Still Traveling

By Shooter

September 11, 2006 1:59 PM | Link to this

I’m really sick of the smoke and mirrors they call security.I do 4 RTs out of atl a month and I’m considering flip flops and a speedo,Most of the people working security couldn’t keep a job at Burger KIng. I do not have a problem with security I would appreciate it,what we have now would make the Keystone cops look good.Absolutely no common sence.DO YOU REALLY THINK ANYONE COULD HIJACK A PLANE IN THE U.S. NOW. A bomb may be possible,but a hijacking, get real.

By rena

September 11, 2006 3:42 PM | Link to this

you can never be too cautious.

By Cindy

September 11, 2006 3:47 PM | Link to this

I don’t think I am in any position to second guess an airplane crew. If they thought it was best then it definitely was regardless of outcome. They have my support and respect.

I kind of agree on the ground security; they let the weirdest stuff through, but always find something of mine to take and I have no intention of ever harming any airplane.

By Rick

September 11, 2006 3:55 PM | Link to this

absolutely not !!! Period END of statement

By KP

September 11, 2006 3:57 PM | Link to this

Yes, it was overkill. It was just a Blackberry.

The backpack had already been taken off and if everything else had checked out, the Blackberry couldn’t have done that much damage.

If it was functioning at all, there was very little chance that there was anything hidden in it.

People lose stuff all the time. Should every plane be diverted b/c there’s an electronic devise left on board?

By Glenn

September 11, 2006 3:58 PM | Link to this

I fly for a major air line and I could not agree more with the previous comment. The TSA puts other bureaucracies to shame. I never see less than 25-30 “security” personnel at any airport checkpoint (even the Po-dunk airports) and usually less than 5 are working. As to whether or not the United flight should have diverted or not, it’s hard to say. Certainly when you consider that it’s the anniversary of 9/11, the fact that they had already had to deal with a piece of “suspicious luggage,” and the fact that an “unaccounted for” PED was found, it would cause most to choose a cautious response. As much as the locked cockpit door has enhanced security, it makes it doubly hard to gauge any potential threat because you are always relying upon someone else’s perception of the situation.

By Peridot827

September 11, 2006 4:04 PM | Link to this

On today, September 11, the 5-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed over 3,000 Americans — I don’t think anyone can say that airlines are being TOO cautious. We live in a different world since then. We can never let our guard down again.

By jimmy

September 11, 2006 4:09 PM | Link to this

People, remember this one little bit of information. These terrorist who act out of their love for Islam and their hate for US will do anything to reach their goal. They do not think like us at all. All of us should still be very careful.

By JC

September 11, 2006 4:10 PM | Link to this

Considering today’s date, they were not being overly cautious. I think Delta did the right thing.

Airport security, however, still needs an overhaul. It’s still too reactive rather than proactive. Further, it has made flying a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.

I am convinced that with enough study there is a better way to conduct airport security than is being done today.

By realist

September 11, 2006 4:10 PM | Link to this

This is another example for ridiculous airline overkill. All of the security at the airport is a huge uneccesary hassle. We are no more safe in the air now than we were before Sept. 11. Why all the fuss? I would rather go back to pre-Sept. 11 security and breeze through the turnstiles, bring a Coke on the plane, and use my iPod rather than be “safer.” Once again, the risk of a plane crash or hijacking is no more now than before Sept. 11. Why is everyone panicking?

By Beth

September 11, 2006 4:16 PM | Link to this

How can we be “too” cautious after everything that has happened over the last 5 years? I don’t think that we can be too cautious when it comes to our airlines and flying. As 9/11/01 showed all of us, our planes can be very destructive. Please keep up the good work at the airports!!

By GwinnettFlyer

September 11, 2006 4:23 PM | Link to this

“All that has happened over the last five years?” A little vague Beth, but that would be “nothing” as far as American airline terrorism.

By DONESE

September 11, 2006 4:31 PM | Link to this

POST 9-11 IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM PRE 9-11. WE NOW LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE CAUTION AND SAFETY IS A PRIORITY. IF UNITED HAD NOT ACTED LIKE THEY DID AND THAT BACK PACK HAD MADE IN ON THE PLANE THROUGH THE MEANS OF SOMEONE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A BACK PACK WITH ITEMS IN IT THAT COULD TRIGGER AN EXPLOSION, IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN 9-11 ALL OVER AGAIN. WE MUST NEVER LET OUR GUARD DOWN AGAIN. BEING RELAX AND LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN IS WHAT GOT US LIKE WE ARE NOW. THANK GOD FOR EMPLOYEES WHO RECOGNIZE TROUBLE BEOFRE TROUBLE BECOME A DISASTER. I KNOW WHAT AIRLINE I WILL BE FLYING.

