Terrorists possilby conduct "dry run" on US Airways flight

[fickman]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/11/in ... latestnews

On a Sept. 2 flight from Reagan National Airport in Washington to Orlando, a "Middle Eastern" man rose from his seat and sprinted toward the cockpit, before veering sharply to go into the forward restroom, according to the memo. While he was in there, sever other men moved about the cabin, changing seats and going into overhead bins, it says.

This was serious enough that people have been detained and the TSA and the airline confirmed the incident.

It seems they may be working on tactics to quickly identify the air marshals on a given flight.

Stay vigilant!

[Abraham]

Yeah, or he really needed to go to the restroom...c'mon sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...

[howdy]

The Air Marshalls are very well versed in this type of tactic. (I am a retired Delta Captain and FFDO)

[fickman]

Yeah, or he really needed to go to the restroom...c'mon sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...

And sometimes it's not. . .

Four passengers aboard the flight were detained by local law enforcement authorities upon arrival in Orlando due to suspicious behavior during the flight, according to a statement by Michelle Mohr, a spokeswoman for US Airways.

The TSA said in a statement the incident was checked out thoroughly.

the pilot of a subsequent, return flight bearing the same flight number, 1880, ordered an inspection of the plane after eight women in burkas showed up at the boarding gate. The memo claims that "evidence of tampering was found," though it does not elaborate.

One expert speculated that the efforts may have been aimed at sizing up security procedures and spotting air marshals aboard flights.

Hope for the best and prepare the worst. I used very non-definitive wording e.g. "possibly". I'll echo my conclusion: Be vigilant!

[gthaustex]

Scary stuff. I'm not surprised though.

[jmra]

Used to fly a lot. Now if I can't drive I don't go.

[cb1000rider]

The fact that you can walk onto almost any general aviation airport in the country and board a jet without passing through a single security gate proves to me that the TSA is one of our biggest mistakes ever.

[fickman]

The fact that you can walk onto almost any general aviation airport in the country and board a jet without passing through a single security gate proves to me that the TSA is one of our biggest mistakes ever.

No disagreement here. . . for a myriad of reasons. It's the darkest cloud over Bush' presidency.

[mamabearCali]

Perhaps they did not get the memo. We hardened the cockpit doors. Now there are still problems in airport security, most of which IMO are caused by the TSA. They can possibly take down one flight....but no one after 9-11 is going to sit there and wait as we are turned into a missle. 9-11 changed the mindset of the passengers and that was what is the real game changer.

Every expert I have read about on this (and I have read 6 books on this in the past month) says that though there is still more security it is the mindset of the passengers that actually keeps us safer in the air.

[The Annoyed Man]

Perhaps they did not get the memo. We hardened the cockpit doors. Now there are still problems in airport security, most of which IMO are caused by the TSA. They can possibly take down one flight....but no one after 9-11 is going to sit there and wait as we are turned into a missle. 9-11 changed the mindset of the passengers and that was what is the real game changer.

Every expert I have read about on this (and I have read 6 books on this in the past month) says that though there is still more security it is the mindset of the passengers that actually keeps us safer in the air.

People are no longer willing to be cowed by a simple box-cutter. And since we can't even take our nail-clippers on board, it's a strictly mano-a-mano affair now. I would pretty much never willingly enter into a physical altercation with someone else, because I have little hope of prevailing due to age and infirmity. But put me in an airliner, and the alternative being driven into mother earth at a vertical 600 knots, I would assault an NFL linebacker if it might make a difference. It's the biggest gift Todd Beamer and his fellow passengers gave us as a nation: You can resist, and you can make a difference.

[jmra]

Perhaps they did not get the memo. We hardened the cockpit doors. Now there are still problems in airport security, most of which IMO are caused by the TSA. They can possibly take down one flight....but no one after 9-11 is going to sit there and wait as we are turned into a missle. 9-11 changed the mindset of the passengers and that was what is the real game changer.

Every expert I have read about on this (and I have read 6 books on this in the past month) says that though there is still more security it is the mindset of the passengers that actually keeps us safer in the air.

People are no longer willing to be cowed by a simple box-cutter. And since we can't even take our nail-clippers on board, it's a strictly mano-a-mano affair now. I would pretty much never willingly enter into a physical altercation with someone else, because I have little hope of prevailing due to age and infirmity. But put me in an airliner, and the alternative being driven into mother earth at a vertical 600 knots, I would assault an NFL linebacker if it might make a difference. It's the biggest gift Todd Beamer and his fellow passengers gave us as a nation: You can resist, and you can make a difference.

100%.

[Chuck Amuck]

"The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is Supplemental." - John Steinbeck

[cb1000rider]

Every expert I have read about on this (and I have read 6 books on this in the past month) says that though there is still more security it is the mindset of the passengers that actually keeps us safer in the air.

I completely agree. The mindset of a highjacked commercial flight will be to assume that you're going to die. Doing nothing will no longer be the default.
I think that the hardening of commercial cockpits is great. And I agree with air marshals.
I don't agree with having minimally qualified personnel going through my things. I don't agree with having them search my kids. I don't agree with having them take away items that can be bought as soon as I'm past the gate.
Most of it is massive tax dollar waste.

Thank goodness I can fly myself and often choose to do so at the cost of greater time and greater expense.