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Iranian arrested in LA hijack scare
United States Dot COM ^ | 27 SEP 01 / Press release 28 SEP 01 / FR Post 28 SEP 01 | Editorial Staff

Posted on 09/28/2001 5:17:42 AM PDT by vannrox

Iranian arrested in LA hijack scare

   LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- An Air Canada jet made a dramatic
unprecedented landing accompanied by two Air Force fighter jets at Los
Angeles International Airport on Thursday after an Iranian passenger
reportedly created a loud disturbance that apparently triggered a near panic
among the other 137 passengers.

   On the same day that President George W. Bush spoke at a rally in Chicago
to "get back on board" U.S. airlines, the Boeing 767 touched down with an
F-16 flying off each wingtip and a bevy of police officers and an FBI SWAT
team waiting.

   The gray F-16s roared off over the Pacific after the airliner taxied to a
remote area of the airport and was quickly boarded by the heavily armed
agents dressed in all black.

   "We were looking down the corridor, and there must have been 10 of them
(SWAT agents), side by side and all tightly packed together with their guns
out, totally covered in black and screaming 'get your head down,'" passenger
Bruce Fitzgerald told KABC-TV. "That was a really frightening experience. It
almost seemed like a movie."

   Air Canada Flight 792 had been en route from Los Angeles to Toronto with
138 passengers and seven crew members when a passenger identified as Javid
Naghani, 37, allegedly lit up a cigarette in a lavatory.

   "We all knew as soon as we smelled smoke that we were probably going to
have to turn back," another passenger, Kim Powell, told reporters.

   Witnesses on the flight told agents that Naghani was discovered by a
flight attendant who loudly told him smoking on airliners was banned by U.S.
law.

   "The male passenger allegedly became abusive with the flight attendant and
made disparaging statements against the United States," the FBI said in a
press release. "The pilot communicated information and stated that he would
be returning to the airport as a precautionary measure."

   Los Angeles television stations had initially reported that a bomb threat
had been made during the row, but there was no indication from the FBI that
such a threat had been made.

   The incident, however, shook up the other passengers, many of whom said
they were shocked at the aggressive response by the authorities.

   "When we landed, that's when things got a little surreal," said passenger
Joe Futtner. "That was a little disconcerting."

   The pair of Air Force fighter jets was dispatched to escort the Canadian
jet back to Los Angeles where Naghani was taken into custody and turned over
to the FBI, which routinely investigates disruptions aboard airliners, on
suspicion of interfering with a flight crew.

   California Gov. Gray Davis was, by coincidence, holding his own news
conference at an airport parking lot, coaxing the public to go back to
flying on commercial airliners and promising safety for passengers with the
National Guard units to be called up to assist with providing airport
security. The governor was stationed at a LAX parking lot where passengers
who arrive at the airport in private cars must now catch shuttle buses to
the terminal.

   The suspect will be in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Friday
morning.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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No more Mr. Nice Guy...
1 posted on 09/28/2001 5:17:42 AM PDT by vannrox
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To: vannrox
The incident, however, shook up the other passengers, many of whom said they were shocked at the aggressive response by the authorities.

What do you expect? He was smoking!

2 posted on 09/28/2001 5:24:02 AM PDT by BurkeanCyclist
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To: vannrox
Two fighter jets and an FBI SWAT team to take out a guy having a cigarette. Now THAT'S scary.
3 posted on 09/28/2001 5:26:03 AM PDT by be-baw
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To: vannrox
"We all knew as soon as we smelled smoke that we were probably going to have to turn back," another passenger, Kim Powell, told reporters.

Witnesses on the flight told agents that Naghani was discovered by a flight attendant who loudly told him smoking on airliners was banned by U.S. law.

"The male passenger allegedly became abusive with the flight attendant and made disparaging statements against the United States," the FBI said in a press release.


Registered DIMocRAT - thinks rules are made to be broken. . .
4 posted on 09/28/2001 5:29:59 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: be-baw, ALL
Two fighter jets and an FBI SWAT team to take out a guy having a cigarette. Now THAT'S scary.
I bet the last thoughts of those folks on the four planes on September 11th were scared SH**LESS, along with the 6,000 that perished with them in the WTC & Pentagon. . .

Think about THAT.

5 posted on 09/28/2001 5:33:04 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: vannrox
California Gov. Gray Davis was, by coincidence, holding his own news conference at an airport parking lot, coaxing the public to go back to flying on commercial airliners and promising safety for passengers with the National Guard units to be called up to assist with providing airport security.