By kc

September 11, 2006 4:33 PM | Link to this

there is a REASON nothing has happened over the last five years. diligence. i would rather be delayed for a harmless blackberry then rushed through security and blown up.

By jms

September 11, 2006 4:43 PM | Link to this

Now that I know that it was harmless of course I would rather have continued my journey! But at the time it was unknown , so let us not second guess the pilots they did the right thing! Had the pilot not stopped and continued on only to have an incident.. you would all be up in arms screaming about how could he not take that seriously considering the constant threat of terrorism we live under. By the way, don’t you think the terrorists must be laughing their heads off…as now days they actually do not even have to do anything to send us scrambling… just sit back and watch us scare the heck out of each other because we cannot keep track of our own stuff! Not only is security a joke so are half the passengers!

By Mike

September 11, 2006 4:51 PM | Link to this

As a retired airline and Air Force pilot, passenger/crew safety is “Job One.” Nowadays, you can never be too safe or too cautious. And since a large number of the TSA screeners are former military people, I take strong exception to Shooter’s comment that they couldn’t get a job at Burger King. Shooter, they’re continuing to do what they did in the military by protecting your right to make such asinine comments.

By trevor

September 11, 2006 5:40 PM | Link to this

NO SUCH THING AS TOO CAUTIOUS……… I WOULD RATHER BE TWO DAYS LATE THAN DEAD

By CH

September 11, 2006 5:41 PM | Link to this

Life is too short to second guess a possible bomb threat on a plane. The passengers should thank everyone for the security of their lives. How much money and time could you put on the lives aboard the flight?

By Keith

September 11, 2006 5:45 PM | Link to this

You a***** in the media don’t have a clue. Too cautious?! What the f*** kind of idiotic poll is this?

By Davis

September 11, 2006 6:18 PM | Link to this

Amanda: Why don’t you define “overly cautious” and tell us where specifically, “it is a bomb and 250 people die because we were not cautious enough” falls? Now tell me how stupid your question is! I agree with Keith - WTF is going on in your mind to even ask something that ridiculous? Obviously, you’ve never been in a position with the authority to have to make a judgement upon which someone’s life, or lives, are at stake.

By deltagrl

September 11, 2006 7:03 PM | Link to this

If it gives anyone any consolation.. a recent flight of mine I was working (I fly for Delta) our FAM told us that if anyone wanted to put something on a plane.. they could do it, regardless of how overly cautious the crew may be. We, crew, know the airplane better than anyone and may actually save your butts one day.. this remark is only for those who think we’re overly cautious. Furthermore, the TSA are the ones who can be overly cautious.. and we are no safer than we were pre-9/11.

By A.

September 11, 2006 7:25 PM | Link to this

To Shooter,

I flew for Delta for 28 years before I was given an opportunity to retire after 9/11. YOU hit the nail on the head!

Thanks! A.

By E for Educate

September 11, 2006 8:46 PM | Link to this

KP - An electronic device can be used as a detenator (sp?) for a bomb. The backpack “may” have found it’s owner, or it might be just talk to make us feel safe. Whatever the reason, terrorists are smart and will try anything for attention and to fulfill their hatred towards Americans. They could make a bomb on the plane, for goodness sake. Anything is possible - the fact is, we put our trust and money into the hands of the airlines and I expect them to be cautious when I chose to fly. And Lord knows it doesn’t have to be a foreign terrorist to harm us - look at Timothy McVay in Oklahoma. There are crazy people everywhere and they do get past security since we don’t do major background checks into their state of mind. Get real everyone and grow up - if you don’t like the inconvience to fly, then don’t.

By GaLiberal

September 11, 2006 9:05 PM | Link to this

We will live with this type of overreaction for years to come. Right after the Atlanta Olympic bombing, any backpack, briefcase, suitecase, or handbag found unattended resulted in a total freakout by police. I recall where they found a packback in a park so they called in the bomb squad and blew it up. All it contained was books and school supplies. And that was about four years AFTER the Olympics.

A lot of this is driven by politics and not any real danger. Any buearcratic system will fail conservative least they be critized for not reacting properly. TSA isn’t going to have a plane blownup or crashed on their watch so ANYTHING out of place will be assumed a threat. But, you would think the airline would do a better job of clearing the holds and cabin to catch these problems before take off.

By julie

September 18, 2006 1:26 PM | Link to this

OFF TOPIC But have to ask. Can we have a discussion about good cruises for teens? I want to take my daughter on a cruise but want her to have fun. Do I need for her to bring a friend? Can we start a topic on this?