Plane Diverted Because of Praying Passenger

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:14:35 AM EST
Tags: airline security (all tags)

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AQAP will really get a chuckle over this one: A teenager praying loudly caused a plane to divert.

A U.S. Airways jet was diverted to Philadelphia International Airport Thursday after a praying Jewish man's religious item was mistaken for a bomb, police said....Officials said another passenger had become alarmed by seeing the teen's phylacteries — boxes containing verses from the Bible which observant Jews strap around their arms and heads as part of morning prayers.

"Someone on the plane construed it as some kind of device," said Christine O'Brien, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Police Department.

Between the TSA and hyper-alert (and ignorant) fliers, is everything out of the ordinary going to considered a potential terrorist threat?

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Plane Diverted Because of Praying Passenger | 47 comments (47 topical)

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In answer to your question: (5.00 / 0) (#1)
by Zorba on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:16:38 AM EST

Yes.

The terrorists (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by itscookin on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:30:14 AM EST

have won.

yes. (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by cpinva on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:33:50 AM EST

define "ordinary". the world is full of stupid people. every day, as i drive up and down 95, i witness drivers who apparently have never seen the sun/rain/snow before, nor vehicles on the side of the road. they must stop and view these miraculous events for themselves, to then relate them to their tribe, when they return home to their caves.

Jesus H. Christ.... (5.00 / 0) (#4)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:37:17 AM EST

Shoot, can I still say that or should I expect a knock on the door from the FBI?

Don't say 'shoot' either! (5.00 / 0) (#5)
by ruffian on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:47:25 AM EST

Not on a plane, anyway.


: You're killin' me... (none / 0) (#10)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:51:57 AM EST

Damn...did it again!

I thought the same thing, but, yeah, will we be (none / 0) (#7)
by Angel on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:49:37 AM EST

arrested for saying that? This world is crazy and I place a lot of blame at the door of Bush/Cheney. Yes, it started with them and they are soooooo happy they did what they did. The populace being afraid = them being able to control said populace.


On the other hand (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by talesoftwokitties on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:47:26 AM EST

you'd think the highly trained flight attendant could have asked some questions, calmed fears and made an assessment to fly on.

I don't think it's right to call people "ignorant" for worrying about "boxes... strapped around someone's arm".

I cannot believe that there was not (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by Zorba on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:01:06 AM EST

one other Jewish passenger who could have spoken up and said "He's praying. He's Jewish. Observant Jews wear those 'boxes,' called phylacteries, when they pray." Heck, I'm not Jewish, and I know from phylacteries. What's next? Divert the plane because a Roman Catholic pulls out a rosary and begins praying? Watch out.....those beads might be anything!


To be fair (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by jbindc on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:08:21 AM EST

I had never heard of these, nor seen them. I would be a little curious or suspicious if someone near me on a plans strapped black boxes to themselves.


I'm sure you're not alone (none / 0) (#18)
by Zorba on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:22:20 AM EST

But there must have been more than one other passenger on that plane who knew what they were, and could have explained to the cabin attendant and allayed the fears of other passengers.


Or if there is no such passenger... (5.00 / 0) (#21)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:39:20 AM EST

all you gotta do is ask the guy "dude, whats up with the box?" If you don't like the answer, then go to the flight crew.

We gotta stop being so damn afraid of each other somehow....running to the authorities instead of asking a simple question, one human being to another.


I think one fear with bombs (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by nycstray on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:53:04 AM EST

is, once alerted, the bomber could just set it off.

At least the dude wasn't jumped by scared passengers.

And for the record, I've never seen or heard of those boxes either. When strapping things on your body while in air, you should consider it could freak people out ;)


: If a bomber gets a bomb on a plane... (5.00 / 0) (#28)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:58:59 AM EST

I think he is setting it off or attempting to set it off no matter what anybody does...I don't see the harm in asking, and there is a lot to gain, as we can see.

Well (none / 0) (#22)
by jbindc on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:40:59 AM EST

This WAS a member of the flight crew who went to the pilot. The pilot decided to land. Who else would you have them go to?


: Oops... (5.00 / 0) (#26)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:49:25 AM EST

my mistake. The flight crew member should have asked the guy what was up with the box before "everybody panic!"

Hear, hear! (none / 0) (#33)
by Upstart Crow on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:24:51 PM EST

Or here, here. Whatever.


