More on Muslim family kicked off of AirTran flight for questioning

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1-03-2009 @ 2:53PM

Karen said...

I think this is perfectly reasonable. We are told to report suspicious activity and conversation and I think this qualifies.

I also don't think it was a big deal not to let them back on the flight. I do think they should have been allowed on another flight though, and I think AirTran's handling was fine. There was a policy in place and they followed it. They offered a refund and return flight.

I also think that this family handled themselves well. I just hope they don't sue and blow it.

1-03-2009 @ 4:12PM

Don said...

I hope they sue the h*ll out of Airtran for discrimination. All it takes is some teenage girls claiming suspsicious activity to get someone kicked off a flight??? The FBI investigated and found no such activity took place. Maybe the next time a muslim looking person gives me a dirty look on a plane I should turn them in as suspicious? If they had been Caucasian, this would not have happened. I'd sue Airtran, the TSA and the girls.

1-03-2009 @ 4:13PM

Karen said...

And you would lose.

They were not discriminated against. They engaged in activity that was considered suspicious. It was investigated. They were cleared. Policy was followed. They were offered a refund and a free return flight. All reasonable.

You don't have a right to monetary compensation because you get your feelings hurt.

The girls didn't report them because they gave them a dirty look, they reported them because they were talking about safety concerns on the plane. The girls didn't remove them from the plane. AirTran deemed it suspicious (as they might should) and investigated. Then they FOLLOWED THE EXISTING policy.

The FBI doesn't make the policy. They weren't denied ALL air travel, just air travel at that time. The FBI doesn't make Air Tran policy -which I noticed that this article - and most others leave out.

Get over it. OR sue and show what an ass you are. But you lose.

1-08-2009 @ 12:45AM

Jennifer said...

While waiting for our flight home on Dec 31st my brother and I had a conversation very similar to this family's. (unthinkingly.) We were overheard and nothing happened to us. The big difference is that we are white and this family is not. Kinda of sad.

While I understand AirTran removing them from the plane for questioning there was absolutely NO reason for them to not reboard an AirTran's flight. That is where they went wrong.

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