jte23
6th Sep 2009, 23:33
Hello,
As you can see, I just signed up. Sincere apologies if I have put this in the wrong place but I have a question that I hope experienced pilots and flight crews in the know can provide me with sound advice on ASAP.
The account is rather long. However I believe it is important I get some feedback.
I'm a very regular flyer and I was recently on a journey from the UK to HKG with AF. My route was MAN-CDG-HKG. The first leg from Manchester to Paris CDG was an A318. I was seated in economy, near to the back, in row 18C, about 5 from the back. For the next bit, you'll have to excuse my 'profiling'.
Sat directly in front of me, in rows 17B and 17C were two young, early-mid twenties, north african/middle eastern men. If I had to guess nationality, i'd say Egyptian/Lebanese.
Several rows in front of them, and on the other side of the plane was an older gentlemen, aged around 50, who seemed to know them, again of middle eastern/north african descent, sat in (i'd estimate) row 14D.
The entire time - boarding, taxi, take off and during the first half of the flight, the older man was turned around, conversing regularly and rather seriously with the two younger men. I couldn't recognise the language, but it wasn't European.
As the flight went on, the two men in front became more 'busy' - I could see through the small gap in the seat that they were both arched over their unfolded tray tables (they had not taken any food or drinks) and were busily working away at something co-operatively. The older gentleman in 14D was now permanantly turned around.
About 35 minutes into the flight, one of their cell phones rang. Yes, mid-flight. The guy in 17C answered and talked for about 30 seconds-1 minute. At this point, a middle aged businessman sat adjacent to them, in 17D, began looking across at them very dubiously, as if he was suspicious about their actions too. He kept an almost constant, suspicious stare on them, maybe trying to get their attention, as if to say "what the hell are you doing?". At least he was in the advantage of seeing what they were doing. I could only see through the gap. During the course of the flight, one of them men got up two times to go to the bathroom.
Then, with descent into Paris underway, both men got up and went to the rear lavatory. One of them came back after about 2-3 minutes, while the other stayed a good 10 minutes, well after the fasten seatbelt sign had been illuminated.
The guy who returned early went back to working on whatever it was he was working on before, again crouched over his still unfolded tray table and moving very quickly, and nervously. The older businessman looked very concerned at this point, as was I. Nothing was happening yet, but it felt like something was about to. The lone guy in seat 17B then used his phone to sent a text message (still in the air at this stage, again, defying the rules on mobile phone use on board a plane). I could see in gap that he was typing characters on his phone and sending them, but couldn't read what they were.
Finally, with only a few minutes to go until landing, the other guy returned from his seat and fastened up. The older guy in 14D began looking around again at this point, and conversing with them again.
Despite my (and i'd guess the businessman's) apprehensions that something was about to happen, nothing did and we landed safely.
However, while taxiing off the runway to the gate, one of the younger men made a phone call. Again, he was not supposed to. He then talked to whoever it was the whole way to the gate.
Then, once we came to a stop and everyone got up for their luggage, I noticed the two younger guys and the older gentleman making contact with a fourth man who I hadn't noticed before, again of middle eastern/north african descent, and again in his early twenties, sat a few rows back and on the other side - i'd estimate row 20F.
If that wasn't enough, the 4 of them turned up together at my connecting gate for the CDG-HKG leg and stood about just outside the gate waiting for the flight to be called even though there were plenty of seats. I didn't see them on the next flight. It was a large 773 and I was again near the back. The next time I saw them was on arrival to Hong Kong outside the terminal at the bus stands. It looked as if they were searching around for a bus to Tung Chung (which isn't anywhere near the city centre).
I realise all of this may not mean anything. But I do feel obliged to ask for advice on whether I should let some kind of authority know. It may be nothing, but it could be something. Like I said, I am a frequent flyer and therefore don't get suspicious about just anything, but i'll be honest and say that those few moments as we were about to land in Paris, I did actually think something was going to happen. Afterwards I considered it could be a dry run. Could it be? Do you all see this kind of thing a lot? Is it just unfair profiling coupled with some bizarre albeit innocent behaviour? In my mind, it is very odd behaviour: the 4 men being separated despite knowing each other, the activity in the seat, the phone calls and texts, the long excursions to the toilet, and of course their nervous demeanor. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but having done a google search before posting here, it does sound just like accounts of past "dry runs". But I have no real authority to judge.
So, could someone please give me an honest and blunt synopsis of what they think. It would be much appreciated. Thank you.
