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Passengers getting jittery

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Old 18th Aug 2006, 13:11
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Passengers getting jittery

Have heard that two arabian appearance passengers were put off a Monarch flight returning from Malaga early Wednesday morning after passengers protested and refused to fly with them saying they might be terrorists and that two GB Airways flights to Tenerife experienced similar problem on Wednesday with passengers refusing to fly with 'suspicious' co-travellers. Anyone know anything about this?
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 13:36
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No, but I got into serious trouble in Egypt whilst boarding an internal Egyptair flight earlier this year for standing at the foot of the stairs and raising my face to the sun. I was waiting for the meatballs ahead of me to sort themselves out and embark. Whilst indulging in this little heliotropism I was singing a little Mozart to myself.
Egyptian security apparently thought that I was saying a final prayer to whatever divinity they supposed I worshipped, before, presumably, blowing us all to kingdom come.
After the ensuing security brouhaha, my wife and I were allowed to board and fly away, which was nice. I complimented security on their astute assumption of the fact that I might be a terrorist and assured them that I would not be making racist claims to the press. My khaki trousers were only somewhat baggy.
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 14:22
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Hmmm

It would appear, that If security don't start profiling the passengers; then the passengers will very likely start profiling their fellow passengers for their own peace of mind!

I predict more of this kind of thing to start happening until, real profiling is actually brought in officially.

ho hum..
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 17:16
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Originally Posted by Out Of Trim
Hmmm

It would appear, that If security don't start profiling the passengers; then the passengers will very likely start profiling their fellow passengers for their own peace of mind!

I predict more of this kind of thing to start happening until, real profiling is actually brought in officially.

ho hum..
Wife flew back to the land of Bear and Snow yesterday as SLF in Row 2, K.

Guy in Row 2, C - other side of the middle bank, was of Pakistani and or North African appearance. Probably a Canadian citizen, born in the Great White North.

Wife who is as tolerant as they come, made eye contact with him, he in turn her, and her level headed disposition turned to the dark side...

Out of Trim is dead right - even the most level headed of pax, and even crew, will start profiling...

Time to get the security overhaul underway...
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 18:36
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It's getting to sad state of affairs if pax are eyeballing each other to see if they fit their profile of a potential terrorist.

What we all need is to be able to trust the security checks prior to boarding.

I can remember flying out of JFK in the early 80's in my teens and being freaked out that I wasn't searched prior to boarding a plane - how things have changed now.

Profiling by our security in London is nothing but common sense and eases the congestion to get air side. I can't help but wonder when common sense will rise above what is now almost hysteria?
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 19:13
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Thread moved here from R&N by Danny - please note the number of deleted posts further up.

The thread will stay open as long as the views expressed remain adult, considered, legal and acceptable (think that covers everything). If it slides into racist comment, or a slanging match... it goes.

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Old 18th Aug 2006, 20:08
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Have heard that two arabian appearance passengers were put off a Monarch flight returning from Malaga early Wednesday morning after passengers protested and refused to fly with them saying they might be terrorists and that two GB Airways flights to Tenerife experienced similar problem on Wednesday with passengers refusing to fly with 'suspicious' co-travellers.
Hmm...this leaves me wondering...how many passengers have to protest before the other passengers [of concern] are taken off the airplane? Is it two, a few, or a handful?

Conversely, at what point would the airline remove a "concerned" passenger making a fuss about the gentlemen who they feel looks like a terrorist?

Has the latter occured? Anyone who is groundstaff or crew have experience?
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 21:11
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Perhaps they should have a show of hands as each passenger boards the plane?
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 21:16
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Perhaps we could have Islamic and Non-Islamic flights? Flying apartheid anyone?
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 21:23
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You know, I can recall, that at certain times in the past when things were at their worst with the IRA, people in London would sometimes react a bit strange the minute someone with an Irish accent spoke (no matter how innocent).

I guess the same is happening here, with each person having an image (rightly or wrongly) in their mind of what a plane bomber looks like. If profiling has been shown to work, with the likes of El Al,then I see no reason not to adopt it. The threat won't always be the same, and profiling is a technique which seems very flexible.
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 21:51
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The two GB Airways passengers for Tenerife were not offloaded due to the other passengers refusing to fly with them.

The "Gentleman" and his son in question were offloaded, arrested by the police and banned for life from British Airways or its subsidiary companies for using threatening and abusive behaviour to a BA staff member. The rumour that passengers refused to fly with them is unfounded, but probably caused by the rush of people that volunteered to act as witnesses!
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Old 18th Aug 2006, 22:04
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Thanks bealine for bringing us "real" information on this!
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Old 19th Aug 2006, 00:45
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I had a similar experience tonight when boarding in Spain. Two British ladies travelling with their young children began complaining about a Muslim (he even has a beard, they said!) pax, who had behaved suspiciously in the terminal and prayed (which - naturally - should be a crime when done at an airport... ).

