Powdered Aspirin Raises Alert for United Express Flight
Jeff Edwards September 12, 2014
Fire Department and HAZMAT crews boarded a United Express flight shortly after a crew member reported finding a suspicious package onboard containing a crushed powdery substance.
A United Express flight operated by ExpressJet from Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH) was briefly quarantined at the gate after a crew member discovered a container of suspicious powder in the aisle of the aircraft before landing. Texas NBC affiliate KAGS reports that the powdery substance turned out to be aspirin. The incident occurred on the 13th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Fire Department and HAZMAT crews boarded the aircraft shortly after it arrived at the gate Thursday morning. The flight’s 29 passengers and 3 crew members were held on the plane while officials investigated the suspicious package. An hour later, after a test of the powder revealed it to be aspirin, passengers and crew were allowed to disembark.
Houston Fire Department officials told KAGS News that the incident did not affect larger operations at the airport.
Powdered aspirin products, which are faster acting than tablets or capsules are becoming more popular with air travelers and are specifically recommended for travelers with certain heat conditions. Allegiant Air began selling Urgent Rx brand powdered aspirin inflight last year. American Airlines entered in to an agreement with Urgent Rx in 2011 to supply its Critical Care Aspirin To Go product to be administered to passengers exhibiting symptoms of a heart attack inflight.
[Photo: iStock]
Lavarock7, if that is the case, "why do we have TSA?" Aren't they supposed to be "protecting" us from things like this? Do your job , or go home!!
diburning, although the TSA checks passengers, it *IS* possible to board a flight without a ticket and who knows if the person actually passed through security. Recently there was a woman who boarded multiple flights without a ticket and a guy jumped the fence and flew in the wheel well of a flight from the mainland to Hawaii. Also, TSA's have missed many items.
This should be a non-issue. Isn't the TSA there to screen such powders to determine what they are? If cleared by the TSA, then why is the airline reacting? Why aren't they assuming that it has been cleared by the TSA? If they're going to react to anything they find to be suspicious due to paranoia, then why do we still need the TSA?