Posted on 11/20/2006 2:52:29 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
A team of federal air marshals was prevented from protecting a recent flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport because a gate agent erroneously said they did not have the correct paperwork, say marshals familiar with the incident.
Officials with Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) were called in to remove the marshals from US Airways Flight 3464 departing Nov. 8 for Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn.
"Right now we know, obviously, that federal air marshals were denied boarding," said Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) spokesman Conan Bruce.
Marshals knowledgeable about this case and others told The Washington Times on the condition of anonymity that the gate agent demanded paperwork which is required of other law-enforcement officials, but not from federal air marshals who are on duty to protect the plane from a terrorist attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
What is the correct paperwork for a terrorist?
Would that be MWAAAAAAHAHAHA ?
BTW, probably for the firearms (no excuse).
"correct paperwork for a terrorist?"
You got it. If you were a terrorist, you could get on the plane if you make up the right paperwork. Your tax dollars at work. Doesn't it make you sleep better at nite...?
Bullet Proof Union Jerk.
Incredible, but not surprising is it? I sometimes think the only one serious about security in this nation is the President, and he gets little help. There will be sorry people sooner or later.
Oh, man... A gate agent shouldn't have that authority, should he? I guess if a terrorist could become a gate agent (which is much easier than becoming a pilot), he could let on people he wanted on the plane and keep off people he didn't want on the plane...
The marshals should have just called the tower, had them declare the flight had no clearance to take off, and walk away laughing.
Paperwork? We ain't got no paperwork. We don't need no paperwork. I don't have to show you any stinking paperwork!
He should have smacked that badge into the guy's forehead and he could have read the reverse imprint in the mirror!
~ Blue Jays ~
They also dragged an 89 year old women in a wheelchair off the plane because some moron with more authority than brains felt that she looked mean at him.
So much for commonsense.
Well worth reading the full article. While the Fed Air Marshall Svc spokesman is careful not to lay blame for this particular incident until after the investigation is complete, the last 2 paragraphs are, hmph, interesting.
As written, unnamed air marshalls have complained of previous problems ("animosity" is the word used) from airlines and crews. An unnamed marshall claims that in the wake of Sept 11, marshalls who met with lack of cooperation from airline personnel learned it was useless to file an incident report because apparently it went no further than putting the onus on the marshall.
He said/she said/unnamed sources. All the same, looks like the airline staff was at fault in this case. Would be enlightening to find out the facts overall. I suspect we'll not find out either way.
Reminds me of the scene in airplane where the security agents tackle crippled grandma to the ground but turban heads with maching guns walk right by.
Some things never change.
I would hope that the gate agent was summarily dismissed from their job, and brought up on charges of obstruction of justice....
But in reality, this is probably a union idiot who will likely get a raise and moved to another position...
Just look who is working in airports.Mostly rejects with IQ below 90.
Just think if they had been impersonating marshalls, and didn't require any paperwork to prove who they were!!
Maybe so, maybe not ... but beside the point. The yahoo who got them pulled off the flight was not TSA (Transportaion Safety Admin.); s/he was a 'gate agent', that is an employee of the airline involved, who is essentially a glorified ticket taker.
I'd be suprised if gate agents get as good a prep for their duties as the TSA folks do, despite all the stories about the latter.
The "Gate Agent" works for the Airline. It sounds like the folks who pulled the Marshal's off the aircraft were Airport Police.
They're all lucky the Marshals didn't just shoot them.
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