We here at Flight Wisdom tend to address the security situation with a degree of skepticism. It is not that we are unconcerned about the threat of aviation terrorism, or that we do not believe it should be taken seriously…but some of these incidents cause us to question the approach.
For example, today’s incident in Amsterdam. A Northwest Airlines flight heading to Mumbai, India returned to Amsterdam Airport with a fighter escort. Twelve passengers were being held, although none have been formally charged., as CNN reports here.
Many articles from various news sources report that the passengers acted in a “suspicious manner.” In a recent post, Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go to The Bathroom, we questioned security’s definition of what is suspicious.
CNN reports that the passengers pulled out cell phones during travel and attempted to be trying to pass them to other passengers. In addition, some passengers unfastened their seatbelts while the Fasten Seatbelt light was on. We sincerely hope that they did something more threatening than this.
If they did, we must blame the police or the media for not emphasizing they made serious threatening moves. Otherwise, we must wonder. We cannot recall a flight we have taken in the last few years when passengers did not disobey the Fasten Seatbelt sign. They were generally ignored by the flight crew. If the idea is that passengers should now obey the instructions of flight crew, who should know better than they when it is safe to get up, we are all for it.
We also must commend the Air Marshals for breaking cover to assist the Flight Attendants in trying to get the passengers to sit down. But at this time, however, we must continue our skepticism as we continue to be concerned that fear will overwhelm us and that travel will take on the elements of a prison transport.
