Posted on 02/19/2005 4:42:49 AM PST by spectrout
Get "snippy" with an airlines' ticket agent and you may never see your luggage again.
That's the experience of Dr. Esha Khoshnu, a New Jersey psychiatrist traveling to San Diego to attend a conference.
While changing planes in Phoenix, Khoshnu got testy at a Mesa Airlines ticket counter, reports KGTV news, saying, "If I had a bomb, you wouldn't find it."
The Transportation Security Administration described Khoshnu as acting "mouthy and snippy," according to KGTV.
The bomb comment touched off a security scare and FBI officials were dispatched to question Khoshnu, who was subsequently detained long enough to miss her flight.
Her suitcase, however, got past security and was loaded onto the America West jet.
When Mesa Airlines Flight 6264 landed at Lindbergh Field in San Diego the pilot was instructed to taxi to a remote area of the airport where some 35 passengers were taken off the plane and escorted onto two buses, reports City News Service.
"When we landed and quickly did a U-turn on the runway, I was like, 'They never do that.' Then, all the cars started coming and it was obvious that it was for our plane. That was the scary part," one passenger told KGTV.
City News Service reports members of the San Diego Fire Department's bomb squad searched the plane but found no explosives. Next, they removed Khoshnu's suitcase and inspected it in an open area on the grounds of the airport.
Although they found nothing suspicious, authorities blew up the bag with an explosive charge and then doused it with water.
Khoshnu was eventually released and allowed to board a later flight to San Diego. KGTV reports the Assistant U.S. Attorney in Phoenix decided her actions did not merit charges.
The cuter they are, the harder it is to hurl obscenities at them.
Nope. Avoid 'em like the plague ever since I watched them taking "Abnormal Psychology" in college.
You could tell what chapter they were on by the way they were acting.
Gee, I wonder who this dummy voted for.
The problem started with security officers at Sky Harbor Airport, where the woman was preparing to board an America West flight.
"She was unhappy about being called over for a secondary screening, and was unhappy and began berating the screener," said Phoenix police Sgt. Randy Force. "She said something to the effect of, 'If there was an item in my baggage, the security screeners probably couldn't find it.' "
Officers detained and questioned the woman, who has extensive training in crisis intervention, according to her company's Web site. When they determined her comments did not constitute a threat, they let her leave.
But she missed her flight.
Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the federal Transportation Security Administration, said the plane was permitted to fly with the woman's luggage because it had been cleared by screening devices at the Phoenix airport.
In other words, neither Dr. Esha Khoshnu nor her luggage were deemed to be a threat in Phoenix. And she never even got on the plane so what was the point of searching it after the flight was over. Also, before the luggage was blown up in San Diego after the flight had already landed, it was x-rayed, probed with an explosive detector, and mechanically ripped open, finding only clothes.
Maybe next time she won't say she has a bomb. .50 posted on 02/19/2005 6:53:09 AM PST by Darksheare
Darkshear, she didn’t say or even imply she had a bomb.
The doctor got what she deserved… The doctor was held, but the plane with the "possible" bomb aboard flew? Not cool. It should have been found and destroyed before the plane left the ground. 13 posted on 02/19/2005 5:05:22 AM PST by CitizenM
Why did she get what she deserved; it had already been determined that she had not made a threat; and was not a threat? Her luggage had been screened, which was why the flight was allowed to leave. There was no “’possible’bomb.”
Rule 3. Do not lie to the Feds (see Martha S.) Rule 4. Do not talk about bombs in the airport. How simple are those rules? 46 posted on 02/19/2005 6:42:04 AM PST by Ditter
Martha is in prison for basically saying that she did not commit insider trading, ie saying that she is innocent of a crime. She was not even criminally charged with insider trading. Rule 3 should be changed to “Do not talk to the Feds.” Rule 4 is no doubt wise, but we don’t even have a real source that said she used the “B” word. Rule 4 might have to be changed to: “Don’t do or say anything that might confuse or annoy an imbecilic or vengeful TSA agent.”
To All: I’m surprised at how many here and on earlier posts think that Dr. Khoshnu was treated appropriately, we don’t in fact know exactly what she said or how much officious abuse she had been subjected to when she said it. The fact is that security agencies, especially the TSA has used the WoT to go officially nuts; and we are both less safe and less free because of that.
Yes.
But when they start flaunting that cuteness, smiling like a demon quieen, and auditing you while still flaunting that cuteness, it's downright evil.
Sorry, everything else I've read says that she made the stupid statement.
And cops generally won't say whether someone did or did not make a statement.
Now if she did in fact make the statement, then her luggage being blown to bits is a minor aside to how things could have gone down.
Why was that required?
[explain my position]
Here is a refresher for you:
To: Darksheare
The point is that you don't act like an idiot at the airport.
Wrong again.
You need to accept reality. The current situation at airports will not only get worse it will spread to other parts of our lives.
And it is just a matter of time until another Janet Reno is calling the shots rather than an Ashcroft.
And at that point some flaming liberal will be deciding by fiat what constitutes "stupid" behavior and therefore deserves state sanctions.
That is the point and you better think long and hard about it.
70 posted on 02/19/2005 10:04:05 AM CST by NMC EXP (Choose one: [a] party [b] principle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
The problem is that you are single mindedly focused on this particular incident and not overall situation.
Tell me why she should be allowed to say that.
Assuming you cannot or will not wrap your mind around the implications I have referred to here is the answer you seek. What she said was: (a) not a threat to blow up a plane, (b) was not threatening to anyone but a coward or a govt employee with an ego problem and a lot of training in zero tolerance.
In short - no harm, no foul.
Now you tell me why a person should not be allowed to say anything they damn well please short of a direct threat of violence to a public servant?
Here's a refresher for YOU:
Last I knew, you couldn't go into a crowded theater and yell "Fire" and walking into an airport and mentioning the word "bomb" is a stupid thing to do.
Doing either will garner you some attention that will be wholly warranted.
Sure you can.
If nothing happens there is no problem.
If as a result anyone actually suffers personal injury or property damage there are longstanding legal remedies available.
"Sure you can"?
That shows me all I need to know about you and your opinion.
No that you have that off your chest kindly give me a response to my comments regarding the long term implications of govt abuses via airport security.
You have avoided responding to that like the plague.
Whatcha scared of?
C'mon, give it your best shot.
yeah, cuteness from hell!
Horrific to deal with.
Like seeing beauty and discovering that beauty has devil horns.
I did respond.
Kindly go back and read the thread.
And you've shown me in your post previous to this all I need to know about you.
You have talked repeatedly about this specific situation. You have never commented on the long term implications of the airport security situation.
Either I completely missed this response of yours, or you are a liar.
If you can point me to a response in which you addressed the overall situation I will owe you an apology.
If not.....
"Horrific to deal with.
Like seeing beauty and discovering that beauty has devil horns."
Reminds me of Julie Newmar in an old Twilight Zone.
Horns appear near the end: )
Funny how you pick and choose who you respond to.
Others have told you the same thing I have.
All you've basically said here in thread can be summed up with the simple words of, "I should be allowed to say the word 'bomb' in an airport and not suffer any consequences."
You're being ridiculous and iinsulting now, I suggest you either cool off or clam up.
Off to UT for me!
LOL!
That was a good one.
A song by Nightwish, I think, has a line that goes "Beauty always comes with dark thoughts."
Would seem apt for that.
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