DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 6:18 p.m. January 02, 2009
AirTran apologizes for removing Muslims from flight
Associated Press
Friday, January 02, 2009
Washington — AirTran Airways apologized Friday to nine Muslims kicked off a New Year’s Day flight to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security. One of the passengers said the confusion started at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., when he talked about the safest place to sit on an airplane.
Orlando-based AirTran said in a statement that it refunded the passengers’ air fare and planned to reimburse them for replacement tickets they bought on US Airways. AirTran also offered to take the passengers back to Washington free of charge.
“We apologize to all of the passengers — to the nine who had to undergo extensive interviews from the authorities and to the 95 who ultimately made the flight,” the statement said. “Nobody on Flight 175 reached their destination on time on New Year’s Day, and we regret it.”
The airline said the incident on the flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando was a misunderstanding, but the steps taken were necessary.
One of the Muslim passengers, Atif Irfan, said the family probably would not fly home with AirTran because members had already booked tickets on another airline, but appreciated the apology.
“It’s definitely nice to hear,” he said.
Irfan said when he boarded the flight Thursday, he mentioned something to his wife and sister-in-law about having to sit in the back. His sister-in-law replied that she believed the back of the airplane was the safest, but Irfan believed it was better to be by the wings.
“She said, ‘Yes, I guess it makes sense not to be close to the engine in case something happens,” Irfan recalled Friday. “It was a very benign conversation.”
Shortly after taking their seats, members of the group were approached by federal air marshals and taken off the plane, Irfan said. They stood in the jet bridge connected to the airport and answered questions while other passengers exited and glared at them.
Irfan said he thought he and the others were profiled because of their appearance. The men had beards and the women wore headscarves, traditional Muslim attire.
“My wife and I are generally very careful about what we say when we step on the plane,” he said, adding that they have received suspicious looks in the past. “We’re used to this sort of thing — but obviously not to this extent.”
Irfan, 29, is a lawyer who lives in Alexandria, Va. He was traveling to a religious retreat in Florida with his wife, along with his brother and his family, including three children, ages 7, 4 and 2. They were joined by his brother’s sister-in-law and a family friend.
Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart about two hours behind schedule. The family and friend eventually made it to their destination on a US Airways flight.
Family members were upset that AirTran didn’t allow them to book another flight. The airline said in a news release Friday that one of the passengers became irate, made inappropriate comments and had to be escorted away from a gate podium by local law enforcement.
“We felt very disrespected,” Irfan said. He said FBI agents had cleared their names and asked AirTran to put them on another flight, but to no avail.
Christopher White, a federal Transportation Security Administration spokesman, said the situation was handled appropriately.
White said the pilot, after being informed of the remarks, requested that two federal air marshals on board remove the nine passengers. TSA then alerted authorities, including the FBI, which conducted an investigation. Once authorities determined there was no threat, it was up to the airline whether to allow the family to reboard.
“If the pilot is uncomfortable with someone flying on their plane, that’s their decision,” White said.
Discount carrier AirTran Airways is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings Inc. Its hub is in Atlanta.
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Comments
By GaLiberal
Jan 2, 2009 5:31 PM | Link to this
By Go Airtran 2009
Jan 2, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this
Go Airtran! Great Job! I recently flew to TX on Airtran - great flight, no incidences, and NO Muslims on board to cause trouble.
A muslim remarking about airplane safety on a plane is kinda like a pedophile remarking that your child looks cute, lol!
Fly Airtain! A company serious about safety and not concerned about PC Liberal Bull$&#!
Yet another shining example of the racist and bigoted mind of your Rethgulicon shill voter. What this idiot fails to understand is that true Americans do NOT engage in this kind of KKK, white supremacist behavior. What this Rethuglicon bootlicker does is substitute patriotism with racist talk. At one time it was considered respectable to be a member of the KKK. Now it is considered respectable to be a member of the Rethuglicon party. Well, the ugly face of the KKK was exposed as will the ugly face of the Rethuglicon party.
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And Go Airtran 2009 is living proof.
By LivininAL
Jan 2, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this
Airtran made a msitake, apologized, and will learn from it. They should provide free transportation for a few flights for family invloved. True Muslims will forgive and move on. It was unfortunate.
By Tyre
Jan 2, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this
If i got on an airplane and there were a group of people who were obviously muslim on board, I would get off the plane immediately.
This is a no-brainer.
By cheiftan
Jan 2, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
Thank you AIR TRAN and thank you tsa/marshalls for doing your job,and not droping your guard!!
