<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Report: Pilot Wouldn't Fly Diplomat
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 5:40 a.m. ET
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A pilot for a Delta Air Lines subsidiary would not fly Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior from Cincinnati because the pilot thought Melchior posed a security risk, an Israeli radio station reported Sunday.
Melchior, who was being escorted by State Department officials at the time, told Israel Radio that he waited on a plane for more than an hour before the pilot evacuated it, saying there was a security risk.</font>
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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry
GUWonder
Aug 11, 02, 9:38 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
</font>
This is ridiculous and sad. If this happens to Israeli government officials, I don't care to imagine how many times this may have happened to other foreign-passport holders traveling in the US on unofficial business.
[This message has been edited by GUWonder (edited 08-11-2002).]
Brian
Aug 11, 02, 10:19 am
It seems more likely that the official was removed specifically because he is Israeli.
andrzej
Aug 11, 02, 10:41 am
Let's not forget that the captain has the final say in who's going to be on his plane. The captain is responsible for the well being of all passengers, so if he or she chooses to leave somebody behind, it's within their right.
Some time back 2 Cyprus nationals, older gentlemen were boarding a flight back home at LHR. When asked if they knew of the contents of their suitcase(or whatever that question is), one jokingly asked to his friend, if he did not forget to pack the hashish. Well, police were called, both of them were thoroughly searched(I think plastic gloves were used :-) ), if you know what I mean. Police did not find anything, and they cleared them to continue on their way. Well, the captain refused to have the jokster board the plane. He had to catch a later flight, which cost him extra $. I bet he'll will never make a joke like that. The point is, even though they were cleared by police and security, the captain still had the final say.
I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as the captain does not abuse his/hers powers, and especially towards any one group.
GUWonder
Aug 11, 02, 12:49 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by andrzej:
Let's not forget that the captain has the final say in who's going to be on his plane. The captain is responsible for the well being of all passengers, so if he or she chooses to leave somebody behind, it's within their right.
Some time back 2 Cyprus nationals, older gentlemen were boarding a flight back home at LHR. When asked if they knew of the contents of their suitcase(or whatever that question is), one jokingly asked to his friend, if he did not forget to pack the hashish. Well, police were called, both of them were thoroughly searched(I think plastic gloves were used :-) ), if you know what I mean. Police did not find anything, and they cleared them to continue on their way. Well, the captain refused to have the jokster board the plane. He had to catch a later flight, which cost him extra $. I bet he'll will never make a joke like that. The point is, even though they were cleared by police and security, the captain still had the final say.
I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as the captain does not abuse his/hers powers, and especially towards any one group.</font>
[This message has been edited by GUWonder (edited 08-11-2002).]
RichG
Aug 11, 02, 10:17 pm
If Delta airlines pilots are afraid to fly Israeli diplomats, the terrorists have won another one. Congratulations. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
benoit
Aug 11, 02, 10:29 pm
My instincts tell me this article isn't telling us all the facts that went into the decision made.
GUWonder
Aug 11, 02, 11:10 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by benoit:
My instincts tell me this article isn't telling us all the facts that went into the decision made.
</font>
Something about either the official or his security entourage having weapons in their possession (with State Department Diplomatic Security approval or something similar) may have been in play here as well. I know someone mentioned a similar incident had happened to a few diplomats sometime back in May of this year.
There may be some missing pieces to this story or there may not be.
blairvanhorn
Aug 12, 02, 10:57 am
The story has been updated somewhat.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Comair Backs Barring of Diplomat
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:33 a.m. ET
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A Comair pilot refused to fly Israel's deputy foreign minister from Cincinnati to Toronto over a procedural matter involving security, not because of his nationality, an airline spokeswoman said Monday.
An Israeli radio station reported Sunday that the pilot thought Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior posed a security risk and refused him a seat.
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Comair spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said that Melchior was barred from the flight Thursday because the regional airline had to follow proper procedures. ``It was a procedural matter that involved security,'' Glynn said, without providing specifics.</font>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tmorse6570:
I know this isn't politically correct, but in my opinion, just being near anyone carrying an Isreal passport is a security risk, no matter what the person looks like. Isreal is at war and they are unfortunately a target where ever they are. I'm flying this Sept. 11 to show my American patriotism and to show that the terroris of our country haven't scared me one bit and to support our airline industry, but I don't think I'd choose to be near Isreali heads of state. Isreal transports it's soldiers often using the public bus system there, which I think unnecessarily puts addition civilians at risk in an already dangerous time and they have become a popular target. I don't like the idea of Isreal using our public transport for official business.</font>
You're right. That isn't very politically correct, and pretty weak-kneed, as well.
LexPassenger
Aug 13, 02, 10:27 am
The pilot and airline have said that paperwork to allow firearms on the plane was not proper.
This was fixed, and the entourage was flown on the next available flight.
Teapot tempest, if you ask me, blown up by publicity. (You know that in the Israeli system of government, this level of official will be a politician rather than a bureaucrat? And he had the chance to do a radio interview....I leave the rest of the problem for the class as homework.)
LGA_UAL
Aug 13, 02, 1:19 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by andrzej:
Let's not forget that the captain has the final say in who's going to be on his plane. The captain is responsible for the well being of all passengers, so if he or she chooses to leave somebody behind, it's within their right.
Some time back 2 Cyprus nationals, older gentlemen were boarding a flight back home at LHR. When asked if they knew of the contents of their suitcase(or whatever that question is), one jokingly asked to his friend, if he did not forget to pack the hashish. Well, police were called, both of them were thoroughly searched(I think plastic gloves were used :-) ), if you know what I mean. Police did not find anything, and they cleared them to continue on their way. Well, the captain refused to have the jokster board the plane. He had to catch a later flight, which cost him extra $. I bet he'll will never make a joke like that. The point is, even though they were cleared by police and security, the captain still had the final say. </font>
Discovery Wings...my favorite station.
LarryJ
Aug 13, 02, 9:40 pm
Funny how the situation changes once you've heard both sides of the story.
Why does everyone here seem to want to jump to conclusions based on only part of the story?