I am not sure about that ... (none / 0) (#19)
by nyrias on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:25:52 AM EST

if it is a small plane, it is likely that no one sitting the vicinity would know.

And even if someone may know sitting far away, i am sure the pilot would error on the side of caution (i.e. land the plane) instead of have the flight attendants asking around.


Then I would expect that (none / 0) (#25)
by Zorba on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:48:25 AM EST

anytime a Roman Catholic passenger pulls out a rosary, a Greek Orthodox a komboskini (prayer rope), or a Sufi Moslem his Misbaha (prayer beads), the plane would also be diverted. These items all appear rather rope-like, and could possibly be used to strangle someone. What the heck, you could probably make a complete rosary using plastic explosive as the "beads." While I can understand passengers being nervous about things they don't understand, I think that Americans have become so fearful of terrorism in general, and terrorists on airplanes in particular, we have lost all sense of reason, and have accepted more and more restrictions on our behavior and the erosion of our privacy, in the name of "safety." I know people who are terrified of flying because of this, yet when I ask them if they're afraid of driving, they say no. You're far, far more likely to die in a car accident than as a result of terrorism. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't be vigilant and take reasonable precautions, but we also need to be a bit more sensible and less afraid.


Aren't prayer beads etc (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by nycstray on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:01:53 PM EST

more commercially common? You see them in movies etc. Here, you see them on the subway all the time along with the bible readers. I have never seen anyone strap boxes on in real life or the movies. It's really not about "not understanding" because if they had any idea as to what it was, they would understand. And understanding works both ways. The person strapping on the boxes while on a flight should understand it could be a problem . . . perhaps a word to the flight crew ahead of time?


kdog is right. (5.00 / 0) (#34)
by Upstart Crow on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:29:45 PM EST

I saw the funny boxes in an Israeli movie, by the way, that got some mileage in the U.S. Can't recall the title.

But kdog is right. Why couldn't the guy in the next seat nudge the kid and say, "Dude, what's up with the boxes?"

We're scared of each other, scared of being intrusive, offensive, sued, whatever. And I'm one of the worst.


: Although the teen explained (none / 0) (#36)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:45:37 PM EST

Although the teen explained the significance of the tefillin to the crew, the pilot opted to land the plane in Philadelphia anyway, Vanore said.

An adult might well have (none / 0) (#30)
by Zorba on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:09:58 PM EST

But I understand that this was a 17-year-old kid. I'm not sure that a teenager would have the forethought to give a heads-up to the flight crew.


: Heh, you're right there (none / 0) (#31)
by nycstray on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:16:15 PM EST

hopefully people learn from this and/or some sense of awareness kicks in.

Exactly! (none / 0) (#20)
by talesoftwokitties on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:27:49 AM EST

I don't think anyone on the airline staff (none / 0) (#15)
by ruffian on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:06:55 AM EST

wants to make the call in a situation like that. The only thing the airlines are almost as afraid of as an attack is a lawsuit from a scared passenger who was ignored.


Although the teen explained the significance (none / 0) (#32)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:20:22 PM EST

Although the teen explained the significance of the tefillin to the crew, the pilot opted to land the plane in Philadelphia anyway, Vanore said.

Wondering if pilots... (none / 0) (#38)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:14:57 PM EST

hate what flying has become as much as the passengers.

If I was a pilot, and in deviant mood to play the arsehole, I could see myself diverting the flight over something so silly to prove a point....point being we're a bunch of headless chickens.


A neighbor of mine is a pilot for JAL. (none / 0) (#41)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:44:58 PM EST

They take their responsibility for the lives of their passengers (and themselves) very seriously.


I'm sure they do... (none / 0) (#42)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:53:32 PM EST

I can't imagine landing in a different airport than originally planned is dangerous though.

Your neighbor ever tell you his/her thoughts on all the security and stuff?


He's very supportive, they are very effective (none / 0) (#44)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 02:13:44 PM EST

in his opinion.

On that topic, the guy Obama tapped to run the TSA withdrew his nomination yesterday.

The TSA has had no leader since Obama took office.


: Thanks... (none / 0) (#46)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 02:18:12 PM EST

not suprised the TSA is leaderless.

