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

[BBQorMILDEW]

As a person that works at the airport, I must say that these "new" security measures are completely unnecessary and frankly embarassing to do.

TC came down with a memo at 6:00AM this morning saying that we needed to hand search every person that is flying into the States. Instantly I knew that today was going to be an awful day.

Passengers were not receptive at all to this, there were people waiting in line for longer than 2 hours this morning. At around 7:30 this morning we were instructed to stop passengers who had any carry-ons, they had to get their bag checked and couldn't bring the bag on the plane.

What a complete mess, we later learned that the Air Canada and Westjet gates didn't have any extra security measures to do.

Things at YYC are going to be crazy for the next couple of weeks,

By the way I am the one doing all of the body searches, FML!!!!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'll be interested to hear how that goes. I'm off to Hawaii in 3 weeks and am not looking forward to these new security measures.

Well they made it to Seattle about 4 hours late. And their baggage is already missing. Oh yeah, and they missed their connecting flight to Maui. Fun day!

[Bagor]

Looks like bomber boy wasn't from your average deprived African family. Was livng in the famiy's 1M sterling + appartment in central London whilst a student.

Meanwhile, Nigerian banker Alhaji Umaru Mutallab has said his 23-year-old son may be the man connected with the failed incident.
He said his son left London where he was a student to travel but he did not know where he went.
Mr Mutallab said: "I believe he might have been to Yemen, but we are investigating to determine that."
The former minister and chairman of First Bank in Nigeria has left his home in the north of the country to meet security officials in the capital Abuja.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8430872.stm

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Looks like bomber boy wasn't from your average deprived African family. Was livng in the famiy's 1M sterling + appartment in central London whilst a student.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8430872.stm

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.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by slcrocket

I worked at the Salt Lake City airport for a number of years, and it IS announced (I can't remember the frequency, but definitely once every half hour). And having worked in just about every department that the airlines can offer (except crew), I can say with reasonable certainty that it would be so ridiculously easy to smuggle weapons onto a plane that I am uncomfortable just thinking about it.

Quite different than once every couple of minutes. Thanks.

I'm just sick of people telling me I(Americans) are afraid of terrorism, unecessarily. It gets old.

8 years dulls the memory evidently.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Quite different than once every couple of minutes. Thanks.

I'm just sick of people telling me I(Americans) are afraid of terrorism, unecessarily. It gets old.

8 years dulls the memory evidently.

I'm not saying you'er afraid, I'm saying certain branches of your government really do their best to to react (overreact?) to terrorism in a very public way. You've got to admit homeland security announcements about the terror threat level being orange for SEVEN YEARS is a little ridiculous, regardless of the frequency.

You as an American have no reason to be offended in this thread unless you work for the Department of Homeland Security or the TSA.

[HOZ]

Looks like he had explosive underwear....not a package.

ABC
The plot to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit was organized and launched by al Qaeda leaders in Yemen who apparently sewed bomb materials into the suspect's underwear before sending him on his mission, federal authorities tell ABC News.

[HOZ]

Look at those stupid Americans!!!! Always over-reacting! (at the bottom)

Air Canada announced that passengers on flights to the US would not be able to leave their seats in the final hour of flight, nor have access to cabin luggage at that time.

Diapers people!!! In case the Holiday Cheer don't wait.

[STeeLy]

This is dumb, i just heard that they're limiting people who are flying from Canada to ONE carry-on bag. How does having more than ONE carry on item indicate someone is bringing potentially dangerous items onboard, I don't get it.

I carry 2, Back pack is a laptop, and then there's the camera bag with my camera. To be perfectly honest here, I am NOT comfortable leaving either the laptop or the camera in the check in luggage. I lock it, but I'm still uncomfortable.

[photon]

Now lets just hope that the terrorists don't think to use their explosive underwear BEFORE the final hour of flight.

I'm all for reasonable and effective measures to ensure safety, but how does disallowing people to use an iPod or forcing them to remain seated stop a terrorist from using whatever they've got planned?

The response seems just a bit shy of throwing a dart at a dartboard of restrictions to impose in response to something.

I guess as long as people see that they're "responding".

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Looks like he had explosive underwear....not a package.

I LOL'ed.

[slcrocket]

So I'm curious...I agree that the current rules (including some of the new ones apparently introduced in the last 48 hours) are interesting to say the least, but what do you suggest for "enhancing" air security? In my mind, I don't see ANY way to completely guarantee against any sort of attack, but I honestly don't know how to make the system better.

Please educate me!

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by slcrocket

So I'm curious...I agree that the current rules (including some of the new ones apparently introduced in the last 48 hours) are interesting to say the least, but what do you suggest for "enhancing" air security? In my mind, I don't see ANY way to completely guarantee against any sort of attack, but I honestly don't know how to make the system better.

Please educate me!

Guns that are built into the plane that automatically aim at everyone on board at all times during the flight and unload a full 30 round clip at the first sign of movement. All passengers must remain perfectly still during air travel.

[Red_Baron]

Those phone-booth like security scanners would likely have picked that up as they could see things like the metal zippers on a pair of shorts that I was wearing that did not set off the walk through metal detectors. Both times I've been screened by one of those things, I've overheard them talk about items on my clothing that showed up that I figured would have been completely harmless.

So now that a lot of airlines are charging for checking bags and this breach is going to further screw over carry-on items, flying is getting crappier by the day.

[burn_this_city]

We will probably see those Israeli explosive detection machines for all luggage and probably a walk through one for passengers.

[silentsim]

Originally Posted by BBQorMILDEW

As a person that works at the airport, I must say that these "new" security measures are completely unnecessary and frankly embarassing to do.

TC came down with a memo at 6:00AM this morning saying that we needed to hand search every person that is flying into the States. Instantly I knew that today was going to be an awful day.

Passengers were not receptive at all to this, there were people waiting in line for longer than 2 hours this morning. At around 7:30 this morning we were instructed to stop passengers who had any carry-ons, they had to get their bag checked and couldn't bring the bag on the plane.

What a complete mess, we later learned that the Air Canada and Westjet gates didn't have any extra security measures to do.

Things at YYC are going to be crazy for the next couple of weeks,

By the way I am the one doing all of the body searches, FML!!!!

Someone was telling me the extra security measures are for in canada Flights to, but I have not read that anywhere. Reason i ask is i am taking a flight soon (domestic) but am not sure how early I need to go to the airport, or if i am allowed 2 carry ons(which i usually take). With Westjet.

Is this "extra" security at the gates rather then at the regular airport security??

[Devils'Advocate]

FYI - according to Westjet, the 1 carry-on rule has NOTHING to do with added security. It has to do with speeding up getting people on the plane. Yesterday people taking a DOMESTIC flight were waiting in line for TWO hours. They figure that if everyone only brings one carry-on they can cut that down.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'm wondering if Nigeria or Amsterdam didn't screen passengers properly.

I can't see that guy doing this or getting his explosives on board for that matter if the flight had started in the States or Canada.

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.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

We will probably see those Israeli explosive detection machines for all luggage and probably a walk through one for passengers.

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.

In Canada, as far as I know, this is predominantly done on the way back in, to catch smugglers. Maybe the poster who works security can add to this.

How does someone get into airport security? I have always been interested in this.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

How does someone get into airport security? I have always been interested in this.

First, you must have an IQ below 100. Also, you must be able to fit into really tight pants. Being rotund is also an asset.