Tri-State Airport (Huntington, WV) Terminal Evacuated - CNN Breaking

[VolcanoJen]

Tri-State Airport Terminal Evacuated

Tri-State Airport is in Huntington, West Virginia. While the above article does not mention the reason for the evacuation, CNN is currently reporting that a liquid explosive was found in a female passenger's carry-on baggage.

Larry Salyers, the Tri-State Airport Director, says now on CNN that the flight is now bound for Cincinnati. The female suspect is from Huntington, and has been detained. The questionable liquids are to be detonated in a field by bomb squad experts.

ed: Ummm... West Virginia? Really?

Original thread here...

On Edit:Here's an update, from the AP: Suspicious Liquid With Flyer To Charlotte Shuts Down Airport

Excerpt:

Tri-State Airport's terminal was evacuated Thursday and commercial airline service temporarily suspended after a woman boarding a flight to North Carolina was found to have a suspicious liquid in her luggage.

The action occurred shortly before noon after a bomb-sniffing dog reacted to the bottle, said Airport authority President Jim Booton.

A screener noticed the bottle in a woman's carryon bag as she prepared to board a flight to Charlotte, N.C., he said. The woman was detained for questioning.

ed.: I'm not certain why the airport director said the flight was bound for Cincinnati?

[babylonsister]

1. Distraction occurring on schedule. nt

[Parche]

19. distraction

This has all the makings of an Al Kida plot
The Eastern US Division of Al-Kida based in Huntington WV tried
to test out their liquid bomb theory, but they will never succeed
because we have super Cheney and Bush in the Whitehouse.

[AndyA]

2. I guess the terrorists have lowered their standards

From the WTC in NYC, to planes over the Atlantic (foiled), to a plane leaving West Virginia.

Whoda thunk?

[larrysh]

3. Sounds like Freepers Gone Wild......

Probably planted it in some poor womans luggage. Haven't the Repubs
targeted W. Vir. as a Senate seat they'd like to win this year?

[WildClarySage]

14. Byrd's seat, yeah.

[Donnachaidh]

4. they found a benefiber smoothie?

whut?:crazy:

[gkhouston]

5. What amazing timing.

NSA wiretapping declared unconsitutional.

The validity and handling of the British terror threats being called into question.

And here's a liquid bomb in the US.

Simply astounding.

[bigluckyfeet]

23. Probably

Fingernail polish remover.

[KansDem]

6. This is getting embarssing...

They must think they're talking to children out here!

[NotGivingUp]

7. i wish everyone was aware of their terror alert tactics

[jayfish]

8. The Liquids Are Going To Be Detonated Huh?

:eyes: I'm sorry but that's idiotic and this country is crawling with f'ing cowards. I'm disgusted.

Jay

[dipsydoodle]

9. If it's shampoo will they all sing

I'm forever blowing bubbles. ;)

[rodeodance]

10. some ealier discussion here at this thread also.

....http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1929962&mesg_id=1930160

[Julius Civitatus]

11. FEAR, FEAR, FEAR, FEAR!!!!

It's an election year. It's going to be a frightful time between now and November.

They are shameless.

[screembloodymurder]

12. Nail Polish

is very explosive.

[Marie26]

13. This is getting ridiculous

Huntington, WV is a hotbed of terrorism now? Really?

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. Everybod in America wants to feel threatened

It makes them feel special if al Qaeda cares enough to want to kill them.

This general, acquired dementia will truly be studied for a hundred years.

[Marie26]

44. It's mass hysteria

I don't understand it. My mother flew this week & they wouldn't even let her take her liquid diabetes medication on board. She had to first have the prescription faxed to her, which TSA never even checked. Then when the flight was delayed 6 hours, they wouldn't give her an ice pack to keep the medicine cold because the gel is "forbidden". She finally just took a ziploc bag, filled it w/ice from the food court, & took the medicine on board that way w/o anyone even checking it. The TSA's reaction is so over-the-top, just like Bush's endless mantras about how dangerous it is now. IMO, these endless hyped "plots", nonexistent threats, & constant media fear-mongering are a very effective way of keeping people cowed & unquestioning. After a while of hearing the warnings & being harassed at airports, people in Huntington, WV, will start to think they are a likely target of attack. It's almost a form of brainwashing. Between Al-Qaeda & Bush/CNN, I honestly don't know who's doing a better job of terrorizing people right now.

