‘Suspicious’ Backgammon Board Forces Emergency Landing in Missouri
- Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:16pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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A US Airways flight bound from New York to Phoenix was diverted to St. Louis Tuesday after three male passengers acted suspiciously, the Transportation Safety Administration said.
A statement from TSA said US Airways flight 457, which took off from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, landed at Lambert Airport shortly before 8 a.m. Lambert Police Chief Paul Mason told KSDK that in addition to odd movement around the plane, flight attendants were spooked by an elaborate and odd-shaped case that one passenger was handling. The box was revealed to contain a backgammon game.
Lambert spokesman Jeff Lea said the plane landed without incident. KSDK reports that a language barrier could have added suspicion and confusion on the plane:
“The three men, from Israel but of Russian descent, were questioned by agents from the FBI and TSA, Mason said. They are cooperating and understanding of the situation.
Mason said although the men do speak some English, a language barrier may have also contributed to the confusion.”
Valerie Wunder, a spokeswoman for Phoenix-based US Airways, said the plane was checked and cleared, as were the 128 passengers. The plane was expected to resume its flight to Phoenix later Tuesday morning.
The incident comes amid heightened awareness around the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
On Sunday, a GoJet Airlines flight from St. Louis to Washington returned to the gate at Lambert before taking off, after crew became concerned when they found paper towels stuffed in a toilet. Passengers were re-screened, the plane took off again and landed at Dulles Airport in Washington about an hour later than scheduled.
Also Sunday, fighter jets were scrambled to escort two commercial flights into New York City and Detroit after crews reported suspicious activity. Bathroom use was also cited in those incidents: On an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to John F. Kennedy Airport, three passengers made repeated trips to the bathroom; and on a Denver-to-Detroit Frontier Airlines flight, the crew reported two people were spending “an extraordinarily long time” in the bathroom.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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barryfadams
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 4:13pmI think ethnic screening is the answer. The Israelis do it successfully. If it is discrimination, let it join the permit for wiretapping for anti-terrorism purposes.
Report Post »UncleBucky
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 10:15amStart putting PIGS GUTS and BLOOD on every flight.
Report Post »IntegrityFirst
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 1:52pmAgreed.
Report Post »next1776
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:47pmLove these stories, don’t you think its a little late once already in flight to notice strange things? I’m sure some nutjob will be reeeaaaallllly disappointed because he was unable to reach his planned destination before blowing up his backgammon game…. jeez, what a joke. A 80something year old WWII veteran friend of mine was “screened” and groped like he was entering maximum security the other day. The thing is, he was flying to see the WWII memorial in DC! Really a shame to see such a true patriot and friend treated like a criminal for serving his country.
Report Post »…I’ll keep putting tires on the car, and screen my own passengers!
Dinkiecb
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:12pmQuit flying and the BS will stop. Either that strip search everyone!!!!!!!!!! and quit bitching about it. The simple answer is to drive where ya need to go .. if ya cant drive .. don’t go. The airline ticket prices will go down the TSA will have nothing to do. Before airplanes nobody ‘flew’ anywhere…why ya gotta be in such a hurry now.
Report Post »POdVet
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:14pmTerrorism prevention 101 for MORONS: A tray of bacon at entrance. Eat a piece of bacon you can proceed, refuse, you go to advanced screening. That first step alone would catch 99.999% of all terrorists. Since they are either A) Muslim extremists, or B) Left wing vegan nutbag extremists.
Report Post »TropicSid
Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:57am@Podvent “Terrorism prevention 101 for MORONS: A tray of bacon at entrance. Eat a piece of bacon you can proceed, refuse, you go to advanced screening. That first step alone would catch 99.999% of all terrorists. Since they are either A) Muslim extremists, or B) Left wing vegan nutbag extremists.”
What about Orthodox Jews or 7th day Adventists? They don’t eat bacon. Does that make them terrorists? Or what about people who just plain don’t like bacon? Hard to image b/c it’s so very delicious, but seriously…. That’s a dumb idea.
