“Since the terrorist hijackings and events of September 11, we have seen several reports of airlines apparently removing passengers from flights because the passengers appeared to be Middle Eastern and/or Muslim. We caution airlines not to target or otherwise discriminate against passengers based on their race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, or based on passengers' names or modes of dress that could be indicative of such classification. Various Federal statutes prohibit air carriers from subjecting a person in air transportation to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry. At DOT, we are and will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that the airport security procedures, mandated by FAA and implemented by the airlines, are not unlawfully discriminatory.” Norman Strickman, Assistant Director for Aviation Consumer Protection, Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Quite a number of unsubstantiated statements were made about pilots having complete control of an aircraft. That may very well be the case once airborne, but while on the ground with the plane at the gate, he or she is still subject to lots of laws and regulations (and in fact still is while in the air, but will be held accountable once the plane lands). FAA regulations do not permit a pilot to deny a person his constitutional rights. They do not (and can not) permit a pilot to disobey other FAA regulations and federal laws. In fact, American Airlines could have removed him from command of the aircraft at any time and they did not. In fact American Airlines is still backing him up. From everything I have read, two instances of bad judgment by American.

Also, were the people on the ground in charge at American Airlines not capable of confirming the identity of a Secret Service Agent (in addition to the confirmation they apparently already received from the Maryland police) in less than 15 minutes. If they can not do that are they capable of maintaining and flying planes? The airlines want armed sky marshals. Well, how is American going to identify them if they can not confirm the identity of a Secret Service Agent? When I fly I am trusting the judgment of the pilot and the airline. American has shown very bad judgment recently. I know I will not be flying American anytime soon.

Further, if the captain really was concerned about passenger safety, and had any doubt at all that the agent was in fact an agent, he should have done everything in his power to confirm his identity (or get him arrested as an imposter and have the airport evacuated because of a security breach) and get the agent on the plane fast, assuming his identity is verified. I know I would feel much safer with a member of the presidential detail on my flight—more so than with a recently trained sky marshal. The background checks, testing and training of Secret Service Agents on the presidential detail are the best this country has to offer. Frankly, I wish I could have a person on the presidential detail with me on all flights (and anytime I travel). These are some of the best trained law enforcement officers in the United States and the world.

But maybe the captain really did not like Arab-Americans, even if one of America’s finest? If American does not discipline him, perhaps the same FAA that licenses him to fly should, after a full and fair investigation, consider whether he is fit to hold a commercial pilot’s license.

And seriously, what in the world does a pilot know about security? He may be an expert (or at least I hope he is) about flying planes, but unless no other security personnel are available (as they clearly were), he should leave these matters to the professionals.


P.S. Male and female Secret Service Agents have died in the service of their country.


[This message has been edited by Nevsky (edited 12-29-2001).]