Jet halted at LAX; two men are removed by police

[Blue_Tires]

Source: L.A. Times

A plane was stopped from taking off from Los Angeles International Airport, and two men on board were taken into custody, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

LAPD Lt. John Romero said the men, who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, were acting suspiciously.

A law enforcement source said at least one of the men ran into a restroom on the plane and appeared to hide while the New York-bound jet was taxiing on the runway, according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing.

The flight crew confronted the two men and made the decision to stop the plane before it took off, the source said. The men were taken into custody by heavily armed law enforcement officials.

The plane has been taken to a remote area of the airport to be searched by a bomb squad, sources said.


The LAPD's anti-terrorism unit and the FBI are on the case, but the source said it's too early to tell whether terrorism played any role in the incident.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said that she was aware of only one person being detained for questioning after the person failed to comply with airline safety regulations and directions of the crew.


Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/authorities-halted-a-plane-from-taking-off-from-los-angeles-international-airport-and-arrested-two-men-on-board-after-they-be.html

[kestrel91316]

1. My guess is, somebody stopped taking his medication........

But then it could be the real deal. We shall see.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Or maybe he just had a bad burrito an hour earlier and couldn't

wait for takeoff to use the bathroom.

[Arctic Dave]

8. When montezuma calls, he doesn't get put on hold. Oooopsy.

[kestrel91316]

9. Lol, with the food available at LAX, that's ALWAYS a possibility.

[grantcart]

15. was cliffordu taking a trip today?

[cliffordu]

17. Yep. Me and your mom were going to Reno.

She had a couple too many and got tossed.

[MetaTrope]

22. Think I saw this in a movie

[maseman]

3. They already broke a federal law by

getting out of their seats during taxi. Flight attendants are very serious about this as they should be.

[bobalew]

11. Ramadan Causes some pretty awful Digestive "Distresses"

I've seen the "Evidence" in the hallways at work, Not a pretty sight. As an Earlier reply said, When ya gotta go, you gotta go...
Ramadan was just a short time ago....
Regards, Bob

[tk2kewl]

4. not a threat, apparently

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE58R4S620090928

[Blue_Tires]

5. good to know there was nothing to this....

[truth2power]

6. ran into restroom and appeared to hide? What would that look like, exactly?

Let's see....Run into restroom slam door. Hmmm...looks like "hiding" to me. :crazy:

Maybe he should have left the door open...

[Arrowhead2k1]

7. The moral of the story?

If you're from the Middle East, listen to the damn flight attendants and stay in your seat.

[ShortnFiery]

10. Scary people who don't look like us, aye? eom

[pnwmom]

14. Wrong. If you're anyone, listen to the attendants and stay in your seat.

A white American woman was also arrested during the last few months for pushing past a flight attendant who was stopping her from going to the lavatory.

[ShortnFiery]

16. That's just wrong. The woman may have had a condition. If the plane is not taking off ...

let those people "visit nature." :shrug:

[The Stranger]

19. Pushing a flight attendant doesn't seem to be the same thing as having to run to the restroom.

[The Stranger]

18. Moral: If you "appear to be of Middle Eastern descent" -- you're guilty until proven innocent.

[ShortnFiery]

20. +1 eom

[Toucano]

12. The man had explosive

diarrhea.

Think about it.

[Ian David]

13. Maybe someone reported them as suspicious because the flight was over-booked? n/t

[TheWatcher]

21. We're All going To Die, Al CIAda is going to get us, Men In Turbans are going to eat your children.

Just another day in the weak, soft, Cowed States Of America.

:eyes:

[Coventina]

23. I don't care if you are yellow with purple polka-dots, when the plane

is taxiing, you must stay in your seat.

If you are about to poop your pants, you alert the FA and tell them that you are about to be sick and tell them graphic details if you need to do so.

If not, you are breaking the law and the flight crew did exactly as they were supposed to do.

If I were one of the passengers in that plane, I would have thanked the flight crew.

[The Stranger]

24. Do you fly very much?

I've seen people doing all kinds of shit (pardon the pun) during taxiing, and sure as shit (oops, did it again) no one stopped the plane to have them removed as a terrorist.

Just sayin'.

[Coventina]

25. No, I'll admit that I do not fly very much (can't afford it) and

I will also admit that I am a very anxious flyer. If I saw anyone(regardless of age, gender, color, size, whatever) running around the plane just before take-off I would be hollering for the FAs.

I didn't realize that it was SOP for such things to happen, because I haven't seen it myself.

If the law is being selectively enforced, then that is a problem.