Northwest passenger who tried to blow up Detroit-bound flight linked to al-Qaida

[LChoy]

Great
I'm in Toronto right now and suppose to fly back to home tomorrow morning. Because of security delays, I have to be at the airport by 5:00 am now
The security delays affect all flights, not just to the US/International. However, the carry on restrictions and other added measures are for US/International flights, not domestic

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Israel also uses another item that we are to 'crybaby like' to use - profiling. They have people throughout the airport, uniform and plain clothes, that simply watch people. They look for behavior and expressions that they think should result in a more thorough check. If you stand out, they pull you in and go through your stuff. From what I hear, they do an excellent job.

Yeah, the Israeli's obviously know their security. My wife and I are doing a backpacking trip next year and we fly out of Tel Aviv. To all of you angry at wait times, be thankful it's not as bad as Ben Gurion:

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Ben Gurion International Airport is one of the world's most heavily secured airports. Security operates on several levels:

1. All cars, taxis, buses and trucks go through a preliminary security checkpoint before entering the airport compound. Armed guards spot-check the vehicles by looking into cars, taxis and boarding buses, exchanging a few words with the driver and passengers.
2. Armed security personnel stationed at the terminal entrances keep a close watch on those who enter the buildings. If someone arouses their suspicion or looks nervous, they may strike up a conversation to further assess the person's intent. Plainclothes armed personnel patrol the area outside the building, and hidden surveillance cameras operate at all times.
3. Inside the building, both uniformed and plainclothes security officers are on constant patrol.
4. Departing passengers are personally questioned by security agents even before arriving at the check-in desk. This interview can last as little as five minutes, or as long as an hour if a passenger is selected for additional screening. Luggage and body searches may be conducted. After the search, bags are placed through an X-ray machine before passengers proceed to the check-in counters. All that said, El Al and Ben Gurion airport has for a long time realised that the person is more important than their bags. Therefore, occasionally, if security have assessed a person as a low risk, they will pass them straight through to the check-in desks, bypassing the main x-ray machines. Note that hand baggage is always x-rayed later on.
5. After check-in, checked baggage is put in a pressure chamber to trigger any possible explosive devices. Passengers continue through to personal security and passport control, as in other airports. Before passing through the metal detectors and placing hand baggage through the X-ray machine, passports are re-checked and additional questions may be asked. Before boarding the aircraft, passports and boarding passes are checked once again.

[OzSome]

great.. now the paranoia starts again. airports will check will pretty much strip seach passengers and I guess you will have to go to the airport a long earlier now to check in. It used to be an hour before your flight, now 2 hours then pretty soon 3 then 4 hours. Those freaking terrrorists are ruining everything for us. I am just glad I don't fly a lot.

By the way I am not saying I am against the security measures airport does, it's just how in the heck is this Nigerian guy got away on the airport check up in he first place. Wherever he came from, the security at that airport did not check the guy properly so now the travellers will have to suffer because of this idiotic act.

[JoseCuervo]

I flew into Tel Aviv from Toronto this summer and I honestly did not notice anymore security then any typical American Airport. The only difference was that when we came within an hour of Israeli air space no one was allowed to leave their seats. And when the guy sitting two seats up from us stood up to go to the bathroom an alarm went off and the steward started yelling at him.

[atb]

So is there a reason they can't just install these bomb detectors after the x-ray machines: http://canada.pcl.com/projects/Archi...124/index.aspx

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

When's the last time you've had your underwear checked at the airport here or in the U.S.? The guy had the explosives sewn into his tighties.


The great part is that he was on a terrorism watch-list, his dad had ratted him out as a potential threat, he was known to have talked with the same U.S. born Imam that incited the Fort Hood terrorist...but he wasn't on a no-fly list.

Yeah, but the list is only so big and if they put him on, who would come off Cat Stevens, now that would be ridiculous.

[Phanuthier]

How long are these extra security measures in effect, anyone know? I frequently fly between Canada-USA, and this is going to be a real pain. I always have 2 carry on's, the whole extra check means you have to be at the airport how much earlier (?) and the last hour thing is, well, stupid.