As you can see, I just signed up. Sincere apologies if I have put this in the wrong place but I have a question that I hope experienced pilots and flight crews in the know can provide me with sound advice on ASAP.
The account is rather long. However I believe it is important I get some feedback.
I'm a very regular flyer and I was recently on a journey from the UK to HKG with AF. My route was MAN-CDG-HKG. The first leg from Manchester to Paris CDG was an A318. I was seated in economy, near to the back, in row 18C, about 5 from the back. For the next bit, you'll have to excuse my 'profiling'.
Sat directly in front of me, in rows 17B and 17C were two young, early-mid twenties, north african/middle eastern men. If I had to guess nationality, i'd say Egyptian/Lebanese.
Several rows in front of them, and on the other side of the plane was an older gentlemen, aged around 50, who seemed to know them, again of middle eastern/north african descent, sat in (i'd estimate) row 14D.
The entire time - boarding, taxi, take off and during the first half of the flight, the older man was turned around, conversing regularly and rather seriously with the two younger men. I couldn't recognise the language, but it wasn't European.
As the flight went on, the two men in front became more 'busy' - I could see through the small gap in the seat that they were both arched over their unfolded tray tables (they had not taken any food or drinks) and were busily working away at something co-operatively. The older gentleman in 14D was now permanantly turned around.
About 35 minutes into the flight, one of their cell phones rang. Yes, mid-flight. The guy in 17C answered and talked for about 30 seconds-1 minute. At this point, a middle aged businessman sat adjacent to them, in 17D, began looking across at them very dubiously, as if he was suspicious about their actions too. He kept an almost constant, suspicious stare on them, maybe trying to get their attention, as if to say "what the hell are you doing?". At least he was in the advantage of seeing what they were doing. I could only see through the gap. During the course of the flight, one of them men got up two times to go to the bathroom.
Then, with descent into Paris underway, both men got up and went to the rear lavatory. One of them came back after about 2-3 minutes, while the other stayed a good 10 minutes, well after the fasten seatbelt sign had been illuminated.
The guy who returned early went back to working on whatever it was he was working on before, again crouched over his still unfolded tray table and moving very quickly, and nervously. The older businessman looked very concerned at this point, as was I. Nothing was happening yet, but it felt like something was about to. The lone guy in seat 17B then used his phone to sent a text message (still in the air at this stage, again, defying the rules on mobile phone use on board a plane). I could see in gap that he was typing characters on his phone and sending them, but couldn't read what they were.
Finally, with only a few minutes to go until landing, the other guy returned from his seat and fastened up. The older guy in 14D began looking around again at this point, and conversing with them again.
Despite my (and i'd guess the businessman's) apprehensions that something was about to happen, nothing did and we landed safely.
However, while taxiing off the runway to the gate, one of the younger men made a phone call. Again, he was not supposed to. He then talked to whoever it was the whole way to the gate.
Then, once we came to a stop and everyone got up for their luggage, I noticed the two younger guys and the older gentleman making contact with a fourth man who I hadn't noticed before, again of middle eastern/north african descent, and again in his early twenties, sat a few rows back and on the other side - i'd estimate row 20F.
If that wasn't enough, the 4 of them turned up together at my connecting gate for the CDG-HKG leg and stood about just outside the gate waiting for the flight to be called even though there were plenty of seats. I didn't see them on the next flight. It was a large 773 and I was again near the back. The next time I saw them was on arrival to Hong Kong outside the terminal at the bus stands. It looked as if they were searching around for a bus to Tung Chung (which isn't anywhere near the city centre).
I realise all of this may not mean anything. But I do feel obliged to ask for advice on whether I should let some kind of authority know. It may be nothing, but it could be something. Like I said, I am a frequent flyer and therefore don't get suspicious about just anything, but i'll be honest and say that those few moments as we were about to land in Paris, I did actually think something was going to happen. Afterwards I considered it could be a dry run. Could it be? Do you all see this kind of thing a lot? Is it just unfair profiling coupled with some bizarre albeit innocent behaviour? In my mind, it is very odd behaviour: the 4 men being separated despite knowing each other, the activity in the seat, the phone calls and texts, the long excursions to the toilet, and of course their nervous demeanor. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but having done a google search before posting here, it does sound just like accounts of past "dry runs". But I have no real authority to judge.
So, could someone please give me an honest and blunt synopsis of what they think. It would be much appreciated. Thank you.