After some enqueries I found out the pax had all ready complained at the terminal, and the poor Muslim had been checked by security twice - and nothing suspicious had been found.

I tried to explain to the ladies that he was probably just a nervous flyer. After all, I've seen probably hundreds of Christians grasping their rosaries or Bibles during flights without offending anybody. Just because they're Muslim doesn't make them a terrorist.

The ladies had none of it, and threatened to offload themselves. I basically pointed out the door to them, but turned out it had been an idle threat, more designed to get rid of the poor Muslim.

With little option the ladies settled down and we managed to take off. Shortly after the seatbelt sign had gone off another lady, who sat behind our Muslim "terrorist", approaches me and told me she was terrified because the Muslim pax was being "weird".

When I was finally pushing my drinks trolley past this highly suspicious terrorist, I noticed he was in fact sleeping peacefully - and continued to do so the whole flight.

Words paranoid and racist spring to my mind... I do understand people are concerned at a time like this, but surely they should have at least SOME faith in the apt security - even if it's Spanish (one of the major concerns for the ladies seemed to be, that things were not done the same way as in good old England. Wanted to tell her that the British Empire has collapsed quite a while ago, but self preservation stopped me. Surely the world would be a better place without people like her?)

I guess it was a good thing I DIDN'T tell her our F/O was a Muslim...
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Old 19th Aug 2006, 17:14
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Originally Posted by Middle Seat
Hmm...this leaves me wondering...how many passengers have to protest before the other passengers [of concern] are taken off the airplane? Is it two, a few, or a handful?
Just the one, apparently.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...-winnipeg.html
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Old 20th Aug 2006, 09:46
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We seem to have two stories here - GB Airways & Monarch ... and this has appeared on BBC News today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5267884.stm

As an British Asian, I'm somewhat appalled if the press reports of a passenger mutiny are true.

Jordan
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Old 20th Aug 2006, 10:01
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jordan

hello jordan
please can you tell me why taking 2 people of the a/c
upset you so much

if you and you family were on a aircraft and you see something
that you didnt like or worried you would you not want it sorted
before you departed ?

everyone has to get over this RACE thing
white black green or purple
this is not a dig at any race just a moving threat
that could come from any nation at any time
and this time its muslims not all just a few out of millions
but thats just the way it is if it was me as a white british
person in another nation i would understand and be willing
to help with any questions the police or security would have
to ask me
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Old 20th Aug 2006, 10:50
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This is a difficult one. No security system is perfect. Regarding the reactions of pax. Its a natural reaction to be suspicious and have some fear of the percieved/real threat -especially given SOME of the reporting in our papers.
However I shall give you two incidents and let you make up your own minds...

1995, my first assigment from the UK to USA. My two collegues and I. Got to Atlanta and at immigration, I got seperated my two collegues. I think I recall at least two interviews with officials in some side office -followed by a third informal chat with another. Meanwhile the other two are with luggage and waiting and have been wondering where I'd got too. When I finally arrived out and we all met up. I just laughed it off. My point is that profiling in one way shape or form has been around for ages, its an inconvienience but in some way shape or form, necessary at this time. Just bear with it... yes i'm not white or a muslim.

2005, my neighbour -flight deck crew at LHR witnessed an incident. Having completed a flight, he and his crew shared a crew bus with a PIA crew. Whilst waiting to go through the usual security checks. He noticed the behaviour of the staff to the PIA crew. The officials gave the crew of a PIA flight a tough time of it. My friend came away with the perception that members of this crew where being treated harshly. My friend made a good point. So this is a flight crew flying for their national carrier -probably proud to do so. They have landed, parked up the a/c and probably looking forward towards getting out of the airport and to their hotel. Why would the security officials give them a tough time?

Just my 2p worth.
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Old 20th Aug 2006, 10:51
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Methinks you are being a little naive there Daz.
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Old 20th Aug 2006, 11:11
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phoenix da cat

why do you think that ?

It might just be my age or upbringing
but i hate it when people have to bring race into it
this country has become a nanny state
trying not to upset people from other walk of life
eg
no more bar bar black sheep
we get asked not to fly the english flag to suport our country
we cant tell jokes about small people irish people gay people
black people and the list goes on

my point is if i were asian i would expect to be looked at
in airports and be subjected to more security checks
thats the way of life im not saying all asians are terrorists
but in the current situation i would expect it

the same as if i was wearing a hoodie i would expect
people to think i was up to no good

the point is if a granny blew up a aircraft all passengers and security would
be keeping an eye on all old grannys
so stop being a victim if you have nothing to hide whats the problem
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Old 20th Aug 2006, 12:53
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Have heard that two arabian appearance passengers were put off a Monarch flight returning from Malaga early Wednesday morning after passengers protested and refused to fly with them saying they might be terrorists
Without trying to be racist,how are any flights from birmingham going to get airborne,due to the high percentage of arabic looking,/muslims etc etc in that place if this sort of mutiny lark catches on?
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