Local news is reporting that a U.S. Airways flight from Philly to Orlando was forced to return to Phila. escorted by fighter jets. Seems something happened aboard involving 5 Arabs that caused the flight to abort and return to the airport. Still checking for additional information, but it will probably be over the newswires tonight.

Just when events seem to settle down, something else occurs.

Beth

Beth,
I just read the story on-line too. I must admit I'm very curious what was the suspisious actions that happened to turn the plane around. Hope to hear more tomorrow on the news!!!

Lee,

Here's some more info.:

FBI investigates and releases passengers on returned flight

By Patrick Walters
Associated Press

The FBI told passengers on a flight to Florida that the plane had been sent back to Philadelphia last night because several passengers of Middle Eastern descent had purchased one-way tickets for cash that day, a passenger said.
FBI spokeswoman Linda Vizi would not confirm the passenger's account but said the suspicious passengers were interviewed and released early today without being charged.

"We were able to determine their travel plans were legitimate and their identifies were legitimate," Vizi said. "We have checked out the documentation of these individuals and everything is in order."

Passenger Glenn Mattes, 48, of Doylestown, said FBI agents also told passengers that two other planes, one in Houston and the other in Baltimore, were also grounded because passengers of Middle Eastern descent had bought one-way tickets that day for cash.

"They escorted five or six gentlemen off the plane, all of Arab descent, and you could pretty much figure out what was going on at that point," Mattes told The Associated Press today.

Mattes was one of 134 people aboard the US Airways flight to Orlando, Fla., which the FBI acknowledged was turned around yesterday because some passengers were thought to be engaged in "suspicious activity."

The individuals were taken off the flight without incident and questioned by the FBI, Vizi said late yesterday. Bomb-sniffing dogs found no explosives, she said.

"Certain individuals on that plane were engaged in a pattern of suspicious activity," said Vizi. She declined to be more specific.

Federal air marshals contacted the FBI about the suspicious passengers, Vizi said, and federal authorities in Washington, D.C., decided to make US Airways Flight 335 return to Philadelphia.

The plane landed in Philadelphia at 7:05 p.m., less than an hour after takeoff. It was taken to the old international terminal of Philadelphia International Airport, which is seldom used and is far from the main terminals.

"We landed and we're sitting around almost two hours. Finally, they said the FBI's coming on the plane and that's when the wave of emotion hits everyone," passenger Jack Clark told KYW-TV.

Passengers said four or five people had been acting suspiciously. Clark said a man sitting next to him was among those pulled off the plane.

"He looked very suspicious. He was talking, but not to anyone in particular. He kept talking down into his chest," said Clark, of Blue Bell.

The remaining passengers on the flight went through security screening a second time and were sent to Orlando.

"From an abundance of caution since Sept. 11, we want to make sure that everyone gets to their destination safely," Vizi said last night.

No other flights were delayed, airport spokesman Mark Pesce said.

"The aircraft was placed at a remote site away from the terminal building so there was absolutely no effect on airport operations," he said.

An airline representative referred questions to the FBI.

Phila. Inquirer

Wow - this is really scary. I've been flying a lot lately with work and haven't been scared at all. But now? I'm shocked US Airways allowed this plane to take off, considering these Arabs bought one-way tickets with cash. When this story goes wide, I wonder if people will stop flying again.

Sounds to me like that we are at least "somewhat" on the ball - nothing wrong with that. Wendell

Can't help wondering if maybe we are being tested to find a weak spot. That's one way to find out about security prosedures at an airport. The factthat they took off is a scarry thing to me. Lets face it, even a half hour in the air might just be too much time, the next time.
I have a hard time understanding this happening. Clearly everyone in the world is aware of 9/11 and you'd think if you are of Arab decent, you'd take extra caution, with travel plans and go out of your way to avoid this sort of thing. No it sure looks like this was a test of some sort, looking for a soft spot in our security.
M2C

Why did they wait until those passengers got on the plane. If a person purchases a one way ticket for cash, and is of suspicious origin, should not the person selling them the ticket notify someone BEFORE these people were on a plane that was already airborne?????

Lee,

I agree with you completely. Why were they allowed to board? Also, it would be interesting to know just why they paid cash for a one-way ticket to FLORIDA(the hot bed). FBI released them, but wouldn't we all like to know the entire story.

I, too, immediately thought these incidents appeared to be tests just to see what security is in place and how weak it might be. Looks like the group of mid-Easterners stopped in Houston were released when discovered they had no luggage. Their excuse was they flew in for only the day to see the dignitaries from Saudi Arabia. Believe what you want! I'm not normally such a pessimist, but after 9/11, I'm suspect of much more than usual.

Beth

I agree with Beth and Lee. When the same, almost exact incident happens twice, with behavior (cash for a one way ticket on the same day of the flight) which was a red flag to security even before 9/11, it appears to be deliberate, in a security aware climate.

From my understanding of the story, security was aware of them but let them on board because they hadn't done anything technically illegal; but watched them closely. The flight crew was probably alerted and when they started to act in an unusual way (one of them was talking to himself apparently) that was it, the federal government in Washington ordered the plane turned around with a fighter escort back to Philly.

I think Wendell has a good point. Security was on top of the situation and it was taken seriously enough that the authorities in Washington were following the events.

The fact that no other flights were delayed and no airport disruptions occurred shows some sophistication that has developed in security. It wasn't too long ago, that if a plane had been turned around because of security concerns, entire airports would have been shut down.

The question i'm left with in all this, is why hasn't cash purchase of airline tickets been banned. I would think that cross checks of credit cards and ID's would be a significant part of security.

Ed,

Talking to oneself(toward the chest)or tape recording all procedures??????

Beth

Good idea Ed - Credit cards and some ID cards would indicate that the individual had at least been "somewhat" checked out. I think that we are also getting to the point where we are "racial profiling" - and while I am basically against this, sometimes you "gotta do what ya gotta do" Wendell

I agree with Wendell, I hate racism, but in light of 9/11, we have to be very suspicious of these people. But I still believe there is good and bad in every race.