Posted on 11/20/2006 7:06:49 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
Six men were removed from an airplane at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Monday evening.
Sources say the men, of Middle Eastern ethnicity, behaved in a manner that caused the crew to be concerned.
The men were taken off the plane after it returned to the gate and are being questioned by authorities.
The remaining passengers were also taken off the flight, U.S. Airways flight 300, bound for Phoenix.
Those passengers are being re-screened for boarding.
There were 170 passengers on board the plane, which is a Boeing 757.
Stay with FOX 9 News and MyFOX9.com for continuing updates on this breaking story.
Off Topic, but fyi.
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=713#713
Northwest Evacuates Plane Due to "Suspicious" Baggage
Jan 12, 2007 12:27 PM PST
A plane scheduled to be leaving McCarran Airport for Minneapolis was delayed from leaving Friday morning after concern for a passenger's baggage caused an evacuation. The plane was searched shortly after 9 a.m., with Metro and County Fire assisting. The FBI is now involved as well.
Northwest Airlines released the following statement:
"Northwest Airlines flight 778, a Boeing 757 aircraft from Las Vegas to Minneapolis/St. Paul with 179 passengers, experienced a delay today after concern was raised regarding a passenger's carry-on baggage while the aircraft was parked at the gate. Northwest is cooperating with the appropriate government agencies. As a precautionary measure, passengers have been asked to deplane while the situation is reviewed. Northwest apologizes to its customers for the inconvenience."
http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5931557&nav=menu102_2
713 posted on 01/12/2007 12:39:27 PM PST by Oorang (Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people - Alex Kozinski)
Call the ACLU!!
Off Topic...
And in a separate incident...
NOTE: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1761584/posts?page=910#910
Here we go again...
Michigan Muslim flyers allege discrimination by Northwest
Tuesday January 16, 2007
DETROIT - A group of 40 Michigan Muslims said Tuesday they were unfairly profiled earlier this month when they were not allowed to board a Northwest Airlines flight in Germany on their way home from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
A Northwest spokesman said that the travelers reported to the gate Jan. 7 in Frankfurt, Germany, only about 20 minutes before their connecting flight was due to take off. Airline and international rules stipulate that passengers must check in for international flights at least an hour before departure and be onboard the aircraft at least 30 minutes beforehand.
``They showed up at the last minute,'' spokesman Dean Breest told The Detroit News.
But the Muslim pilgrims and the Council on American Islamic Relations rejected the airline's statement at a news conference Tuesday, saying flight rules are at least the third reason given for the incident.
``We arrived at the gate at least an hour and 30 minutes before the departure,'' said Imam Sayed Hassan al-Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn. ``Others who came after us were allowed to board the airplane.'' Al-Qazwini told the Detroit Free Press the airline was likely afraid of having 40 Muslims together on one flight.
http://wfrv.com/michiganwire/MI--Muslims-Northwest_g_n_0mi--/resources_news_html
Muslims say they'll boycott Northwest Airlines
January 16, 2007 5:19 PM
DETROIT - A group of metro Detroiters is threatening to lead a boycott of Northwest Airlines over what they say is a pattern of profiling against Muslim passengers.
''I know that many Muslims call Northwest 'Northworst' . . . for its treatment to the Muslim community,'' Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., said Tuesday. Al-Qazwini was in a group of about 40 pilgrims who were prevented from boarding a connecting flight in Germany to Detroit on Jan. 7 while returning from a trip to holy cities in Saudi Arabia. The Muslim group, most of whom are Lebanese-American Shiites, held a news conference Tuesday at the Dearborn mosque to describe what they say happened to them. They called for Northwest to apologize, compensate them, and discipline the employees they said profiled them.
''Otherwise,'' Al-Qazwini said, ''if Northwest will not do that, then probably we have to call all Muslim organizations to encourage Muslims from not flying on Northwest.'' With tens of thousands of Muslim customers, Northwest could be hurt financially by such a boycott, Al-Qazwini suggested, adding that ''I hope Northwest will be wiser.''
But Northwest officials defended their actions Tuesday, repeating that the 40 or so pilgrims were unable to board because they weren't at the gate in time. ''They showed up at the gate late,'' said Dean Breest, a spokesman for Northwest Airlines. ''All customers need to be on time.'' Northwest Airlines requires passengers to check in for international flights at least 60 minutes prior to departure and to be on board the aircraft at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time, according to a statement it issued.
