Are things getting this tense on airlines? Glad I don't travel. . .

[episodic]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article1777847.ece


Basically, a top architect was assaulted by someone claiming to be a police officer on a plane and noone seemed to do much to help him. He was fine and eventually let go. Luckily this guy has enough money for lawyers. . .

 

[imported_LoKe]

And this is why terrorists have won. :thumbsdown:

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

what...the..HELL.

 

[Triumph]

No, they're not that tense. Just sounds like a nutjob passenger to me. Suspicious because he went to the bathroom and had an Ipod? WTF???

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: LoKe
And this is why terrorists have won. :thumbsdown:

Sounds like something a terrorist would say

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Triumph
No, they're not that tense. Just sounds like a nutjob passenger to me. Suspicious because he went to the bathroom and had an Ipod? WTF???

Actually, did you read where the passenger's thanked the guy? It did not seem as if the flight attendents or crew did much either. . .

 

[ForumMaster]

He has since been told by airline staff he was targeted because he was using an iPod, had used the toilet when he got on the plane and that his tan made him appear "Arab".

umm, ok he was usuing and ipod (a lot of ppl have ipods), he was using the toilet (so now we can't use the toilet?) and had a tan. WTF? i hope he gets several million from the airline for this.

 

[Pastore]

Since this is an international flight there are no air marshalls? Aren't marshalls required for all domestic flights now?

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: LoKe
And this is why terrorists have won. :thumbsdown:

Sounds like something a terrorist would say

:shiftyeyes;

 

[RelaxTheMind]

I travel a lot... yes in the past several years it went from "somewhat fun enjoable experience" to "boring and quite stressful"

The whole security thing has us strip down to everything but our boarding pass and single layer of clothing (not even a belt). Just about everyone but the flight attendants give you a look like your always up to something (much like a elementary school busdriver).

I have it down to a very light backpack (wallet, passport, boarding pass, a snack) and a pair of flip-flops to streamline the whole security check process. Dont forget more money because we arent allowed to keep drinks on the plane anymore.

So in effect I personally think that the terrorists won half the battle... hopefully round 2 goes a little better.

 

[Fenixgoon]

blame the american media for p*ssifying the nation. we're always supposed to be on the watch out, whether its for terrorists, bird flu, violence in the media affecting our children, etc:disgust:

if everyone stood up to those terrorists, none of the planes would have hit... sadly, intelligence is inversely proportional to the amount of people in the group - everyone sheeped along instead of rushing them (what are 4 T's with boxcutters gonna do vs. 50+ passengers?)

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
blame the american media for p*ssifying the nation. we're always supposed to be on the watch out, whether its for terrorists, bird flu, violence in the media affecting our children, etc:disgust:

if everyone stood up to those terrorists, none of the planes would have hit... sadly, intelligence is inversely proportional to the amount of people in the group - everyone sheeped along instead of rushing them (what are 4 T's with boxcutters gonna do vs. 50+ passengers?)

Well, if terrorists told you that they had bombs on a plane and threatened to blow it up if you tried to do anything... keep in mind you don't know the intentions of the terrorists... would you try to stop the terrorists still?

 

[DrPizza]

Suppose a terrorist custom made an ipod case out of another metal, say... sodium? Then replaced the electronics with real electronics? Water in the bathroom + sodium ipod = boom.

Not that you're going to bring a plane down with it, but you could cause one heck of a cabin fire (I think)

Or, suppose he made it out of magnesium, and somehow got it to ignite (electronics inside) - go ahead, try putting that magnesium fire out with water...

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Suppose a terrorist custom made an ipod case out of another metal, say... sodium? Then replaced the electronics with real electronics? Water in the bathroom + sodium ipod = boom.

Not that you're going to bring a plane down with it, but you could cause one heck of a cabin fire (I think)

Or, suppose he made it out of magnesium, and somehow got it to ignite (electronics inside) - go ahead, try putting that magnesium fire out with water...

Don't be a moron. Just because you can build a bomb out of anything doesn't mean the arab wearing sneakers has plastic explosives in them.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Suppose a terrorist custom made an ipod case out of another metal, say... sodium? Then replaced the electronics with real electronics? Water in the bathroom + sodium ipod = boom.

Not that you're going to bring a plane down with it, but you could cause one heck of a cabin fire (I think)

Or, suppose he made it out of magnesium, and somehow got it to ignite (electronics inside) - go ahead, try putting that magnesium fire out with water...

Isn't pure Na/Mg malleable?

