Man studying English causes flight diversion

[question everything]

CHICAGO A Japanese businessman's English lesson caused his flight to make an unscheduled stop in Chicago yesterday. He scribbled the phrase "suicide bomb" on a piece of paper. Another passenger saw it and alerted a flight attendant.

The flight to Dayton, Ohio, returned to O'Hare Airport.

The man was briefly questioned and released without charge. He explained that he's reading newspapers to learn English, and writes down words that he doesn't understand to look them up later.

Police conducted a routine search of the plane and no bomb was found.

http://www.whotv.com/global/story.asp?s=2118372&ClientType=Printable

[LizW]

1. Argh, poor guy

I'll bet that was a harrowing experience, especially since he probably didn't understand what was happening.

[maxsolomon]

2. i've been on that fllight

and let me tell you, i'd be PISSED.

[kskiska]

3. I wonder if it was Eunice Stone who turned him in.

Remember her? The wingnut from Georgia who turned in those medical students after she thought she "overheard" them discussing terrorist acts in the middle of a Denny's restaurant. The Freeps managed to send enough e-mails to get them temporarily removed from their school in Florida.

[pinniped]

4. It happens all the time.

People scribble suicide bomb on a piece of paper right before they detonate it.

[question everything]

5. Tale of in-air scare raises security fears

By Leslie Miller
ASSOCIATED PRESS

August 2, 2004

WASHINGTON – A writer's harrowing account of the odd actions of 14 Middle Eastern men aboard a Detroit-to-Los Angeles flight in June is prompting new concerns about airline security. The men traveling together on the Northwest flight lingered in the bathroom, congregated in the aisles and signaled one another during the trip, according to the account. Passengers and the crew feared the men planned a hijacking, said the writer, Annie Jacobsen.

When Flight 327 landed June 29, the men were met by agents of the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Transportation Security Administration. Government officials confirm her account of the flight and the arrival scene. But they say none of the men posed a threat. In fact, they were members of a backup band for a singer, Nour Mehanna, who is described as "the Syrian Wayne Newton" and were heading to a show near San Diego. The Union-Tribune has confirmed they were going to perform at the Sycuan Resort & Casino.

(snip)

An alert passenger – Jacobsen – notified the flight crew of her suspicions. Air marshals on board kept tabs on the men during the flight, even inspecting the lavatory to make sure they had not left anything that might endanger the plane. Law enforcement officials met the musicians at the airport, questioned them extensively and checked their names against terrorist watch lists.

(snip)

Jacobsen said seven of the men stood up and went to the lavatories as the plane was preparing to land and the flight attendants were strapped in their seats. "They seemed to be more in charge of the aircraft than the flight attendants," Jacobsen said.

More..

Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040802/news_1n2security.html

[Laughing Mirror]

6. A "Syrian Wayne Newton"?

The original Stafford, Virginia Wayne Newton is scary enough. One can only wonder about the Syrian version.

Notice the overt bias in this San Diego article. The "harrowing account" of an "alert passenger." The 14 "Middle Eastern" men, seven of them "congregating" in the lavatories, the "frightening flight," the "fears" that "terrorists" were conducting "dry runs" for another attack.

Keep pumping out the fear and people, many ordinarily sane people, will get parano and afraid.

[Dem2theMax]

7. Overt bias is nothing new for the SD UnionTrib.

That's the paper my parents take. I just about gag every time I read it. I wish they'd change the name of the paper to "Vote for *" and be done with it. I'm surprised they let a few liberal cartoons in the paper.

[Moderator]

8. Duplicate

Continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=723242