Pràyérs spârk scare on airplane

[steff]

On Sunday, three Orthodox Jewish businessmen triggered fears on a flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles.

Passengers on Alaska Airlines Flight 241 became alarmed when the three men began to pray out loud. "Shortly after takeoff ... three passengers were praying out loud in a language other than Spanish," according to an airline spokeswoman.

"They had something that appeared to the flight attendants to be strapped under their clothing," the spokeswoman said. "The flight attendants alerted the flight deck, who in turn alerted the tower at LAX. Law enforcement met the plane upon arrival."

During weekday prayers, some Orthodox Jewish men wear teflillin, or phylacteries - black leather straps wrapped around the left arm and around the forehead. The straps are connected to small boxes with tiny scrolls containing Jewish scriptures. Many Orthodox Jewish men also wear a prayer shawl called a tallit under their clothes, with knotted fringes at each of the four corners.

The airline spokeswoman said she was unaware if the men were wearing either of these traditional items.

When the planed landed at LAX it was greeted by members of airport police, the FBI and Customs and Border Protection.

According to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller, the men were questioned and their baggage was searched before they were cleared to go.

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/14/prayers-spark-scare-on-airplane/?hpt=T2

[Bluerobin]

Well, if they didn't hijack or blow up the plane, why search them AFTER the flight? Only the TSA could be this dumb!

[Value Buy]

Mar 15, 2011 7:27:19 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Well, if they didn't hijack or blow up the plane, why search them AFTER the flight? Only the TSA could be this dumb!

Bluerobin, funny how a liberal would read it after the flight.
This Conservative read it as before boarding. When coming in from out of country, does one not go thru customs automatically, so you would be searched?
Or excuse my lack of knowledge, do we not go thru customs from inbound flights from Mexico?

[billisonboard]

Mar 15, 2011 7:27:19 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Well, if they didn't hijack or blow up the plane, why search them AFTER the flight? Only the TSA could be this dumb!

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab neither hijacked nor blew up a plane yet was searched AFTER the flight.

[Bluerobin]

Value buy, many folks have reading comprehension problems. The libs are so busy twisting words, the often get the story wrong by confusing themselves. The article states the flight deck notified LAX and the plane was met.

[mmhmm]

Mar 15, 2011 1:37:00 GMT -5 steff said:

Shortly after takeoff ...
Law enforcement met the plane upon arrival
When the planed landed at LAX it was greeted by members of airport police, the FBI and Customs and Border Protection.

What is it you needed in order to understand they'd already taken off and weren't searched until the flight landed in LA, Value Buy? If this is really a political matter, and the political leanings of a poster can be determined by their reading comprehension ...

Nah. I'm not gonna go there. ;D