You know what could solve this (none / 0) (#43)
by nycstray on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:55:54 PM EST

have questionable items pre-screened and tagged "ok". It could have been checked for explosives in advance. Strapping something to your body could be a legit religious practice, but that still doesn't mean they aren't explosive. The flight crew cannot know that in air and ground screening has proven to be, umm . . , lacking as of late. And they may be more UTD on security "issues" than we are . . .

There was some fitness guy on some show this AM who was suggesting ways to squeeze in exercise while traveling. One idea was those squishy things that you use for your hands/stress relief. My thought was, if they don't allow playdough, how the heck do they allow those in airports, lol!~


: I'm not sure... (none / 0) (#45)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 02:17:08 PM EST

if adding even more procedures is a good idea...what constitutes "questionable"? We gonna have screeners going over all jewelry and such with a fine tooth comb? How much bullsh*t can people possibly put up with?

The population of this country (5.00 / 0) (#17)
by Chuck0 on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:20:03 AM EST

revels in fear and fear mongering. And the government really, really likes it that. The terrorists "won" a long time ago.

I wonder what... (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:43:27 AM EST

he was praying for...a safe uneventful flight? protection from terrorists? or protection from the TSA?

And frontlets for thine eyes (none / 0) (#8)
by Dadler on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:50:21 AM EST

Lest we forget, a good number of Islam's traditions come from Judaism. More irony for the mill.

newest threat (none / 0) (#9)
by CST on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:51:32 AM EST

burkas.

France is deciding to ban the burka.

All in the name of saving their culture.

And because apparently they find it offensive when people cover their faces. I wonder how they feel about skiing in France. I guess they don't like Halloween either.

France just keeps getting worse on civil liberities.

I don't live in France ... (none / 0) (#13)
by nyrias on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:00:30 AM EST

so I guess i can LOL over this one as opposed to feeling outrage.

So you mean Superman is ok in France but Batman will be sent to jail?

"they find it offensive when people cover their faces" ... this cracks me up.


: If you aren't being offended everyday... (5.00 / 0) (#23)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 11:42:05 AM EST

I question whether you live in a free society.
Ya know what I find offensive? People not minding their own damn business...nobody is making you wear a mask so stfu.

The Burka... (none / 0) (#37)
by pmj6 on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:10:32 PM EST

...is a symbol of gender oppression, pure and simple. I doubt women who wear that stuff do it purely because they want to. In many, if not most, cases there is coercion on part of the male members of their families.

And, of course, we know how that stuff works in Afghanistan.


The Burka (5.00 / 1) (#40)
by CST on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:30:19 PM EST

is a piece of cloth. And it means whatever the person wearing it thinks it means. But just because you have an opinion on the beliefs of others, doesn't mean you know it to be so.

There are other laws in France that exist to protect the freedom of women. It is not Afghanistan.

I don't consider a ban on "symbols" to be an effective tool of emancipation.

And frankly, considering France's recent history, I also have to question the true motives here - although I would still disagree with even the most pure motives. I am not a fan of censorship.


I hear ya... (none / 0) (#39)
by kdog on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 01:20:26 PM EST

I got no love for the beekeeper suit, thats for sure...but I've seen interviews and articles where the women profess they want to wear them. We can't just assume they're all brainwashed. I don't like how the extremists treat women, but if the women themselves accept the treatment...what can we do?

Banning the beekeeper is akin to the Taliban banning the bikini...its all a brand of tyranny. It's not gonna help women...in fact it might do the opposite, getting them further in lockstep behind their oppressors against the "infidels".


: Come on man (none / 0) (#47)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:50:11 PM EST

the law removes the pressure that is applied to the women.

Wondering if TSA required removal of (none / 0) (#11)
by oculus on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:57:58 AM EST

the "boxes" from the arms during screening process.

: He didn't have them out (none / 0) (#12)
by jbindc on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:58:55 AM EST

He took them out of his bag and put them off during or after take-off.

Phylacteries: (none / 0) (#35)
by oculus on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:30:55 PM EST

Jewish Encyclopedia

Please check out the illustrations. Quite elaborate preparation. Prayers to be chanted loudly in Hebrew. Wearer to stand up to remove. Women prohibited from wearing. Exempt if upset stomach!

Is this practice limited to orthodox Jewish men over the age of 13?

Should a flight crew on a flight originating from la Guardia be aware of this practice?

Bottom line for me: better safe than sorry. But my acquaintance w/the religious practice of orthodox Jews is very limited.