Muslim Families Kicked Off Orlando Flight

**Sister Iroz** · January 2nd, 2009, 12:22 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nine Muslim passengers were kicked off a flight from Washington, D.C., to Orlando after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security.

AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson called the incident on the New Year's Day flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, Fla., a misunderstanding, but defended the company's response. He said the airline followed federal rules and did nothing wrong.

One of the Muslim passengers, Kashif Irfan, told The Washington Post the confusion began when his brother was talking about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

"My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security," Irfan said. "The only thing my brother said was, 'Wow, the jets are right next to my window."'

Irfan told the newspaper he thought he and the others were profiled because of their appearance. The men had beards and the women wore headscarves, traditional Muslim attire.

Irfan, 34, is an anesthesiologist and his brother is a lawyer. Both live in Alexandria, Va., with their families, and were born in Detroit. They were traveling with their wives, Irfan's sister-in-law and Irfan's three sons, ages 7, 4 and 2. A family friend also was traveling with the group to a religious retreat in Florida.

Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart.

The family was upset that AirTran didn't allow the Muslim passengers to book another flight. They eventually made it to their destination on a US Airways flight.

"The FBI agents actually cleared our names," Inayet Sahin, one of the family members kicked off the flight, told CNN. "They went on our behalf and spoke to the airlines and said, 'There is no suspicious activity here. They are clear. Please let them get on a flight so they can go on their vacation,' and they still refused."

Hutcheson said the passengers were given a full refund and are welcome to fly on AirTran now that the investigation is complete.

Hutcheson and a federal Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman said the pilot was right to postpone the flight.

"At the end of the day, people got on and made comments they shouldn't have made on the airplane, and other people heard them," Hutcheson said. "Other people heard them, misconstrued them. It just so happened these people were of Muslim faith and appearance. It escalated, it got out of hand and everyone took precautions."

One of the passengers removed, Abdur Razack Aziz, said he will consider a lawsuit.

http://www.wftv.com/news/18398166/detail.html

**crickett** · January 2nd, 2009, 12:32 PM

I feel badly for them. But they may have thought that the comments were a joke. Obviously we have not had a sense of humour since 9/11/2001
When I've booked trips with AAA we've been given trip hints. One of these is to NOT say anything jokingly that could be taken for a threat to the safety of others. Nothing like "Yeah, I got right past security with that toothbrush bomb in my carry on"
"Yeah, I booked the exit by the Emergency Exit 'cause I have you-know-what in my bag"

Again, we have NOT had a sense of humour since 9-11

**Sister Iroz** · January 2nd, 2009, 11:15 PM

The airline AirTran is apologizing to nine Muslim passengers ordered off a flight Thursday by federal air marshals at the request of the pilot because of their overheard conversation about the safest place to sit on the plane.
The family claims removal was a result of racial profiling.

"We generally like to sit in the middle of the plane because I've been told it's the safest place to sit," said Atif Irfan, an attorney who was detained onboard AirTran Flight 175 from Washington, D.C., to Orlando, Fla., on New Year's Day.

"Then, my sister-in-law had mentioned maybe that it's the back of the plane," he added. "So we were discussing basically where the safest place in to sit in an airplane is."

But that's not the conversation another passenger sitting behind Irfan and his family reported hearing. A worried teenage girl on board contacted a flight attendant, saying that she heard talk of the plane blowing up or going down.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Travel/...6567288&page=1

**Pete Bondurant** · January 2nd, 2009, 11:21 PM

He should not apologise. These people should have their own airline: Air Jihad, one-way tickets only!

**zapp** · January 2nd, 2009, 11:37 PM

C'mon America there is a simple solution!

Consumption of a Pulled Pork Sandwich before boarding.

**MichaelJCheaney** · January 3rd, 2009, 12:40 AM

And it never. NOT ONCE. Occurred to them that perhaps the AIRPLANE might just possibly be WRONG place to have that conversation?

Really?

**MichaelJCheaney** · January 3rd, 2009, 12:44 AM

Although I do have a novel idea.....

How about sitting where the ticket TELLS you your going to sit?

THAT way you don't have to be worried about getting booted off the plane for opening your yap and pissing off the pilot.

Its not difficult people....

**DeDi** · January 3rd, 2009, 02:55 PM

I do fly on occassion and I'd rather b safe than sorry - I don't think they deserve an apology - it's just how things are in this day and age....they can pull me off anytime they wish too and I knowingly go ahead and book my flight - it shouldn't be a big deal to anyone in these times.

If I were seated near a group dressed as Muslims and heard some of that conversation, I'd have alerted the attendant as well. Better to have 9 disgruntled muslims than 240 dead bodies because I failed to act.

**Dark Star** · January 3rd, 2009, 03:39 PM

Fuck I really hate our world sometimes and the way some folks judge.

My first experience on an airplane was 6 years ago. (so yes, pre bombing of the twin towers) Those of you who know me here, know that I am an anxiety ridden fucking hippie and have to be drugged before getting in/on any vehicle. I think back to the time I took that flight and wonder how it would have gone down had I been a muslim post 9-11.

Since I was naturally afraid to fly the first fucking thing I did when I boarded the plane was ask the stewardess, "Where is the safest place to sit if this big fucker were to go down.....ya know...crash?". I also told her I was a fucking mess and on some Xanax. I had my daughter who was 6 at the time and quietly told the stewardess I was afraid I'd have a panic attack. Well this sweetie sat me down in the back of the plane where she sat. In fact all of the wait staff sat in the back with us. Whether is was to keep an eye on my crazy ass or look out for my daughter I've no idea, but I was damn glad of their presence there. LOL

Again, I wonder what the fuck would have happened to me and my daughter had I been a muslim woman and it was post 9-11. Probably wouldn't have rode that fucker that day. Thank goodness I was in a tie-dye and long skirt and looked "normal". Bahahahahhaahahhahhaahaha.

**HijabiGirl** · January 5th, 2009, 10:37 PM

Someone remind me what the real terrorists were wearing? Oh yeah, western style clothing...khakis and button down shirts. Also, why would a suicide terrorist talk about the safest place to sit on a plane? I don't think safety is really a concern of someone contemplating going out in a blaze and glory, ya know?

By profiling women in hijabs and men with beards all we are doing is looking away from the real potential threats. Rather one should focus on the clean shaven dudes with no carry-on and a fine sheen of perspiration pooling in their pits.

I am always taken aside for the "random search" in the airports and have to resist rolling my eyes. (lest I get cavity searched for suspicious behavior) It's not the piously dresssed people you have to worry about, rather the guy doing his darndest to blend in. And while I don't think there should be an apology for removing them from a plane, I do think there should be one for not allowing them to take a connecting flight after the damn FBI cleared them. At that point they were just being assholes.