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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| AirTran apologizes to Muslim family removed from plane |
| 2009-01-03 |
| OK, it's time to play Bait the Troll again! Nice of the MSM to provide this follow-up article that basically sheds no new light on a very obvious situation! :-) AirTran Airways apologized Friday to members of a Muslim family for kicking them off a plane and refusing to rebook them despite requests from FBI agents who had cleared them of wrongdoing. The families of Atif Irfan, a tax attorney, and his brother Kashif Irfan, an anesthesiologist, were removed from a flight in Washington before takeoff Thursday after a passenger reported hearing Atif Irfan's wife say something suspicious. The FBI interviewed the family and cleared them of wrongdoing. "We regret that the issue escalated to the heightened security level it did," AirTran said in a statement Friday afternoon. "But we trust everyone understands that the security and the safety of our passengers is paramount." Sounds more like an explainer than an apology. Unless you're gunning for a lawsuit. The airline said it had refunded the family's money and offered to fly the family home to Washington free. One family member, Kashif Irfan, said Friday he was "very appreciative and surprised" by AirTran's apology. "It's a very generous gesture," he said. The statement was an abrupt about-face for the airline, which three hours earlier had issued a press release with an unapologetic description of the incident. Doesn't sound like any kind of change to me. Just the MSM trying to make news. In that statement, the airline said it did not re-book the family only because the security concern had not been resolved, and because one member of the group "became irate and made inappropriate comments." Were they there the whole time? I somehow doubt it. That account differed from accounts from the family and the FBI. The FBI said agents interviewed the family, resolved the security concerns and then tried to help re-schedule the flight with the airline. The FBI ultimately helped the family book a flight on US Airways. The dispute occurred about 1 p.m. Thursday as Atif Irfan and his brother Kashif Irfan boarded AirTran flight 175 at Reagan National Airport near Washington for a trip to Orlando, Florida. They were accompanied by their wives, a sister and three children. Federal officials say a passenger on the plane notified a flight attendant about a suspicious conversation, and the flight attendant notified the pilot and Federal air marshals who were aboard. The pilot asked the air marshals to remove the passengers, said Transportation Security Administration spokesman Christopher White. "The conversation, as we were walking through the plane trying to find our seats, was just about where the safest place in an airplane is," said Inayet Sahin, Kashif Irfan's wife. "We were [discussing whether it was safest to sit near] the wing, or the engine or the back or the front. But that's it. We didn't say anything else that would raise any suspicion." Didn't want to fall off the wrong side of the razor's edge. The conversation did not contain the words "bomb," "explosion," "terror" or other words that might have aroused suspicion, Atif Irfan said. Didn't need to. The conversation was suspicious enough to someone just casually paying attention. "When we were talking, when we turned around, I noticed a couple of girls kind of snapped their heads," said Sobia Ijaz, Atif Irfan's wife. "I kind of thought to myself, 'Oh, you know, maybe they're going to say something.' It didn't occur to me that they were going to make it such a big issue." And Hamas wonders what all the fuss is about with the Kassams, too. But hey, we'll save that for later. Authorities first removed Atif Irfan and Sobia Ijaz, then returned for the rest of the family, including three small children. They also removed a family friend, Abdul Aziz, a Library of Congress attorney who was coincidentally taking the same flight and had been seen talking with the family. After the FBI interviewed family members, the agency released them, Irfan said. "The FBI agents actually cleared our names," said Sahin. "They went on our behalf and spoke to the airlines and said, 'There is no suspicious activity here. They are clear. Please let them get on a flight so they can go on their vacation,' and they still refused." Probably wanted to make sure they had adult supervision on any subsequent flights. In statements Thursday night and Friday morning, AirTran said it "complied with all TSA, law enforcement and Homeland Security directives and had no discretion in the matter." But TSA spokesman White said it was the pilot's decision to remove the family and the airline and pilot had the ultimate authority to decide whether to allow the family back on AirTran flights. An FBI spokesman confirmed Friday that agents intervened on behalf of the family with AirTran. When AirTran declined to book the family, agents helped them get tickets with US Airways, FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said. "Our agents went way out of their way to make sure this family went on their trip," Kolko said. Nice, considering how the family went out of their way to ensure that an entire flight got delayed for a couple of hours based on their "innocent" conversation. After the family and friend were taken for questioning, the remaining 95 passengers, the crew and baggage were removed from the plane and rescreened, AirTran said. "Free rescreenings for everybody! Woohoo!" Family members said Friday they had not decided whether to accept AirTran's apology, saying there were a variety of opinions. As to whether or not they could possibly get any money out of this, I suppose. Better not cave or I'm going to put me on a barbeque cover and walk down airplane aisles talking about where the best place to sit on an airplane might be. Meanwhile, an Islamic group -- the Council on Islamic American Relations, or CAIR -- filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees airlines. Note to editor: Remove preceding unnecessary paragraph. Stating the obvious is a waste of ink. "We believe this disturbing incident would never have occurred had the Muslim passengers removed from the plane not been perceived by other travelers and airline personnel as members of the Islamic faith," CAIR said in its complaint. Gee, I wonder why that is. |
| Posted by:gorb |
| #3 fuck em tell em too walk too their conference |
| Posted by: rabid whitetail 2009-01-03 15:52 |
| #2 I spy a pattern: perfectly innocent Muslims dolled up in traditional garb going to a "religious convention" and making comments/gestures to gin up a response from others on the flight and then cry martyr. The FBI steps in to pave the way for their Lawfare suit and to play travel agent for the aggrieved victims of Islamofobia. Is there anyway the airline or beleagured passengers can sue these clowns for the pain and suffering caused by these assclowns? |
| Posted by: regular joe 2009-01-03 15:41 |
| #1 When AirTran declined to book the family, agents helped them get tickets with US Airways, FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said. A kinder, gentler, more compassionate bureau. I wonder if they would have extended the same courtesy to you or I? I can just see the USAir Ticket agent now.... My name is Special Agent Smith, this is Special Agent Jones (flashes creds), I need a ticket for this lovely bunch of people. Please wave the 14 day advance booking requirements. Any questions? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-01-03 08:17 |