No threat found on delayed United flight at LAX

[Jason H]

Apparently all passengers were screened as well before the a/c departed, all because a guy had to use the toilet


The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Officials say there is no threat aboard a United Airlines aircraft that was cleared of passengers and searched in Los Angeles after a man ran to the restroom just before takeoff.

Los Angeles International Airport police say the passenger defied a flight attendant's order to remain seated because he urgently needed to use the restroom.

The man was taken off United Flight 22 Monday. the plane had been bound for New York.

LAX police spokesman Sgt. Jim Holcomb says nothing was found on the plane or in the baggage of the man and his companion. The FBI says no charges are expected.

United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski says the flight is scheduled to take off in the afternoon.

[Danny Rizk]

Middle Eastern Appearance.
Speaking Arabic.
And using the toilet.

Must be a terrorist...???


Honestly whats the world coming to?

[Michael Atkin]

Exactly that, a world of war and a world with people that want to blow up planes, and in my opinion they are the only ones that have made poeple think the worst of poeple who have that appearance. Don't get me wrong they probably did over react a little bit but i mean if you were in that situation im sure you would have thought it was a little bit suspicious.

[Andrew P]

Michael

where is the description fo the passenger given that allows you to make your .... comments?

[Michael Atkin]

There isn't in the passage, my comments are based on what danny has said above.

[Justin L]

Michael

where is the description fo the passenger given that allows you to make your .... comments?

Channel 9's Today Show ran the story this morning and the report mentioned an Arabic man was the passenger in question.

[KrishnaM]

also reported on 9 news last night that the man in question was arabic..

I wonder what they would have done had it been a white person..

[Andrew P]

stupid question, off-course they wound not have, it called paranoia

[Mike Scott]

All, depending on where the aircraft was (either on an active taxiway or positioning onto the active runway)nobody (regardless of race/color/or religion) is allowed to be out of their seat. Not only is it unsafe for the party involved it is a FAA (FAR) violation requiring the flight attendants to issue an immeadiate directive to remain in the seat. Should that directive not be followed they contact the cockpit and we are "REQUIRED" to either stop or exit the active until the situation is resolved. Such activity triggers an ATC response which in turn triggers a security response. LAX (and SFO) are large and busy airports and its not unusual for up to a dozen aircraft to be in line for departure...so any onboard activity requiring us to deviate from normal proceedure can impact everyone behind us which in turn can affect arriving aircrft depending on which runways/taxiways are in play.

The additional factor possibly in play (if it was a non english speaker)maybe simply the person didnt understand what was being said...no negative intention intended...the FA's repeat the PA request to resume the seat...non compliance requires them to act and the aircrft to return to the gate. Person involved would/could be charged with failing to obey directions of crew or the more serious chrge of interfering with flight crew. Either one isnt good but would probably dismissed in case of language/no ill intent situation.

The media are not relaible sources of information..they know nothing about aviation related matters or proceedures. They are however very good at hyping anything so that it either makes people watch tv or buy newspapers.

Regards

MS