Aa757first From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3338 posts, RR: 9 Posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2763 times:
Atlanta Journal Constitution
A man who slapped a bumper sticker referring to terrorism and war on the side of an AirTran plane caused a four-hour delay for a flight filled with holiday travelers, officials said Monday.
The sticker, which authorities would not describe other than to say it was something about terrorism and war, was discovered near the passenger door on a flight leaving Atlanta for San Francisco on Sunday morning.
"Upon boarding, a passenger as a practical joke stuck, like, a bumper sticker on the side of the aircraft, on the side of the door," AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson said.
A grounds worker noticed the sticker after all passengers were on board. The plane captain was notified by radio, and he decided not to take off. All 162 people on the plane had to get off and go through a second security screening.
Hutcheson said the jokester was discovered by screeners for the Transportation Security Administration. He was not charged with a crime -- nor was he identified by the airline -- and was allowed to continue on to San Francisco.
The plane left Atlanta at about 1:35 p.m., about four hours late, Hutcheson said.
What moron would do this? First of all, that's no where near funny. Second of all, doesn't he/she get the idea that security is no joking matter?
Flyingbronco05 From United States of America, joined May 2002, 3838 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2731 times:
Hutcheson said the jokester was discovered by screeners for the Transportation Security Administration. He was not charged with a crime -- nor was he identified by the airline -- and was allowed to continue on to San Francisco.
N844AA From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1352 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2671 times:
I read in an article this morning that the sticker said "Terrorism = War".
I'm not entirely sure what message that is trying to convey (except possibly a painfully obvious one), nor why it would necessarily be perceived as indicative of a possible security threat. However, if the statement were reversed, it would make a lot more sense as an anti-war perspective or even as an overtly hostile one. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if the article I read got the sticker's message wrong.
New airplanes, new employees, low fares, all touchy-feely ... all of them are losers. -Gordon Bethune
FrequentFlyKid From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1197 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2576 times:
Clickhappy From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 9444 posts, RR: 72 Reply 5, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2504 times:
Ssides From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 4059 posts, RR: 23 Reply 6, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2485 times:
They should have never let that motherf***er get back on the plane. If I were AirTran, I would ban him from all future AirTran flights.
Gamarocchi From Italy, joined Nov 2003, 198 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2395 times:
From the Washington Times
"The AirTran Airbus A320 was being prepared to take off when an employee saw a sticker reading "Terrorism Equals War" on the cabin door's exterior, CNN reported."
I think the joke was a stupid one. Anyway delaying the flight for it was overreacting. Serious terrorist attacks never announce themselves with stickers or things like that.. I mean.. it was pretty clear it had been a joke.
OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2393 times:
I'm surprised that they didn't nail him on some obscure FAR violation... If the airline wanted to affix a decal or something else on the aircraft they'd have to jumpt through also sorts of legal hoops, so why not this guy?
On the bright side, the bumper sticker that he slapped on there didn't say "Fly Delta" (Now -that- would have caused a real stink....)
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2285 times:
I smell a lawsuit in this guy's near future, much like Michael Lasseter, who caused a security breach which caused the evacuation of ATL one Friday back in November of 2001. AirTran sued him over the incident, and settled with him. This joker should be charged with vandalism, and Ryan International should persue charges against this guy since it was their a/c.
Flyguyclt From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 537 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2234 times:
Well I guess some people are just born into families with one limb on the family tree. And they just don't know any better.
Airdude66 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 187 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2052 times:
Some people never learn lessons from the swamp.
They should have never let him fly. This is the type of activity that gives us all a bad name. Regardless of AirTran's decision - shame on the Ryan pilot for allowing him back on board. As the ISC it WAS his choice.
Futureualpilot From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2561 posts, RR: 8 Reply 14, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 1985 times:
That was just dumb, I would have thought AirTran would nail him on vandalism or something of the sort. What a moron.
LastBaron From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 290 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 1880 times:
Almost as dumb as the box cutters in WN's lavs... not as "serious," but bad enough to delay 130 people for 4 hours... I wonder if they told the other passengers his name when he got back on and if he had a "pleasant" flight?
Airdude66, are you sure a "major" would have done any differently? It was up to the F/O, so it could have gone either way. Being an LCC does not enter into it. There are plenty of majors that f*&k up in worse situations too... at least they had a reason to delay the flight and not just let people sit on the tarmac the way "major" NWA has done in bad weather in DTW (for 8 hours!)...
Groundstop From United States of America, joined Jun 2003, 611 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1725 times:
AirDude,
Somehow, you have found a way to turn every topic into a LCC-bash. Yet, your posts are never constructive, and shed no light on any subject...ever. As has been mentioned, there have been a lot longer delays for a lot less acceptable reasons on the majors...namely NWA.
Travatl From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 2172 posts, RR: 11 Reply 17, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1573 times:
Airdude66 -
No, you're right. Fly the "majors" (AirTran next year).
Because if this had been UAL, AA, or DAL, the pilot would not only have refused the flight, he would have stampeded off of the aircraft, called the union, called the chief pilot's office, called SOC, called the VP/Flight Ops, called the media; demanded a decontamination of the aircraft, then a decon of his bags, then a decon his uniform, then a decon of his hat, then a decon of his toothbrush; then settled back in, allowing a reboard - and then timed out...screaming "CANCEL CANCEL CANCEL". Of course the disrupted airline (UA, AA, or especially DL) would have, and the passengers would have ended up on an AirTran flight for reprotection.....
RiddlePilot215 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1454 times:
This is just another pathetic case of where the TSA felt as though they HAD to do something, because sitting on their asses and harassing other passengers wasn't good enough.
God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.
737-990 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 364 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1376 times:
And why was the flight delayed for 4 hours? What was the necessity to deplane and resceen the passengers? What's wrong with pulling back to the gate, have the sticker removed and continue with the flight? What was the point of this whole exercise if they let the guy travel after all?
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