of a Chicago-bound flight to return to the gate in August 2007.
Attorney Michael McQuillen asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Detroit-area men, who claim their nationality caused Capt. John Plummer to ground Flight 590 before takeoff in San Diego.
(snip)
“One took off his shoes. One went to the bathroom, and one put a blanket on his head. ... If a white or African-American person had done that on a plane, it would have aroused no suspicion,” Garcia said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gX1BqGQwiwmsiP1qbUqSeVWgJKCQD966DF400
Passengers talk about fumes aboard Las Vegas bound flight
It’s safe to bet no group of passengers has ever been happier to see oxygen masks fall from the ceiling, after those on board struggled to breathe several thousand feet up.
“Everyone started coughing and gagging and then we started coughing and gagging,” passenger Connie Lasher says.
“I turned to her to say something and I started coughing and then she did and we were just hiding our faces trying to find air,” passenger Donna Zahn says.
“That’s when I got up to tell her something was burning my eyes and we saw her reach for the phone and start calling the pilot,” passenger Richard Becerio says.
Passengers aboard Southwest Airlines flight 756 from Kansas City to Las Vegas say they wore oxygen for 20 minutes.
This after something that smelled electrical but felt like pepper spray invaded the cabin.....
http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9799333