[leesa]

46. Bush IS Al Qaeda. It's their Goldstein. It's their boogieman.

It's bullshit.

[Supersedeas]

48. Two minutes of have become a Two Month Campaign cycle of fear

[theHandpuppet]

22. From all reports the flight was headed to Charlotte, NC

Anyone planning a terrorist attack wouldn't pick the Tri-State airport, that's for sure. It's barely a single strip atop a mountain about 10 miles west of Huntington. Nothing else around for about 100 miles.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

49. To be fair, Atta et al used the Portland, ME airport on Sept. 11

Not really a big target area, either. However, there is less security at smaller airports.

(NB: This doesn't mean that I believe she WAS or WASN'T a terrorist; I'm just saying that it doesn't really matter what airport you start in.)

[maxrandb]

63. Well, it is in a "Red" state. n/t

[Ian David]

15. They're just feeding The Underpants Gnomes by detonating more luggage. n/t

[FreeStateDemocrat]

16. Reported on CNN that woman is of Pakistani decent, got to be guilty.

edit: sp

[jackstraw45]

17. Whiskey? Gin?

Terra! Terra! Terra!

My guess is things will get really quiet after, say, election day.

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawn

Huh?

What?

:rofl:

[dreamsvsnightmares]

21. My question

What repub is running for re-election. We all need to fear the power of the cleansing of the face gel. KaBoom

[maseman]

24. Crying wolf

You know people are already starting to ignore this shit. You can only cry wolf so many times. What, four or five of these in the past week? Once people stop taking this stuff seriously (which I think they are) what will the White House do? I hope not blow something up on purpose.

[hatrack]

25. FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!!

FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FFEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!! FEAR!!

There, that should get us all through tomorrow morning.

[RoseMead]

26. Explosive Residue Found at Tri-State Airport (Huntington, WV)

As of 5pm, Tri-State Airport in Wayne County resumed operations. The airport had been evacuated since after 11 this morning.

The Transportation Security Administration reports that two containers of liquid in a passenger's carry-on bag tested postive for explosive residue around 9:15 this morning. A second test was confirmed at 11:25. TSA is waiting for further testing to determine the exact substance.

NBC News reports that federal screeners found four containers of liquids inside a woman's carry-on bag during the screening process this morning. Larry Salyers, Tri-State Airport Director, tells WSAZ the woman is of Pakistani origin, lived in Jackson, Michigan and most recently lived in the Huntington area. She is being detained for questioning.

http://www.wsaz.com/breakingnews/3590966.html

The story goes on to say the bottles in question were make-up bottles. It also says the trace analyzers used can give false positives on anything that has come into contact with nitrate compounds.

I fully expect this to turn out to be nothing in the end. However, I was disturbed at this statement from Senator Byrd's office, also included in the story:

"This is proof positive that it doesn’t pay to scrimp on homeland security in rural areas. We must not discount an airport or a chemical plant just because it happens to be in a rural state. Fortunately, it appears that an event with potential for serious consequences and calamity has been thwarted..."

I hate to say it, but it sounds like Byrd's office is engaging in a little terror-hyping of their own. "an event with potential for serious consequences and calamity has been thwarted" :wtf:

[The_Casual_Observer]

27. He's just taking the opportunity to make a pitch for sending

some of that good homeland security money their way. And why not? They can waste it just as well as any other place.

[MADem]

32. BINGO---no one is better at bring home bacon than Byrd.

It's a strong aspect of his appeal...FBI has HUGE offices in his state...who woulda thunk it?

[Richard Steele]

28. Gotta love their 'guilty until proven innocent' headline. NOT.

No explosive ANYTHING has been "FOUND" as yet; the headline should
be "Explosive Residue POSSIBLY DETECTED at Tri-State Airport".