That must have been something. "Our skies have never been safer! And with these new...what the?!?" This Iranian guy is lucky the passengers didn't tear him apart after he started berating the flight attendant.

6 posted on 09/28/2001 5:33:28 AM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: vannrox
Thanks for the post!
7 posted on 09/28/2001 5:34:04 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: be-baw
Two fighter jets and an FBI SWAT team to take out a guy having a cigarette.

This "guy," from a Middle Eastern country, wasn't just "having a cigarette." He was also "(making; ed.) disparaging statements against the United States." In these times, a completely justified reaction to a loudmouthed idiot.

Charge the guy with the cost of scrambling the fighters and the plane tickets for every passenger aboard the flight. He won't be so eager to flick his Bic on a commercial flight again.

8 posted on 09/28/2001 5:34:33 AM PDT by strela
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To: Alamo-Girl, anniegetyourgun, kattracks, RoseofTexas, 1Old Pro, SheLion, Susangirl, Snow Bunny
Ping!
9 posted on 09/28/2001 5:36:15 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: Republican Wildcat, Howlin, Fred Mertz, .30Carbine, Uff da, sungirl, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Ping!
10 posted on 09/28/2001 5:36:43 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: vannrox
The next thing that should be smoking is his green card.
11 posted on 09/28/2001 5:52:58 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
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To: vannrox
The incident, however, shook up the other passengers, many of whom said they were shocked at the aggressive response by the authorities.

Give me a Break! I would have been their biggest cheerleader! What did the folks want? For the authorities to be sensitive? No wonder some folks are so victimized, They feel sorry for their own offenders being treated aggresively when the situation calls for it. They should have knocked the hell out of him before the plane landed.

12 posted on 09/28/2001 6:03:55 AM PDT by chicagolady
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To: vannrox
why was nobody stomping this guy into the carpet? The issue is not whether he was smoking, the issue is his contempt and disregard for the rules and the people who are supposed to enforce them- at a time like this, with people on edge, we don't need some tweezer stirring up a fuss.

should have given the guy some thumps 'n' lumps.

13 posted on 09/28/2001 6:39:03 AM PDT by fourdeuce82d
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To: vannrox
I think some of these guys have been sent out to create disturbances and then yell discrimation.

They believe that we will start lowering our guard because we don't want to be seen as profiling.

I think they are probably correct. We will be back to doing cursory checks of everyone.

14 posted on 09/28/2001 6:40:36 AM PDT by FR_addict
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To: strela
He was also "(making; ed.) disparaging statements against the United States.

Good grief...a capital offense to be sure...fry the bastich.

15 posted on 09/28/2001 6:42:37 AM PDT by be-baw
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To: be-baw
Two fighter jets and an FBI SWAT team to take out a guy having a cigarette. Now THAT'S scary.

We Ain't foolin' around anymore. And the quicker folks realize it, the quicker we can stop worrying about idiots and get on with dealing with the real threat. Anyone creating a disturbance or breaking a law on a plane is going to be treated like a criminal. But then, that's exactly what they are.
16 posted on 09/28/2001 6:43:47 AM PDT by Tin Man Tex
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You mean the other passengers didn't beat the crap out of him? What a bunch of losers!
17 posted on 09/28/2001 7:06:49 AM PDT by Overtaxed
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: GottliebBerger

The issue is not that this person was smoking. The issue had to do with the fact that the United States is at WAR, and we are at a heightened state of awareness. We are now aware of any possible threat, real or imagined. There is a zero tolerance for this type of activity, and no quarter should be given.

The pilot made the right decision because this person not only fit the profile of a terrorist, but was creating a disturbance on board an aircraft and openly critizing Americans and America.

The terrorists have used our freedoms to hurt us. But we are now at a state of war. We don't take kindly to malcreants. Americans should come to expect that anone who continues to contribute to airborne hostitilty would be subdued with the most aggressive action possible.

Any questions?


19 posted on 09/28/2001 9:06:59 AM PDT by vannrox
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To: Overtaxed
You are so right- what an opportunity they missed to beat the crap out of him. Think of all the freeper deterrents that could have been used on him eg the knitting needles, stilleto heels etc. All I can say is that the passengers must have been all Democrats or Canadian Liberals who would not have the b*lls.
20 posted on 09/28/2001 9:31:11 AM PDT by Oldtory
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