se94583, Thanks for listening to what I have siad. I also agree that the pilot should have final authority on the things he knows about. This type of issue is one where I don't think he knows best.

I also disagree with your statement that we are hung up on his looks. The reason we have stressed that is the pilot and AA SOC statement want us to believe that his Arabic appearence had nothing to do with it and it was just the paperwork. That arguement does not wash with the captains own statement. He acknowledges that he new he had an armed LEO on board and the paper work was OK. He was preping the aircraft for takeoff and allowed the armed individual to board. HE states that it was only after the FA brought his/her concern about his arabic book that he expresses any concern about the paper work. The improper paper work that was first turned in was correct with the exception of an AA emplyee changing the flight number!!!! That is an AA employee that made the first mistake. Regarding the next mistake, I guess we will only know later what that was. But more important, by this time the pilot did not believe his official badge and credentials and would not accept the word of the local police that they were legit. They then confirmed the badge and SS status, but by that point the pilot says he had made his decision.

I also am surprised that if AA actually had any support for the statement of the agent becoming hostile, that they would not have published it. Even Carty's comment says that he reviewed the pilots and SOC comments. He did not offer anymore proof about the nature of the agents disposition during the arguement. The only independent witnesses to anything that have stepped forward are the civilians that agree with the agent, and again from federal officers I have known and the stadards that Presidential detail personel are held to he gets my benifit of the doubt. If the pilot would admit that his arabic look started this whole thing then I might believe his comments more.


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Robert