Al-Qazwini and other pilgrims said Tuesday that they were at the gate at least an hour and a half before departure time. ''We were treated really, really, really badly,'' said Jennifer Zreik, 29, one of the travelers. According to Zreik and others, some of the Muslims with the group were allowed on the plane. But about 40 were not. Some of the travelers said they had to spend the night at the airport; others had to pay $77 in penalty fees and more in hotel costs - without reimbursement. Breest said, ''I'm very sorry to hear that happened,'' but added this case has nothing to do with profiling.
Most of the pilgrims in the group are from Michigan, said Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group that has been fighting profiling of Muslims at airports. The council organized the news conference.
Al-Qazwini said he was recently prevented from praying on a Northwest Airlines flight. But Breest said Northwest does not discriminate. He pointed out the high-profile case of Muslim imams who were escorted off a US Airways jet in November at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after they made Islamic prayers. The imams were eventually flown home by Northwest Airlines, he said.
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=NATIONAL&ID=564947238037880859
910 posted on 01/16/2007 5:43:45 PM PST by Oorang (Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people - Alex Kozinski)
Off Topic - UPDATE:
QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1761584/posts?page=986#986
NWA to pay, offer apology to Muslims denied boarding
1/17/07
Northwest Airlines will offer an apology and compensation to a group of 40 Muslims who said they were turned away from a U.S.-bound plane in Germany.
Excerpted
http://www.startribune.com/535/story/943164.html
986 posted on 01/17/2007 6:13:19 PM PST by Oorang (Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people - Alex Kozinski)
Off-Topic - Update:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1769388/posts
"Minnesota Muslim taxi drivers could face crackdown"
Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 1/17/07 | Michael Conlon
Posted on 01/17/2007 10:37:46 PM PST by NormsRevenge
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "CHICAGO (Reuters) - Muslim cab drivers at Minnesota's biggest airport are facing a possible crackdown for refusing to give rides to travelers carrying liquor or accompanied by dogs, an official said on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission has authorized a public hearing next month on a staff proposal to increase penalties for refusing fares, spokesman Patrick Hogan said.
A large number of taxi drivers in the area of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are Muslim Somali immigrants.
Many of them say they feel the faith's ban on alcohol consumption includes transporting anyone carrying it. Some have also refused to transport dogs, both pets and guide dogs, saying they are unclean.
Under the proposal -- which is also aimed at drivers who refuse to take short-haul passengers in favor of more lucrative long trips -- a first offense would result in a 30-day cab license suspension and a second a two-year license revocation.
The public hearing, approved at a commission meeting on Tuesday, will be held February 27."
Off Topic...
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The Mendota Heights-based carrier flies to New York and other major U.S. destinations. Those flights originate from the Humphrey terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport."
===
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1761584/posts?page=1222#1222
Flight from Twin Cities undergoes security check at JFK
January 20, 2007
Sun Country Airlines passengers who flew from the Twin Cities to New York on Saturday morning underwent special security screening after landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Crew members noticed "irregularities" with a security seal covering a smoke detector in one of the lavatories, said Sun Country CEO Shaun Nugent.
Smoke detectors on the airline's Boeing 737 airplanes have tape seals, so it can be readily detected when someone tries to remove a smoke detector cover.
Flight 245, which had 43 passengers and six crew members on board, landed in New York without incident, but the plane was routed to an undisclosed location at the airfield for security reasons, Nugent said.
Passengers were taken off the plane, screened and released. "One passenger was temporarily detained by local authorities and the FBI and then released," Nugent said.
After airport and federal authorities searched the aircraft, it was released back to Sun Country.
The Mendota Heights-based carrier flies to New York and other major U.S. destinations. Those flights originate from the Humphrey terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
http://www.startribune.com/535/story/949839.html
1,222 posted on 01/20/2007 9:28:08 PM PST by Oorang (Tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people - Alex Kozinski)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1221 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1775193/posts
Flying Imams: The Sequel
Powerline ^ | 1/28/07 | John Hinderaker
Posted on 01/28/2007 1:53:02 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
We have written repeatedly about the strange case of the six flying imams, who, following an imams' convention, were kicked off a flight originating in Minneapolis for what appeared to be deliberately provocative behavior. We have speculated that the event may have been a set-up designed as the predicate for anti-racial profiling legislation in Congress. The latest news from the Associated Press is consistent with that speculation:
The repercussions of an airline's decision to remove a group of imams from a commercial flight in Minneapolis could be heard in Congress this year, with civil rights groups pushing Democratic lawmakers to ban racial profiling. The incident happened in November, made national news and reinvigorated an old proposal that got little attention from the GOP.