Report Post »Ohello
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:38pmHey, the guy didn’t specify American Citizens, but since muslims are doing the crime, muslims and not everybody else should do the time. It is ridiculously that a free people are coerced into submission to unconstitutional search and seizure by an abusive government because one muslim guy tried to light his shoe up, and another tried to blast his underwear off. None of those jihadi’s were non-muslim, both were middle-eastern. Ban muslims and middle easterners from US planes. If they are muslim and are US citizens, do the TSA thing after asking the muslim citizen for permission to search. If they grant permission, and are clean they fly normal. If they do not grant permission, notify the the pilot and other passengers that a muslim has refused security search and offer refunds to those who do not wish to fly with an unsecured muslim. Muslim citizen still flys normal. (Assuming the pilots are willing)
Report Post »woodyl1011fl
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:35pmThe captain of this flight is not a captain leader. We have become a nation run by idiots. A backgammon board how much did that diversion cost the company? Plus be rescreened by the security gorillas again. The islamic jhiadists have won the “Greatest Gneration” would weep at seeing what we have become as nation!
Report Post »ChevalierdeJohnstone
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:55pmFreaking hell. What kind if moronic society have we become that we have to land the freaking plane instead of saying “excuse me sir, I need to look inside that case.”
That’s right. The terrorists are so stupid that when they see the plane turning around and landing, they’re just going to sit there quietly and wait to be arrested instead of, you know, blowing up the bomb they planned on blowing up anyways.
I take it back. Mark Steyn is wrong. Despite the brave heroism of United 93, there WILL be more hijackings of U.S. planes in U.S. airspace, just as soon as the terrorists figure out that Americans have become scrotally-challenged morons. This country is doomed.
Report Post »Kneale
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:10pmAnyone notice: They have won.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:10pmAs long as the federal government via the media can keep people scared stupid you’re never going to get back the civil rights taken away by the Patriot Act. The terrorists didn’t win, Big Brother won.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 5:55pmUH OH!!!! TSA naughty naughty….you didnt check those loaded backgammon dice. Shamefull just shamefull. I thought my tax dollars would at least be good for that.
Report Post »nelan72
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 4:35pmAt least they were not playing War.
Report Post »shirelover
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:41pmor 40K, Risk, or a hundred other games… ::sigh:: I’m teaching my grandson Chess (and the monster is beating me already ;-)) do you think they would take away his travel chess set?
Report Post »nhbmaing
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:26pmAll this coming close to the ten year anniversary of 9/11. Just panic? Possibly. But almost better safe than sorry. Fear not! I have a solution! If you are from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, the UAE, or any of those places, or you are a Muslim, you lose your flying privileges. You may be innocent but if there’s one thing I learned in school, its that a couple idiots can ruin it for everyone, so no more flying.
You’re Welcome, America!
maing for president!
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:41pmSo you are advocating that even American citizens of middle eastern decent, be stripped of the ability to travel. They could be travel across the country, or to another country, for business or to visit family. If you seriously believe the US government should have the authority to do this, why not have the authority to force healthcare reform on you?
I find it funny that so called small government conservatives, follow the constitution types have no problem restricting the rights of certain groups just because they are not like them. What happens when someone in power thinks YOU shouldn’t be allowed to board an airplane for the rest of your life (or at least for the rest of the administration).
The point of checks and balances, separation of powers, is so that no one group can have an overwhelming majority and punish the minority accordingly. The whelm of political discontent and political activism shouldn’t be able to push law one way or another every election cycle. That causes instability that business do not thrive on. The federal government is suppose to be limited to prevent them from causing such instability!
Yet you advocate for big government as long as it doesn’t affect YOU. Good job.
Report Post »BuzzardSays
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 5:14pmI vote that American Soldier (Seperated) be given the money and impetus to go to the Middle-East and talk up the USA’s enlightened policy of non-profiling to any Arab who will listen. We’ll see how long before a “profiling” Achmed Bin Ali-wacko saws his head off his shoulders for simply being an American infidel.
So you are actually equating profiling with goverment intrusive health-care jammed up our a$$es by a Democrat congress. Good one ASS… that being your acronym. I get profiled every damn time I fly…I am a white middle class business man…in a suit no less…I break the mold of profiling so that the TSA can say seeeeee we are not profiling. I have had my nut sack handled by more govermentally employed men than a f4g in a 70′s bath house. Why is that you suppose? All the while a traveling companion with a recent green card, from Iran, walks through unimpeded time and again.
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 5:29pmI’m actually not against profiling. There’s a difference between profiling and barring ALL people of middle eastern decent, or of a particular religion, from flying. There’s a HUGE difference between those two.