By spunja
Jan 2, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
Why did AirTran refused to let them fly when FBI cleared all of them? Most of them btw US citizens. That is real dumb.
If I were even a passenger, I would sue AirTran for delaying the flight needlessly. FBI told them that they were all clear, then simply board them & let's move. I am a hard working citizen & I don't have any time to waste caused by bigots' shenanigans.
Let's move people. Stop acting like bunch of pussys
By sad4idiots
Jan 2, 2009 5:09 PM | Link to this
For those of you that are so quick to demand that this family "go back" to the Middle East,you should know that these people are from the exotic land of MICHIGAN - born and raised. While everyone has an obligation to be vigilant at all times, people shouldn't allow fear to make them stupid. How many September 11 hijackers were wearing traditional Muslim garb? Go back and look through the news footage if you can't remember. They blended in with all of the other travelers. Apparently mankind is still evolving because there seem to be a lot of knuckle dragging, imbeciles still walking amongst us that don't understand that different doesn't have to equal bad.
By Kelly
Jan 2, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this
I believe the correct term would be racial profiling in this case and I hope the family sues Airtran! Forget some lousy apology; they were humiliated!
While we may not have the entire story, it seemed relatively easy for the authorities to just remove them off the plane without having a second thought.
To kris in Alpharetta; I suppose if white people attacked the twin towers we'd be watching their every move and listening in on key words thinking they would blow up the plane? Yeah, right!!
This is America; not just for Whites, Blacks, Hispanics; but for everyone who chooses to call this home regardless of what someone that may have looked like them did. "Have you forgotten what Timothy McVeigh did; and I do believe he was a WHITE MAN"!!! Another thing: stop referring to people as "those people"; very racist of you Kris...
By Jennifer
Jan 2, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this
The amount of ignorance in these comments is stifling. Islam is not a violent religion. It does not advocate the killing of Christians and Jews. In fact, it advocates the opposite - it calls them "People of the Book." The Bible, that is, which has stories in it that play a heavy role in the Quran. However, there are people within Islam - false Muslims, if you will - who take their faith and twist it to fit their own personal agendas. There are people like this in every faith, people like Eric Rudolph who bomb abortion clinics, etc.
So many people commenting here have distorted and disgusting views. Why don't you actually try to learn a thing or two on your own instead of listening to hate preachers or Fox News? Yes, the TSA and FBI did their jobs in this case, and it's sad that we have to be at this point where Muslims are profiled and carefully scrutinized. But guilt by association doesn't hold up in any American court of law, and neither should it hold up in the masses. I don't judge all Christians by the atrocious behavior of a handful throughout the centuries, and I won't judge all Muslims by the equally atrocious behavior of a handful over the past 20 years.
Study your history: traditionally Muslims have always been more tolerant of minority faiths than Christians have. Look at the Ottoman expansion and how they treated their new subjects. Christians have historically been a barbaric lot. But I guess that escapes you all in your self-righteousness, doesn't it?
By GaLiberal
Jan 2, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this
The airline said the incident on the flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando was a misunderstanding, but the steps taken were necessary.
Christopher White, a federal Transportation Security Administration spokesman, said the situation was handled appropriately.
Huh? You violate someone's civil rights and then excuse it by saying it was "necessary" and "handled appropriately?" What kind of idiots are these people? This comment was blown totally out of proportion by the passenger who obviously targeted this group because of their religious beliefs and ethnic background. That makes them bigots and racists in my book. Each and every one of them. They should be investigated for committing a hate crime. As should the airline. And the TSA. And why did the Air Marshals talk to them in the jetway? Just so the passengers could get a good look at the "terrorists?" You bet this was intentional.
Is this what we have become? A bunch of racists ready to rat out people because we don't like their looks? The Rethuglicons have done a good job preying on our fears of another terrorist attack. Just look at the 48+% that say this was acceptable. No wonder this state voted for McCain and re-elected Chambliss. A bunch of fascist racists.
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And pulling someone off a plane because of their appearance is living proof.
By shahidah
Jan 2, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this
TO Jacketnation:
You are incorrect and it is an absolute lie that Prophet Muhammad (saws) went into Mecca and "killed many people". He was kind, forgiving, considerate and if you STUDY, more than you 1 degree, then you will find out the truth. THe Holy Quran, says, fight the Unbelievers. Those who want to attack you and kill you because you worship ONE GOD Allah. There are many beautiful Jews & Christians as well as Muslims who are believers. They are our brothers in the religion. Please get an understanding 1st.
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