More flying 'security' mega-idiocy

[draco664]

Link

Just... Wow.

A family was issued boarding passes, went through security, got on board a plane and were then subsequently ordered off again.

Because their 18-month-old daughter was supposedly on the no-fly list.

After being taken off the plane they stood in the terminal for half an hour while the airline and the TSA tried to decide why they'd ordered them off the plane in the first place. Since they couldn't think of an actual reason, they were offered the chance to reboard without explanation.

The family refused. I don't blame them. I'd not want to board a flight after everyone has just watched you escorted off. You'd probably be glared at the whole time.

The TSA have claimed that it's the airline's fault, the airline claim that it was a computer/TSA problem. Lovely.

Is it remotely possible that we all take a deep breath, step back, and let common sense back into these situations?

[Nekojin]

Is it remotely possible that we all take a deep breath, step back, and let common sense back into these situations?

Not until we get rid of the TSA, or at least get rid of its status as a nigh-unquestionable authority.

[bara]

As far as screw ups go with airline security I think this is rather minor.

[Andara Bledin]

The results were more benign than most of their screw-ups, but at what point should we require that they think, "Oh, hey, this is an 18-month old baby, so obviously this isn't the potential terrorist we're trying to keep off our planes"?

^-.-^

[Greenday]

LOL Playing the race card. Call the wahbulance why don't they. It's probably because she has the exact same name as someone on the No Fly List. The problem with the No Fly List is that it's a bunch of names. There doesn't seem to be any actual profiles to signify who exactly the person is.

[MrsEclipse]

"The No-Fly List: Because No Two People Have the Same Name and Terrorists Always Register on a Flight with their Real Names."

It's a little wordy for a slogan, I'm just pitching ideas.

[HYHYBT]

My brother's former wife always got delayed at the airport because she is (South) Korean and has the same name as one of Kim Jong Il's sisters or aunts or something. But she is, at least, an adult rather than an infant (resisting temptation to add insult here).

[bara]

Bottom line, you cant make an airplane completely safe.

At the end of the day all this extra security does nothing than piss people off. I am not saying not to have any security, I would just like to see some common sense installed instead of using fear as the basis for decision making.
As long as fear instead of logic and reason rule this shit will keep happening.

[jackfaire]

When I was in the service and flying home for my dad's funeral I was "randomly" selected at every airport to be checked because I looked dangerous. It wasn't until the last flight on my trip back home with my wife and kid that the guy didn't just check my luggage but actually checked my ID.

When he did he very embarrassed apologized and explained that active US Military personnel were exempt from the checks. This was like a month after 9/11 so I was totally cool with it but it amused me to no end.

[Gravekeeper]

Bottom line, you cant make an airplane completely safe.

At the end of the day all this extra security does nothing than piss people off. I am not saying not to have any security, I would just like to see some common sense installed instead of using fear as the basis for decision making.
As long as fear instead of logic and reason rule this shit will keep happening.

Pretty much. The thing is, the TSA was put into place like this to prevent another 9/11. But fails to acknowledge that 9/11 happened because people in power failed to admit that terrorists were anything but Hollywood style hijackers that would just take a plane over and order it to fly to Cuba.

In order to prevent another 9/11 now, all you need do is secure the captain's cabin during an emergency and change regulations so they're not allowed to open that door no matter what sort threats are made. Then stick an air marshal or two around.

No need to pat down 4 year olds. -.-

[Seifer]

Would it kill them to add more information to the No-Fly list? You know, like a picture? Birthdate? Something other than a name?

Then again, the TSA should be smart enough to realize that an 18 month old baby isn't a terrorist.

[draco664]

Just saw this on TV here in Australia. The presenter pointed out that the airline was kicking babies off the plane. And that as a marketing ploy, it probably wasn't a bad idea to be known as the airline that doesn't let kids fly...

[bex1218]

"Yes my kid is only 18 months old, but damn can they look good in a bomb vest. And they are so smart, they can open the cabin door and fly a plane all by themselves"

Is that what the TSAs think parents say?

[Greenday]

For those senselessly bashing the TSA, the TSA cleared the girl for flying. It was the airline that stopped her.

Source: It's local news and I listen to the radio.

No need to pat down 4 year olds. -.-

I know, right? It's not like Al Qaeda and other such groups have used child bombers before. Wait, yes they have.

[Nekojin]

I know, right? It's not like Al Qaeda and other such groups have used child bombers before. Wait, yes they have.

Have there been any instances of that happening in the US, on an airliner? The only instances I can think of are using a child bomber to attack ground forces in the Middle East.