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Overzealous AirTran Boots 9 Passengers Off

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the fear-mongering-works dept.

An anonymous readerwrites "On Friday the wonderfully customer centric AirTran decided to remove a family of 9 US born Muslims after a comment between two family members regarding how close to the Jet engine they had been seated. The wonderful part is that after the FBI cleared the family 2 hours later, AirTran refused to fly the family, and refused to rebook them on their way from Washington to Orlando, Florida. The family purchased additional tickets on US Airways later that day, after AirTran requested that the irate father be escorted from their booking podiums by security. This whole story highlights the pathetic customer service we are getting from the Airlines these days — they actually treat us like criminals first and ask questions later. Just don't get me started on Delta." It's nice to see that stupidity still knows no bounds.

9 of 1,002 comments (clear)

  1. "bomb" by oahazmatt · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I was reading this earlier over at CNN. Apparently the group mentioned the words "bomb" and "attack" while they were talking to themselves, hypothetically discussing the safest part of the plane to be in. Understandably this caused some concern with other passengers.

    The FBI cleared them of any wrong-doing. According to what I read, the group was happy with the FBI's response. They did request a later flight, which the Airline rejected.

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    1. Re:"bomb" by warGod3 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Just to be fair here, understand something like this is completely up to call of the Pilot in Command. If this is brought to his/her attention, he has to make a judgment call and in this case, he erred on the side of safety. Now, racial profiling? Possibly. But honestly, was it a bunch of rednecks that were involved in 9/11 that changed the way we travel now? Look at it another way, why is it that a red car is higher to insure than another color? Because red is associated with speed. People have made conscious or subconscious affiliation between terrorists and Muslims and people of certain ethnic origin.

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    2. Re:"bomb" by Longwalker-MGO · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Actually, you misread. The article at CNN explicitly stated: "The conversation did not contain the words "bomb," "explosion," "terror" or other words that might have aroused suspicion, Atif Irfan said."

      Yes, because we all know that a parent wouldn't lie to cover their own asses and their childrens asses when they screw up.

      So everyone, so ready to be offended and cry discrimination in all caps against any sort of corporation, automatically believe these people. I dont care that they are muslim, I dont care what their skin color is. Its a fact, people of all religions, including global warming and atheism lie. Someone did, screaming about it on here isnt going to change a damn thing. Just blame it on George Bush like you all usually do.

  2. Re:They got a refund by Curtman · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Israelis only have a military because the U.S. bought them one.

  3. Re:They got a refund by nategoose · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The family was Middle Eastern, not black. Gah, does anyone actually read the articles?

  4. Gee... I wonder why the profile... by lewko · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test. The events are actual cuts from past history. They actually happened!!!

    Do you remember?

    1) In 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by
    a. Superman
    b. Jay Leno
    c. Harry Potter
    d. a Muslim male between the ages of 17 and 40

    2) In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by
    a. Olga Corbett
    b. Sitting Bull
    c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    3) In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
    a. Lost Norwegians
    b. Elvis
    c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    4) During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
    a. John Dillinger
    b. The King of Sweden
    c. The Boy Scouts
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    5) In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
    a. A pizza delivery boy
    b. Pee Wee Herman
    c. Geraldo Rivera
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    6) In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
    a. The Smurfs
    b. Davy Jones
    c. The Little Mermaid
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    7) In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
    a. Captain Kidd
    b. Charles Lindberg
    c. Mother Teresa
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    8 ) In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
    a. Scooby Doo
    b. The Tooth Fairy
    c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    9) In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
    a. Richard Simmons
    b. Grandma Moses
    c. Michael Jordan
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    10) In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
    a. Mr. Rogers
    b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill' s women problems
    c. The World Wrestling Federation
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    11) On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers.Thousands of people were killed by:
    a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
    b. The Supreme Court of Florida
    c. Mr. Bean
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    12) In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
    a. Enron
    b. The Lutheran Church
    c. The NFL
    d. Muslim males mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

    13) In 20

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  5. Re:They got a refund by Curtman · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I think you've missed the point entirely. I don't care if they are purple and blue people fighting. My government has no business giving weapons to one side and not the other. It shouldn't give anything except food and medical supplies. It should not make rediculous statements about Israel's activities in Lebanon being "measured and justified", or about Israel being and "unconditional ally". We don't make friends with murderers.

  6. Re:innocent? by Curtman · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You and everyone who thinks like you disgusts me.

    I hope some day you come to understand how to live in peace.

  7. Re:innocent? by Curtman · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    See the problem? You cause MORE death.

    So obviously you think that we should have left Hitler alone and we wouldn't be in this mess.