Testing of Federal Air Marshalls - probing our 'defenses' - VANITY

[BurbankKarl]

Was talking with a buddy about an incident that happened here in Socal last month. The original call came in as an in-flight emergency, where all the PD units at airport were notified about suspicious circumstances on a 737. The plane was 10 minutes out, so there was some talk between the PD and the FAA (tower) about what was going on. Anyway, the plane landed and the police detained and questioned five "middle-eastern" males. What apparently happened was that the five guys were all flying on one-way, last minute tickets. All paid cash. All had no bags. All were sitting in different seats on the plane...but they kept looking at each other during the flight. When the captain put on the seat belt signs, all five got up to use the bathroom....that is what freaked out the head flight attendant. Anyway, all five (with five different state drivers licenses) were checked out against NCIC (Fed Computer) and came back clear....the airport PD also recorded the license plates of the cars that picked each of the guys up, and forwarded the information to the DOJ.

[Frapster]

That sounds identical to what I was told - but I was lead to believe it was happening more frequently than one or two incidents in the past year. Of course our two stories prove nothing but I kind of wondered that if such things were happening - wouldn't we be hearing about it in the news?

[dirtboy]

WHAT Ships?! Hog wash! Are you a public schoolteacher by any chance.

Knock off the abuse. It's a legit question, considering that the poster said in reply #5 that he considered the issue before posting. Oh, and check below the posting box - "Loose lips sink ships." - in red font.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"I wanted to bad to be on the aisle at that moment."

I ALWAYS sit on the aisle, as far forward as possible. If a plane I'm on is ever hijacked, you can be very sure that I didn't go down sitting in my seat like a dumb sheep.

[eno_]

The 9/11 hijackers did practice runs. Actor James Woods observed what was probably a practice run. It's nice these guys are not on the NCIC, but is that the right question to be asking? If the 9/11 hijackers on expired/fraudulent visas had been ejected, 9/11 would have, at least, been a much smaller event.

[CWRWinger]

ARM THE PILOTS!!!!!

I will add, "Arm the passengers and the pilots".

Until both happen, I do not fly again. Since 9/11, I have NOT taken seven flights, rental car rentals, bought magazines or meals in the airports, etc.

I now drive on these trips (some up to 1300 miles each way).
And where is Presidente Bush on this? Probably bailing out the airlines with our tax money and keeping klintoon appointees on the payroll.

[NerdDad]

>>If a plane I'm on is ever hijacked, you can be very sure that I didn't go down sitting in my seat ...<<

Ditto that. I've felt that way since long before 9/11 and have said it aloud many times after. Passengers were conditioned to cower in the face of a hijacker but the affects of that conditioning went away last September. I don't have the training that your nick implies but let's just say that I'm better armed/trained than my nick might imply. You can bet I'm going down fighting.

I don't fly often but I find myself being much more aware of what is going on around me--especially folks moving toward the front of the plane. Those movements tend reflexively loosen my seat belt too.

[zeugma]

I am absolutely right with you there. I will not boeard an airplane until there are some sane people running security in airports. Since 9-11 it has been impossible (IMO) to successfully hijack an airline. Taking away people's swiss army knives does nothing but produce an even more submissive populace of sheep.

I suspect that is the general idea.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I think that hijacking's will be attempted again. These folks have spent years training for this particular mission, and it's what they know how to do.

What bothers me is the account of 5 (FIVE!) Arab-looking males suddenly jumping up, and the passengers DID NOTHING> Had that been a real hijacking attempt, they would all be dead now (passengers, too). Sure sounds like a "test run" to me- and I do have some background in this area.

[Deguello]

"What bothers me is the account of 5 (FIVE!) Arab-looking males suddenly jumping up, and the passengers DID NOTHING>"

In a proper America, if five Arabs jump up, 15+ Americans should jump with them.

[aculeus]

If another 9/11 happens full blame will lie with Minetta and, sadly, his boss for not firing him a year ago.

The man has denounced the common sense approach, i.e., profiling, and your experience demonstrates that "random" checking is useless.

[aculeus]

in my conversation with the FAM she said it is their observation that quite frequently they will have incidents where Arab men, in groups of 4 or 5, will get up and move quickly to the front of the aircraft stopping at the lavatory. She said it is believed they are trying to probe the security strategy of the FAM's to identify weaknesses, number of FAM's on board (typically) and so on.

Contrary to some on this thread I think this warrants maximum publicity.

The government knows this stuff is going on ... and they continue to rule out profiling?

They are not finding some excuse for detaining these individuals?

Too bad Fox or the Washington Times can't get this out to the public.

[looney tune]

They're profiling all right. They're just not admitting it.

[Mulder]

I will add, "Arm the passengers and the pilots". Until both happen, I do not fly again.

I'll go a step further. I'm not flying until I'm armed.

I now drive on these trips (some up to 1300 miles each way).

I haven't driven that far yet (500 miles is the most since 9/11), but I wouldn't hesitate to drive 1300 miles if the alternative was sitting in a crowded airplane, unarmed, and treated like crap by the turd worlders operating the 'checkpoints'.

[NerdDad]

I agree with both of you but question where to draw the line? I'm not going to sit in the back of the plane while it is taken over by hijackers. I'm much more alert to the movement of individuals in the plane. However, I don't want to appear so jumpy as to cause other well-meaning folks to be ready to tackle me if I decide I need to go to the head. I think that most able-bodied passengers who love America will respond when needed to prevent another 9/11. But should we confront and "escort" every arabic looking male who needs to take a crap? I was in a training squadron in the 80s when we were training Iranians. Those guys put off some noxious fumes inside a toilet that I don't care to revisit. Where do you cross the line between vigilance and over-reaction? How do you put out the word to these folks that we are watching them and it is their best interest to not make any sudden moves? Flight attendants have gotten pretty good at not allowing a bunch of folks to line up at the john. That kind of puts a crimp in the plan to join the line. That's why I just ready myself on the edge of my seat like I am waiting my turn. It keeps me out of the aisle but ready to intervene if the need arises.