I’m equating one form of big government intervention/power grab with another form of big government intervention/power grab.
Do you really want the US government to have the power to dictate that any given group be deemed a threat and barred from participating as a fellow American citizen? The OP I was replying to did not differentiate between an American citizen who is a Muslim from Pakistan vs a Pakistani national. He made a blanket statement, which includes American citizens of middle eastern decent or follow Islam. Absolutely I will compare a blanket restriction by the federal government based on ethnicity or religion with forcing healthcare down our throats. Both are big government initiatives that reduces citizen’s rights. Just because it‘s YOUR big government initiative doesn’t make it any less harmful for our overall freedoms. You can‘t just look at these situations as to how they’ll benefit you tomorrow but how they’ll be USED AGAINST YOU in the future.
Report Post »Junter
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:05pmWhen people use bathrooms it makes me suspicious too… can I call in jet fighters?
Report Post »Wyoming
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:16pmAnd this will be the NEXT thing for the TSA to lock down. Better have a big bladder for the next flight!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:32pmI bought my own Predator Drone for the office, if anyone is in there more than twice a day, I take them out!
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 4:23pmWyoming- no, you see, just after your (TSA) colon exam, but before the breast and pelvis exam, they will administer catheters. We have so much to look forward to when fly now a days.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:01pmTo the younger generation…
Board games. They’re not that scary. I know it’s hard to comprehend that people used to and still do play traditional types of games other than angry birds. And it’s nothing to get spooked over.
Report Post »InversionTheory
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:18pmI used to play backgammon and parcheesi with my grandmother. Who knew she was a terrorist!
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:57pmSo, did they board the plane with the board in hand, or was it hidden and would only have been revealed by a cavity search? They should have known about it already, if TSA was doing it’s job and not just fondling the passengers.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:23pmKind of makes you wonder why we even have TSA. It seems that a flight gets diverted every time a passenger drops a peanut in his lap.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:55pmThe fact there must be searches of planes between states tells me we need to protect our borders way better. That means that TSA knows there are enemies everywhere now. So give local law inforcement more power to check people and get rid of laws against profiling.
Report Post »BuzzardSays
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 4:59pmSo if you walk like an Achmed Mohamed, speak jibberish like an Achmed Mohamed, have a turban like an Achmed Mohamed. You must be a fine upstanding American flight traveler who never carries a suit case when traveling, sweats profusely when asked about prior destinations, keeps a lighter available at all times, wears bulky underwear and/or Reebok shoes complete with fuse, practices that classic Mid East yodeling (la-la-la-la-la-la), and did I say wears a turban jauntily like Yassar. None of these characteristics can be cause for suspicion…but let me carry a water-bottle into the TSA line and its ANAL CAVITY search time.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:55pmand to think I was targeting yahtzee players this whole time. Aren’t I red in the face.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:43pmMaybe the dice were loaded.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:53pmooohhhhhhh!!!! lol, that was a good one!!!
Report Post »lynda1276
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:41pmbetter safe than sorry…
Report Post »uisignorant
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 4:27pmI detest morons like you.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:34pmSince there are only sinks & toilets on airplanes, “bathroom” is not appropriate.
Speaking of airplane Rest Rooms…, they should be re-named: Relief Room.
After two (2) minutes the door unlocks and unhinges;
> which would relieve concerns about bathroom bombers.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:43pmNaaaa, they should have some divice that can smell explosive and if it does it should just flush the entire rest room.
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 5:44pmHow bout hidden restroom cameras that automaticaly turn on when anyone who can’t fit into a White Castle seat uses the loo! Broadcast their antics on the on-board flat screens!
Aren’t y-all glad REALLY BIG SIS is on the job?
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:28pmYep, backgammon is a real national threat according to the TSA. I think that they were just upset because a backgammon set doesn’t have any private parts that they can grope.
I agree with the other instances, especially the one where the passenger more than likely had diarrhea or kidney disease. I’m beginnint to wonder if these people are starting a contest, the employees on that plane are trying to outo the TSA. Wait until some of these people start doing things like raping women to see if they can get pregnant and thereby prove to the TSA that they are really women and not some terrorist dressing as a women to either sneak onto a plane or just to get the women TSA to grope them.
Report Post »