At least that how I remembered it when my high school Chem teacher cut off a piece with his knife and tossed it into a bucket of water.

 

[doze]

Took a plane trip to visit the folks last weekend, got ticket 1 day in advance and it was still cheaper than driving considering time and convenience. If there were 2 or more people involved then driving would have been cheaper.

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Suppose a terrorist custom made an ipod case out of another metal, say... sodium? Then replaced the electronics with real electronics? Water in the bathroom + sodium ipod = boom.

Not that you're going to bring a plane down with it, but you could cause one heck of a cabin fire (I think)

Or, suppose he made it out of magnesium, and somehow got it to ignite (electronics inside) - go ahead, try putting that magnesium fire out with water...

i don't think a few grams of sodium and water could take out a 747.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: quizzelsnatch

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Suppose a terrorist custom made an ipod case out of another metal, say... sodium? Then replaced the electronics with real electronics? Water in the bathroom + sodium ipod = boom.

Not that you're going to bring a plane down with it, but you could cause one heck of a cabin fire (I think)

Or, suppose he made it out of magnesium, and somehow got it to ignite (electronics inside) - go ahead, try putting that magnesium fire out with water...

i don't think a few grams of sodium and water could take out a 747.

"reading" - try it.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
blame the american media for p*ssifying the nation. we're always supposed to be on the watch out, whether its for terrorists, bird flu, violence in the media affecting our children, etc:disgust:

if everyone stood up to those terrorists, none of the planes would have hit... sadly, intelligence is inversely proportional to the amount of people in the group - everyone sheeped along instead of rushing them (what are 4 T's with boxcutters gonna do vs. 50+ passengers?)

Well, if terrorists told you that they had bombs on a plane and threatened to blow it up if you tried to do anything... keep in mind you don't know the intentions of the terrorists... would you try to stop the terrorists still?

that is different because EVERYONE's lives are at stake by trying to take over.. but if 4 T's have boxcutters and want to fly the plane somewhere, you can sure as hell bet i'd make everyone fight. obviously i'm not going to win with a knife in a gunfight

 

[SophalotJack]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: LoKe
And this is why terrorists have won. :thumbsdown:

Sounds like something a terrorist would say

I think you just supported his point more than you can fatham.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
blame the american media for p*ssifying the nation. we're always supposed to be on the watch out, whether its for terrorists, bird flu, violence in the media affecting our children, etc:disgust:

if everyone stood up to those terrorists, none of the planes would have hit... sadly, intelligence is inversely proportional to the amount of people in the group - everyone sheeped along instead of rushing them (what are 4 T's with boxcutters gonna do vs. 50+ passengers?)

Well, if terrorists told you that they had bombs on a plane and threatened to blow it up if you tried to do anything... keep in mind you don't know the intentions of the terrorists... would you try to stop the terrorists still?

that is different because EVERYONE's lives are at stake by trying to take over.. but if 4 T's have boxcutters and want to fly the plane somewhere, you can sure as hell bet i'd make everyone fight. obviously i'm not going to win with a knife in a gunfight

The hijackers would most likely tell the hostages that they have a bomb (even if they didn't have on) and are going to land the plane to "subdue" the people. Unfortunately, calling the terrorists bluff could result in the lost of life of everyone on the plane given the alternative that the plane is going to land. And that's probably why the hostage do what the terrorists say until they realize its too late.

 

[brnbngls]

The supposed cops reaction is probably due to the story out of Toronto a few weeks ago about hte guy who dropped his ipod in the toilet by accident forcing the plane to land. Read on here somewhere. The guy even told the flight crew that he had dropped his ipod in htere by accident but they still landed the plane prematurely and conducted a full search. Anyway, this cop probably thought the passenger was up to something.

I gotta fly to Chicago this week. i'm taking my laptop but packing it in my suitcase. Apparently, most Dell and Apple laptops aren't allowed on the plane (or at least used on the plane) because of the explosive battery problem. So I'll go on the plane with my ipod shuffle and a magazine.

Do I think the US has been p*ssified? Maybe a little. But if we didn't conduct extensive security and something did happen, the public would scream that we aren't protective enough. So why take the chance?

 

[everman]

He has since been told by airline staff he was targeted because he was using an iPod, had used the toilet when he got on the plane and that his tan made him appear "Arab".

The airline staff on board the plane didn't do anything? They just let some guy claiming to be a police officer do this? Sounds like the airline is going to see a nice big lawsuit they'll probably end up settling for a hefty sum. I doubt he'll pursue criminal charges against the crazy guy though, he should.