Article

2007-09-22 Home Front: WoT

2 Passengers Arrested at RDU After Plane Disturbance

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Posted by 2007-09-22 00:05|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Air travel is becoming a nightmare. If they'd just agree to give out lots of free alcohol everytime there's a delay it would improve things significantly.

Posted by NOLA">NOLA 2007-09-22 03:29|| 2007-09-22 03:29|| Front Page Top

#2 Authorities did not immediately release the names of the two people who were arrested.
I got 20 bucks says there's a Mohammed or some such shit in there.

My occupation requires that I fly frequently. If there is ever a "serious disturbance" on one of those flights, I will happily be arrested for assault and plain old ass stomping abuse upon landing.

Posted by JerseyMike 2007-09-22 03:58|| 2007-09-22 03:58|| Front Page Top

#3 Update at 2:20 a.m., same link:

The FBI early Saturday said a misunderstanding apparently sparked a Friday night incident in which dozens of law-enforcement and emergency personnel met a flight from Florida to RDU International Airport and 27 passengers waited four hours to go home with baggage that had been checked by bomb-disposal experts.

RDU officials had reported two people were arrested after American Eagle Flight 4518 was met by RDU police, the FBI and airport emergency crews. They had been told by the plane's crew that something suspicious was going on, officials said.

Hours later, the FBI said it was closing the case and that there had been a misunderstanding on the plane. "Approximately 30 minutes prior to landing, a flight attendant observed suspicious activity by two of the passengers and reported this activity accordingly," the FBI said in a statement. "Subsequent investigation, including interviews with those aboard the aircraft and a search of the airplane, has determined there was never any apparent threat or danger to the passengers or crew, and the observed activity was apparently misperceived," agents added.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-22 06:19|| 2007-09-22 06:19|| Front Page Top

#4 My occupation requires that I fly frequently. If there is ever a "serious disturbance" on one of those flights, I will happily be arrested for assault and plain old ass stomping abuse upon landing.

Mike, the frequent flier guy next to you with a shaved head and mustache that's stomping the ever living shit out of 'em also: that'll be me.

Posted by mcsegeek1 2007-09-22 12:04|| 2007-09-22 12:04|| Front Page Top

#5 What I want to know is why, after the plane landed at RDU, it was 45 minutes before police boarded it. WTF?

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2007-09-22 12:14|| 2007-09-22 12:14|| Front Page Top

#6 UPDATE:
Turns out the whole thing was a non-incident, caused by a clueless and overzealous flight attendant.

The FBI early Saturday said a misunderstanding apparently sparked an incident on a flight from Florida that Raleigh-Durhuam International Airport officials initially classified as a possible terrorist incident.

FBI agents determined that a "misperception" caused the alert and said there was never any threat to passengers or crew members.

American Eagle Flight 4518 left from Jacksonville, Fla., at 7:10 p.m. for Raleigh. "Approximately 30 minutes prior to landing, a flight attendant observed suspicious activity by two of the passengers and reported this activity accordingly," the FBI said in a statement.

Dozens of law-enforcement and emergency personnel met the plane at a remote part of the airfield around 8:20 p.m. Three crew members and 27 passengers were kept on the plane for more than an hour, until RDU police, FBI agents and airport emergency crews evacuated them on movable stairs around 9:50 p.m.

RDU police bused passengers to a building where they were questioned, and explosives teams checked the bags form the flight.

Early reports said the FBI arrested two passengers, but hours later, the FBI said it had arrested no one and was closing the case.

"Subsequent investigation, including interviews with those aboard the aircraft and a search of the airplane, has determined there was never any apparent threat or danger to the passengers or crew, and the observed activity was apparently misperceived," agents added.

Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, four hours after their plane landed, passengers were taken to terminal C, where they collected their bags, which had been checked by bomb-disposal experts, and went on their way.

RDU commercial operations proceeded normally during the incident, with both main runways open.

The reported "disturbance" on the plane was initially classified as a terrorist threat as a precaution, according to RDU Spokeswoman Colleen Fischvogt.

Posted by mcsegeek1 2007-09-22 12:18|| 2007-09-22 12:18|| Front Page Top

#7 a non-incident, caused by a clueless and overzealous flight attendant.

I'm not usually paranoid, but for this one my response is, "So they say now."

Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-22 13:06|| 2007-09-22 13:06|| Front Page Top

#8 De ja vu, FBI also declared no problem with the boys caught with "fireworks" in the car.

Are they practicing "catch and release", hoping to get more on them?

Posted by meeps 2007-09-22 18:44|| 2007-09-22 18:44|| Front Page Top

#9 Lacrosse players.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-09-22 19:02|| 2007-09-22 19:02|| Front Page Top

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