They know damn well that these field tests give more false positives
than real ones; further testing USUALLY shows no explosives.

But hey- she's Pakistani, so I guess there's no reason
to wait for any actual EVIDENCE.

[angstlessk]

30. We all know dark skined women use different makeup..so if they have

extra nitrates..well then...THEY ARE POTENTIAL TERRORISTS...just do not scan hot dogs..or the nitrate content will send them ALL into a frenzy!

[silverweb]

29. Meat-eaters beware!

"...the trace analyzers used can give false positives on anything that has come into contact with nitrate compounds."

Stay away from processed meats containing nitrates -- including hot dogs, bacon, cold cuts, and sausages -- or you too could set off the trace analyzers and be held for questioning as a potential terrorist!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[angstlessk]

31. damn...everytime I think I have come up with something unique

there goes another DU'er ...being funnier ... Dern..I should join the freepers...and THEN I would be funny first and foremost..and of course the ONLY sane person there..oh well! (sigh)

[MADem]

33. And if you sloppily refuel that rental car before you get on a plane,

and spill a drop on your shoes or trousers, you could be due for the once-over as well.

Maybe it is just time to go for nekkid flying....paper gowns and slippers for the modest at a nominal charge.....

[Turbineguy]

36. Whew, no worry there

I only eat organic baloney.

[daleo]

34. It is reminiscent of the luminol test

It can indicate blood, but it can also indicate the presence of traces of many household chemicals. At least that's my recollection from watching trials and cop shows.

[RoseMead]

35. Here's the story from the local newspaper

Residue blamed for Tri-State airport evacuation
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060817/NEWS01/60817009

WSAZ is one of the local TV stations. The story from the H-D has a more reasonable tone:

"Federal security officials now say it was potentially explosive residues on two containers that forced the evacuation of Tri-State Airport, and canceled flights into and out of the region this afternoon."

snip

"Tri-State Airport, which serves the Huntington metro area and is located in Wayne County, was evacuated about 11:30 a.m. today after security officials feared that a liquid substance could be an explosive, said Jim Booten, president of the Tri-State Airport Authority.

Booten said a detection dog then confirmed their concerns."

Interesting sidenotes:

1.The TV story refers to make-up bottles, the newspaper story mentions water bottles.

2.What's up with the people moving from Kentucky to Brunei?

"Watkins lent his cell phone to travelers Joy and John Cloutre, who were leaving Ulysses, Ky., to move to Brunei and needed to call US Airways about their flight."

I don't know how common it is for people to travel from Kentucky to Brunei. Maybe it happens all the time. :shrug: I wondered if they might be oil company people. Nothing sinister, just made me go hmmm.

[truthisfreedom]

37. nitrates are used in guitar paint and certain types of plastic films as

well... could be anything, really.

[Karenina]

38. Like...

another false alarm spread far and wide.

[mainer]

39. here's something that'll scare ya

I have a good friend whose job involves dynamiting. (He blows up bedrock in the construction business.) Well one day, being an ornery kind of guy, he thought he'd test whether the airline screening for explosives was any good. He left right from an explosion site and boarded a plane. Got through security just FINE. Even though he was probably covered with explosive residue.

So much for accuracy in screening.

[Tanuki]

40. Two stories from Boston's Logan Airport

that happened after 9/11 (bearing in mind that two of the hijacked planes left from there), after security was supposedly beefed up. These both involved peole I know.

1) Friend #1 is an artist, and she inadvertently left her matte cutter, which is pretty much the same thing as a box cutter, in her purse. She went through security without a hitch at Logan, flew to London, changed planes, again without it being detected, and was appalled to find it in her purse when she got to her hotel in Italy.

2) Friend # 2 went to the Caribbean with her husband and kids for a vacation. The kids took their school backpacks on board the flight with them. No problems at Logan security. After they got to their destination, friend found a very large pair of sharp scissors one of the kids had been using for a school project in the kid's backpack.