[HPLovecraft]

Someone was taking a really long dump on another flight today and the plane was surrounded by heavily armed police and other assorted security personnel as a result. No word yet on whether the log had explosives attached to it or not.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/27/...ion/index.html

[ken0042]

I'm wondering if the "right" to air travel should be one looked at a little closer. Seeing as we all need passports now for any international travel (including USA), why not take it a step further and have us undergo some sort of security pre-screening; similar to what the Nexus system offers.

Then have two security systems in place. Those of us who pre-screened and went through the Nexus process get 1990's style security screening- and if you "choose" to not have that level in place, be sure to show up at the airport 5 hours early, and bring your own tube of KY. (Under 100 ml please.)

[BBQorMILDEW]

Well ladies and gentleman here are my thoughts after day 2:

Today was just awful, from 4:30 in the morning till 12:30 there was no fewer than 100 people waiting in the line-up at the security checkpoint. There was also around 1000 people waiting outside of the checkpoint. THe first flights didn't leave Calgary till after 8 this morning.

The US Customs was only allowing 30 people at a time inside the gate, Average wait time was 3 and a half hours. Only one carry-on baggage allowed, anymore and you are required to go back to the airlines and check the additional baggage.

Once at the gate you have to go through the metal detector (like always) you then get a full patdown of your entire body. Your bag gets throughly checked for explosive devices, your laptop does as well.

The passengers were amazing today, no real big flipouts. Most understood the reasoning behind todays delays.

If you are going to be travelling to the US please come early and expect a delay of more than an hour. These measures will not be changing till the new year at the earliest.

[HPLovecraft]

It was determined the man was actually taking a long time in the airplane bathroom because he was, can you imagine, using the toilet. After being questioned why he took so long in there by the flight attendants, the passenger got upset that they kept trying to find out if he was going #1 or #2. The army was then called in and they spent a long time poking at the floating explosive in the water with different robotic devices. The suspected detonator cap was actually just a piece of corn.

Apparently when he was asked by the flight attendants why he was taking so long in the bathroom, his response was:

"I was dropping bombs in there."

How embarrassing for him. The army called in because he took a really long dump.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/27/...ion/index.html

[Bagor]

In-laws just off the phone after a AC Ottawa-Montreal flight and they're cleared for the Montreal-Paris part of the journey.

Said that in their opinion the security was no worse than usual.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

How embarrassing for him. The army called in because he took a really long dump.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/27/...ion/index.html

Just to clarify, that link talks about a different flight.

[C-ero]

Wow lvl 1 suicide bomber noob.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Unfortunately, the profile of the terrorists is often not what we think (the poor and foolish). The typical terrorist is often similar to that type of person in Canada that is tuned in politically, often the person most likely to vote.

Waza ... my advice ... Shut yer effing mouth.

The "typical terrorist" Waza? What's that?

Apart from a bigot that hates Arabs? You a terrorist Waza?

I think at least by your own definition you are.

[T@T]

^^a little harsh man^^

Seriously though, I haven't ever seen a blonde-haired/blue-eyed terrorist

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Waza ... my advice ... Shut yer effing mouth.

The "typical terrorist" Waza? What's that?

Apart from a bigot that hates Arabs? You a terrorist Waza?

I think at least by your own definition you are.

Your perception of terrorist are the people who goes and places IEDs along high military traffic routes in warzones, those that blow up planes and hijack planes.

Those guys are terrorists, but those are the ones that are poor and foolish and horny for their 72 virgins.

I think the ones that Waza was talking about are the masterminds behind these attacks, they follow politics, organize everything very precisely, etc... Those... are the real terrorists.

[Byrns]

I thought Homeland Security decided to not call these "Terrorist Attacks", but "Man-caused Disasters?"

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by T@T

^^a little harsh man^^

Seriously though, I haven't ever seen a blonde-haired/blue-eyed terrorist

Timothy McVeigh says hi.

[atb]

Al Qaeda claims responsibility:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Qaeda+c...191/story.html