Now, a champion of the legislation, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction on the issue. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who sponsored legislation to ban racial profiling in the last Congress, now chairs the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution.
No bill has been introduced so far, but Feingold made it clear the issue will be a priority for him.
Another reminder, were it needed, that elections have consequences.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015013.php
(AP)
January 28, 2007
"Congress Pressured to Ban Racial Profiling"
===
===
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014435.php
December 16, 2006
"Was the Flying Imam incident staged in order to get anti-profiling legislation passed?"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1778471/posts
"Stop the End Racial Profiling Act S 2132"
Democracy Project ^ | 2/3/07 | Mitchell Langbert
Posted on 02/02/2007 10:11:50 PM PST by Mitchell Langbert
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/02/23/video-passenger-on-flying-imams-flight-speaks-out/
"Video: Passenger on flying imams’ flight speaks out"
posted at 12:48 am on February 23, 2007 by Allahpundit
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24545_Islamic_Grievance_Theater_Update_(Video)&only
Weblog:
Friday, February 23, 2007
"Islamic Grievance Theater Update (Video)"
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015387.php
February 23, 2007
"Video: passenger who alerted flight crew about Flying Imams speaks"
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http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S32404.shtml?cat=5
Updated: 02/23/2007 09:43:29 AM
"Hear from the passenger that alerted crew of 'suspicious actions'"
---
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=25628
"Putting Homeland Security First"
By Robert Spencer
FrontPageMagazine.com | November 22, 2006
---
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/679#meeting
(Updated February 20, 2007)
---
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/679
Daniel Pipes' Weblog
"More on Those Alcohol-shy Minnesota Taxi Drivers"
October 10, 2006
http://www.jihadwatch.org/DS3_9796_small.jpg
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015453.php
February 27, 2007
"No Sharia in Minnesota"
Off Topic.
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3370861,00.html
MK, Shin Bet chief discuss 'humiliation' of Arabs at airports
Published: 02.28.07, 13:27 / Israel News
Knesset Member Nadia Hilou (Labor) met with Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin to discuss what she referred to as the humiliation of Arab citizens at Israeli airports.
“It is important to find a solution to balance out the security needs and the passengers’ dignity,” Hilou said. (Roee Nahmias
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=CAIR
---
Thanks to Velveeta for the ping to this post.
NOTE: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1793738/posts?page=703#703
Imams removed from flight in Twin Cities say they will sue
St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) - Six Islamic leaders who were removed from a U.S. Airways flight in November said they will sue the airline for discrimination.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations announced the planned lawsuit on Monday and said it would provide details on Tuesday. It declined to say which court the group would sue in, or provide the name of the attorney handling the case. (snip)
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/03/12/muslimlawsuit/
703 posted on 03/12/2007 3:20:28 PM PDT by Velveeta
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=CAIR
---
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24777_CAIRs_Grievance_Theater-_The_Next_Act&only
Monday, March 12, 2007
"CAIR's Grievance Theater: The Next Act"
Off-Topic:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1800357/posts
"Airport taxi controversy: Why here? (MN)"
Garowe Online ^ | 3/12/07 | EMILY GURNON/Pioneer Press
Posted on 03/13/2007 3:23:12 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Off-Topic...
A POST BY FREEPER OORANG - POST SNIPPET - QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793738/posts?page=759#759
Memo warns airport staff to be vigilant (MN)
March 12, 2007
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has circulated an internal memorandum to the airport's management staff asking all employees to remain vigilant to terrorist threats.
Written by Lt. Shawn Chamberlain of the airport's aviation security division, the memorandum dated Feb. 12 outlines reasons why the airport "may be at a greater risk than other metropolitan areas or airports in our region."
Chamberlain cited the airport's volume of traffic and travel, its location near the Mall of America and Veterans Administration buildings, its closeness to the Canadian border and its employment of fewer security officers than other airports its size.
Excerpted
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1050233.html
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