[wallwriter]

41. Old Joke: Did you hear they dropped....

...a nuclear bomb on West Virginia? It did four dollars worth of damage.

Don't whine at me. I was Bar Mitzvahed in West Virginia.

[kainah]

42. Laura was in WV today

Gee, are the terra-ists out to get Laura????

:sarcasm:

[HuffleClaw]

43. what a sad joke

are we gonna be subjected to this crap for the next three months? blech.

[Marie26]

45. Did it turn out to be facial cleanser? nt

[redqueen]

51. It sounds like it, yes.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-36/1155906885154060.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

Light on details, heavy on rationalization and excuse-making.

[onecent]

47. I'm flying to Washington, DC next week to see my daughter

and her family who I haven't seen in almost 2 years (just moved back from Japan).

But I do NOT want to fly!

[w4rma]

50. I feel soo much safer with Rethugs in charge.

:sarcasm:

[wakeme2008]

52. No explosives found in bottle that evacuated airport (Huntington WV

Do you think the fact that the young lady was wearing a Muslim headcovering have anything to do with the first test being "positive"

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/NEWS01/60818004

LOCAL NEWS | Friday, August, 18, 2006

By Sarah Zopfi
The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON — After hours of testing, FBI agents have found no explosive residue or liquid in or around bottles a woman attempted to carry on an airplane leaving Tri-State airport Thursday afternoon.

Rima Qayuun was not allowed to board her flight Thursday when security detected a water bottle in the 28-year-old woman’s luggage.

..cut..

Killeen said it was mutually agreed by the passenger and the FBI because of intent media scrutiny it would be best for her to travel by other means. She is going by vehicle, he said.
..more at link....

[skids]

53. Hrm, sorta gives the song "message ina bottle" new meaning n/t

[shain from kane]

54. The medium is the message. In this case, is the medium the bottle

or the liquid?



The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

The medium is the message


A statement by Marshall McLuhan, meaning that the form of a message (print, visual, musical, etc.) determines the ways in which that message will be perceived. McLuhan argued that modern electronic communications (including radio, television, films, and computers) would have far-reaching sociological, aesthetic, and philosophical consequences, to the point of actually altering the ways in which we experience the world.

[Kutjara]

55. What the hell is this supposed to mean:

"Killeen said it was mutually agreed by the passenger and the FBI because of intese media scrutiny it would be best for her to travel by other means."?

So this woman who has done nothing wrong and has paid for an airline ticket, suddenly 'agrees' that it's better for her to go by car? What kind of agreement is that? Is the FBI going to pay for her trip? Why would she voluntarily give up her right to travel in the manner of her choosing?

And what kind of excuse for denying someone their rights is 'intense media scrutiny'? How about if the FBI didn't crow to the press everytime a sniffer dog gets a cold. There wouldn't be intense media scrutiny if our law enforcement agencies didn't behave like a bunch of hysterical fourth-graders.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Marie26]

62. She shouldn't be punished

for the airport's hysterical overreaction. The TSA & FBI officials who leaked this to the media & evacuated the whole airport should be suspended. But that won't happen - instead this completely innocent woman will be forced to give up her right to fly. I really suspect that this false postitive had a lot more to do w/her Muslim hijab than the contents of her suitcase. And from a media standpoint, this remains a foiled plan to use explosives in a WV airplane, because the update won't be run w/nearly as much frequency or urgency as the original report. Terra terra!

[Demit]

56. Of course not. However, the fear generated by the first report probably

had the intended effect. Holler and shriek first, mumble never mind later.

[htuttle]

57. That makes 0 for 3 this week, doesn't it?

Or have there been 4 non-events? I forget.

[qanda]

58. They more or less profiled and harrassed that woman

Because she was of Pakistani descent. Then they had nerve to make her travel by other means. Unbelievable!

[toopers]

59. But, they did find a little boat inside the bottle . . .

and it had cannons on it!

[Davis_X_Machina]

61. If it was Sierra Mist...

....she'd already be in Gitmo.