Suspicious Activity on NW: DTW/LAX

[ChuckC]

There's been quite a buzz in the US about this recent incident on an NW flight bound for LAX from DTW. A group of eight or so men of middle Eastern appearance (turns out they are Syrian) boarded together, congregated during the flight and, as landing was announced simultenously got out of their seats and stood near both restroom doors. The other pax were apparently quite alarmed fairly early in the flight (no, really?) and the crew (including a federal air marshal, thankfully) kept watch but did not approach the group. Upon arrival in LAX all sorts of law enforcement met the plane and after interviewing the group, learned that they are members of a Syrian band who were traveling to LA for a gig (seriously). The band was not identified and the government had little to say about the incident.

Some are assailing the government for being too politically correct (who would ever say that about the US government?). Flight attendants later interviewed said that they had heard reports of suspicious folks flying "practice flights" (as did the 9/11 team) recently.

Did anyone else catch this story (BTW, if you have access, it appeared in yesterday's New York Times on writer Joe Sharkey's regular travel page?

I read the story on my way home to LA from NYC yesterday and it gave me more than a little chill.

Regards,
Chuck-

[Bazz]

This sound really weird and scary.

The page is on free subscription, here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/business/20road.html

There was reference to another website, womenswallstreet.com the full article is here:

http://www.womenswallstreet.com/WWS/art ... icleid=711

I am surprised if the authorities took no action, the behaviour was suspicious and would appear contrived to cause alarm. If it was a joke it was in very bad taste. I am surprised that someone didn't "have a go".

Wow - now that is scarey alright - I can well imagine how that woman felt [V] Very surprised that no-one challenged them or had a go [?]

Cheers

Michael

[ChuckC]

Just the fact that a swarm of federal agents and Los Angeles police showed up at the aircraft door on the flight's arrival should tell you something.

Regards,
Chuck-

Hi Chuck - I meant I was surprised no-one challenged them onboard - glad to see that they were met by a large crowd of the big fellas

I just thought that at the least an FA might have requested that they sit down, or the captain make an announcement to sit down - especially bearing in mind the touchy "congregating" rules that seem to operate these days on US domestic flights [?]

Cheers

Michael

Alternative view here
http://www.donaldsensing.com/2004/07/ca ... -hoax.html

It soes sound like paranoia, plus, if the Capt was suspicious, he would have gone to the nearest airport, do you think that the USAF would not have escorted the plane into LAX? Why would a FA talk to a pax to make notes when the plane was full of Air Marshalls?????

[Bazz]

Having read all the various posts on the links, I am still alarmed by some of the activities that were allegedly witnessed. Donald Sensing's views don't really throw much light on the subject, presumably because of the apparent difficulty in obtaining the real facts about what happened.

The bit about several of the "band" getting up and congregating when the seat belt signs were on just prior to landing when even the crew were still in their jump seats hasn't been addressed and, if true, is very odd behaviour indeed.

The FAA "anti-congregating by the washrooms" rule beggars belief, after meals are cleared or after a prolonged "fasten seat belts" period poeple need a leak and congregate by the loos what else are they supposed to do, take a ticket and return to their seat to wait for ther number to be called? How do you differentiate between people waitin for the washrooms and people congregating or just stretching their legs against DVT or cramp?

A lot of the other behaviour, eye contact, etc., etc., is no more than you would get with any group travelling together but split up on the plane, we have all witnessed it many times I am sure. The difference here is that this group were arabs and americans are particularly nervous since 9/11, if it were a bunch of college kids or businessmen on the way to a convention nothing would have been said.

I would have been nervous myself in those circumstances. We are taught to look for suspicious behaviour, it is a condition of the world we currently occupy that what would not be suspicious behaviour by any other race becomes suspicious when performed by people of arab appearance. This is not good but it is a fact of life!

I think the jury will remain out on this one for a long time.

It is interesting to see how the views expressed on this subject in this forum are so different compared to those expressed at flyertalk. At FT, the views expressed are almost universally dismissive of the report.

Some of the opinions I have read have given me the impression that perhaps the reporter already has a bad reputation in the US therefore making the article less credible.

There are definately some discrepancies in the report such as one of the men mouthing "No" when they had spent the whole flight speaking in arabic.

Since it has caused so much comment I am surprised we haven't heard an account from any of the other passengers on the flight.

[ChuckC]

Mike,
Actually the story ran again this morning here in the US, on MSNBC, with another passenger being interviewed. He spoke of his hands trembling as he told an FA how scared he was, and that the FA's response was that the crew was fully aware and that "there are people higher than you or me on board" who were also aware.

The report when on to say that several airline crews have reported questionable incidents very similar to the DTW/LAX flight to the FAA and Homeland Security Dept., including a flight from San Juan to the mainland. The reporter said that what troubled flight crews in all instances was the pattern of conduct appearing to the be that of individuals "testing" security procedures, e.g. the "no congregating" rule. In the DTW instance the pax may have repeatedly taken McDonald's bags into the restrooms; this should have alerted the crew because airlines have been told that Al Quaida would attempt to smuggle bomb parts on board and assemble them in restrooms.

IMHO there is no reason whatsoever for anyone to be dismissive of this information.

PS: A threatening note was found on an Amtrak train headed to NYC this morning; the train was stopped for 90 minutes while all pax were asked to produce ID.

Regards,
Chuck-

Sorry Chuck,
To me it seems like histeria is taking over again. Next will be an innocent Arab looking chap being killed on a flight because he went to a bathroom after another arab looking person.

Looking at the security film of the hijackers being checked at security for weapons and them nor finding anything is more of a concern.

Remember we in the UK have lived under the terrorist threat for a very long time.
I should have also said, that of course be vigalent,you have to be, the same as we have to be but vigalent and vigalant are different. I just cannot belive that Homeland security would have allowed the plane to fly into the largest city in the USA without a fighter escort, when any aircraft that strays a little going into R Regan airport ends up with a fighter escort.

[ChuckC]

You make good points, Alan. I appreciate especially your point of having lived under the threat of terrorism in the UK. Having been through attacks on your homeland, you already know that life changes after one is violated by a terrorist.

From my vantage point, regardless of an occasional hysterical reaction to a situation that may be less than it appears, the lesson for us V-Flyers is to, as you say, remain vigilant. It is essential for our survival.

Regards to all.

Chuck-

Chuck,
It's s a very sad fact of modern life now
A small group of thugs and scum can disrupt the majorities lives far beyond their actual capabilities, but you do have to take all precautions you can.

My feelings are that these lowlife will target something else before another plane, something less secure but with the same impact.

I just wish they could get Bin Laden and parade his head through NBew York.