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Muslims taken off AirTran jet for remarks

by Amy Judd | January 2, 2009 at 06:35 pm

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Nine Muslims who had borded an AirTran flight from Washington DC to Florida, were ordered off the plane after they had taken their seats, when passengers said they had heard what they called suspicious remarks.

Federal air marshals then came on to the plane and escorted the passengers off. Eight of them are US citizens and they were later given an apology and cleared for travel.

Shortly after taking their seats, they were approached by federal air marshals and taken off the plane for questioning, Irfan said.

Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart about two hours behind schedule.

Mr Irfan said after his group was cleared by officials to travel, AirTran refused to put them on another flight and they were forced to rebook with another airline.

An Airtran statement said "we apologise to all of the passengers - to the nine who had to undergo extensive interviews from the authorities and to the 95 who ultimately made the flight,".

"We regret that the issue escalated to the heightened security it did," it added, but said "the steps taken were necessary."

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Uwe Paschen

at 19:16 on January 2nd, 2009

This is ridiculous and Phobic.

Barry ORegan

at 22:03 on January 2nd, 2009

Tragic sign of the times I suppose! Especially when you cannot even bring toiletries on board anymore because some Nutjob found a way to use the bottles into explosives.

ItzaFineDay

at 00:02 on January 3rd, 2009

Actually, the entire liquid explosives scare that led to the an on liquids on flights, proved to be based on false information, if not sheer fabrication. There are countless ways to conceal liquid, regardless.

Justman

at 22:31 on January 2nd, 2009

While it is a tragic mistake that had a happy ending. Someone should be held responsible for the Islamophobia that took place on the plane and unfortunately has taken the western world by a storm. I bet the suspicious remarks were the "Arabic language" spoken between the accused.

Mary Richard

at 00:19 on January 3rd, 2009

They were talking about where the safest place on the plane to sit would be.

Iffy (not verified)

at 01:23 on January 3rd, 2009

Perfectly reasonable response by the other passengers I am afraid. At various times, radical muslims have tested security and passenger alertness to see if people are slacking off. We need to stay alert at all times and be ready to act. When I get on a plane I am 'combat ready': alert to anyone who is suspicious in behaviour or appearance and I am ready to act if they start something. So should you be.