AirTran e-mail stirs up Internet firestorm -with video (FAA now investigating)

KHOU ^ | 12-3-09 | Leigh Frillici

[STARWISE]

The FAA is investigating an incident aboard an AirTran flight from Atlanta to Houston that touched off a firestorm of e-mails.

AirTran Flight 297 was delayed on November 17 after a passenger refused to turn off his cell phone.

*snip*

According to the e-mail, Petruna and other passengers believed they witnessed a dry run for a terrorist attack. Petruna said he couldn’t talk on camera, but Chaplain Keith Robinson, who was also on the flight, did talk with us.

*snip*

“Flight attendants were sobbing openly,” Robinson said. Robinson said a passenger getting off the plane warned him not to get on.

“He said ‘I just saw them there were these Middle Eastern men. They were taking pictures. They wouldn’t sit down, ‘” Robinson said. “Besides that, he said a couple of them were making gestures with their hand as if they were shooting people.”

Petruna’s e-mail said there were 11 Muslims on the plane and two of them ignored flight attendants orders to turn off their cell phones. He said they shouted at the flight attendants and he and another Texan had to intervene.

Petruna said the 11 men were taken off the plane, but then allowed back on, angering the crew and some passengers.

[STARWISE]

Another Muslim Hijacking Dry Run?: If True, Tedd Petruna’s My New Hero; UPDATE: CONFIRMED

**** UPDATE, 9:41 p.m. ET: Earlier today, I contacted Tedd Petruna, the brave passenger on AirTran Flight 297, who–with another Texan–saved the day from apparent Islamic terrorists, leaving him a voicemail message asking for confirmation of the e-mail and events below. Mr. Petruna called me back, tonight, and confirmed that he did write the e-mail below and that it’s all true. WAKE. UP. AMERICA. We are under siege. ****

**** SCROLL DOWN (at link) FOR MORE UPDATES ****

~~~~~

FR Thread

[STARWISE]

~~Ping!

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/mark

[STARWISE]

Let's hope and pray FAA Administrator, Randy Babbit, has the guts to reveal the entire truth, such as it truly is.

[StolarStorm]

I’m getting a lot of flack for posting info on this... on another local forum here in Houston. They are quoting Snopes to debunk most of this and claiming that it was just a miscommunication. To some, snopes is like the bible. How do I convince them otherwise?

[StolarStorm]

I’m getting a lot of flack for posting info on this... on another local forum here in Houston. They are quoting Snopes to debunk most of this and claiming that it was just a miscommunication. To some, snopes is like the bible. How do I convince them otherwise?

[TigersEye]

Another article on this story. More information and passenger interviews.

Security incident aboard AirTran Flight 297 suggests terror “Dry Run” Canda Free Press

[TigersEye]

The Snopes page on this doesn't debunk it. It merely says unproven.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/flight297.asp

[JoSixChip]

The thing that I have trouble with is the article claims that the passengers and airline attendants were upset that the men (if that is what you want to call then) were allowed back on the plane. Yet no one got off the plane or quit their job. From what I have heard about this incident if it were me and my wife, no way we would have stayed on that plane.

[STARWISE]

Update: FW: writing to verify your story of the Houston flight

From: Jamie Cain
Sent on: Thursday, December 3, 2009 11:14 AM

From: A. Gene Hackemack [mailto:[address removed]]

Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 1:17 AM

To: Jamie Cain

Subject: Re: writing to verify your story of the Houston flight

Hi Jamie, this is Gene Hackemack, and I am the one who posted Tedd’s story.

NASA almost fired him today, and he is now “laying low” because he does not want to endanger his employment. I am attaching his story and another eye witness.

I wish I could say this is false information, but unfortunately it is true. Thank you for your email - please let me clarify that I was not on the flight with Tedd.

I worked with Tedd for about ten years and have no reason to doubt his word and wanted the world to know so I sent his email to all Americans who care about where this country is heading to.

I am so proud of Tedd and what he did – HE is the true hero. I am only trying to get the word out.

This story IS legitimate – but the drama continues.

This morning Tedd informed me that he was fired for speaking out! I was livid. So I continued my full court press all day today trying to keep everyone abreast of the situation.

Then I received a phone call from another witness aboard the plane, Dr. Keith Robinson, Senior Chaplain for Houston Regional Community Chaplain’s Corps. He backed Tedd up and said he was going to bat for him, especially since he will soon be appearing on Fox News!

THEN – just before I was leaving for my American Legion meeting – a call from Tedd Petruna, that NASA had “unfired” him after further investigation. I actually cried for joy, I was so happy!

Included in this email will be some hard evidence supporting documents. Don’t forget to open them.

- Gene Hackemack

A. Gene Hackemack
[masked] cell & home
[address removed]

http://www.meetup.com/The-SWFL-9-12Project-Meetup-Group/messages/8420980/

[STARWISE]

Snopes slants very left.

I hope someone gets to hear directly
from the flight attendants .. especially
the ones who were crying.

They better not be shutting this down
and covering it up, not now as we get
into the high volume of flying for the
holidays.

[StolarStorm]

They did get off the plane. Its in the email from the witness.

[STARWISE]

Tedd Petruna’s original documentation of the event ... including this

~~~~~

The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw this, she was having NONE of it! Being that I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agent there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with these men.

The agent told her they had searched them and were going to go through their luggage with a fine tooth comb and that they were allowed to proceed to Houston .

The captain and co-captain came out and told the agent “we and our crew will not fly this plane!”

After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. 5 minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on.

Again…..this is where I had had enough!!! I got up and asked “What the hell is going on!?!?” I was told to take my seat. They were sorry for the delay and I would be home shortly.

I said “I’m getting off this plane”. The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. (now I’m mad!) I said “I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who’s time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I’m going through that door with you under my arm!! But I am going through that door!!”

And I heard a voice behind me say “so am I”. Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same. Within 2 minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met with more agents who asked me to write a statement.”

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/13158/another-muslim-hijacking-dry-run-if-true-tedd-petrunas-my-new-hero/

[zipper]

Needs an aviation ping

[jws3sticks]

Here's the ring leader saying good bye to his harem!

[JoSixChip]

Ahh, thanks. That restores some of my faith. I think if one has a CCW license, they should be allowed to carry on flights. That would solve allot of this crap and give piece of mind. JMHO

[STARWISE]

~~PING! And read post #10

[goat granny]

According to the story I read, the crew walked off the plane and a new crew came on for the flight...

[JohnQ1]

You don’t. “Arguing with idiots” is like wrestling with pigs: you get filthy and only the pigs enjoy it. Speak the truth as you know it, and accept that many will reject it.

[JohnQ1]

Almost everyone but the eleven “problems” got off, a new crew was assigned, the flight was eventually cancelled, and Petruna got home at 12:30 AM instead of 6:00 PM. Other replies should take you to at least two other sources.