Security scare diverts SFO flight- Passenger's name appeared on FBI list

S.F. Chronicle.Com ^ | July 2, 2002 | Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

A United Airlines jet made a U-turn and returned to San Francisco after the pilot discovered that a passenger's name matched a name on the FBI "watch list" of possible terrorists.

Flight 249, bound for Baltimore, turned around Saturday morning after flying for about an hour, according to Ed Gomez, the Transportation Security Administration director at the airport.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Even though the guy was not the right guy (this time), it wouldn't have made a difference, we can't profile remember?

So while the screeners are wanding female blondes with blue eyes or 70 year old ladies or children under 12 the potential terrorists are allowed to take their seats on the plane unharrassed because we wouldn't want the ACLU to get their nose bent out of shape.

[EBUCK]

The watch list is long -- with more than 200 names -- that are Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani or Indonesian and with many aliases, a person who has seen it told the Washington Post.

The countries of origin are of course harsh coincidences.

EBUCK

[concerned about politics]

But Gomez said the airline realized it had failed to question a passenger named Mohammed Ahmed, whose name matched one on the FBI list.

*SIGH*

[Marine Inspector]

Believe me, the list is a pain. We've got people with 20 aliases on it.

On the other hand, the list only has people form about a dozen countries.

Ummm

[EBUCK]

Take the test....HERE and you decide if profiling is "evil".

EBUCK

[white trash redneck]

So why didn't these rocket scientists figure this out before the plane took off?

[GOV'T MULE]

Isn't "Mohammed Ahmed" the equivalent of John Smith? If this weren't so serious it would be comical. It may be regardless.

[LurkedLongEnough]

failed to question a passenger named Mohammed Ahmed

Maybe he turned out to be one of the "safe" 768 Iranians or 71 Iraqians or 44 Yemenis who got their visas through the DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA LOTTERY. Do you know who the Department of State is letting into the US?

[EBUCK]

Do you know who the Department of State is letting into the US?

A better question may be "Does the State Department know who they are letting into the United States?"

Because that is what we are paying them for isn't it?

EBUCK

[genefromjersey]

I was amused by my 6 year old granddaughter's report of how "Woody", her favorite stuffed toy, had to be X-rayed before he could be cleared for flight.