Next time you travel by air, never utter the words ‘bomb’, ‘terror’, ‘explosion’ and even ‘safest seat’ or you will be asked to deplane and investigated.
CNN reports: A Muslim family removed from an airliner Thursday after passengers became concerned about their conversation say Air Tran officials refused to rebook them, even after FBI investigators cleared them of wrongdoing.
The report added: Atif Irfan said Federal authorities removed eight members of his extended family and a friend after passengers heard them discussing the safest place to sit and misconstrued the nature of the conversation. Irfan a US citizen and tax attorney said, he was ‘impressed with the professionalism’ of FBI agents who questioned him, but said he felt mistreated when the airline refused to book the family for a later flight.
After a brief interview and investigation by the FBI, the Muslim family was cleared for travel. FBI agents said ‘There are no suspicious activities here, they are cleared. Please let them get on a flight so they can go to their vacation’, Still, the airline refused. ‘They told us we cannot fly their airline’ Irfan said.
The dispute occurred at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC as Air Tran flight 175 was preparing for take off for a flight to Orlando Florida.
The conversation among the family members took place inside the aircraft when they were looking for their seats. They were just discussing where the safest seat is, whether it is on the side of the wing, rear, back, near the engine or wherever. Apparently some passengers overheard the conversation prompting them to report what they heard, to the airline cabin staff.
About 20 minutes later the FBI boarded the aircraft and asked Irfan and his wife to leave the plane. All other members of the family were asked to leave 20 minutes later including Abdul Aziz, a family friend and a lawyer at the Library of Congress. After they were taken for questioning, the rest of the 95 passengers were asked to deplane and re-screened along with the flight crew.
Irfan said he believes his family is owed an apology while his family friend, Aziz said there is a very strong possibility he will pursue a civil rights lawsuit.
Because of terror attacks happening in many parts of the world, the airline companies have been very strict in implementing the new rules or guidelines on air travel security.
In the meantime, it is best for travelers not to utter words that are associated with terror attacks like ‘bombs’, ‘gun’, ‘grenade’, ‘explosion’, etc.,otherwise you will be in trouble