To be fair to the passengers around me, I do not think they lied. We were in the back corner of 1st class, and could see that NOBODY spoke to them before we were removed from the plane. We were later told by the FBI that the crew spoke to them, so it had to be immediately after we were removed, but before the police questioned the passengers.

Plus remember w/ the background noise of a taxiing plane our fellow passengers did overhear the words, 'speed', 'drug' & 'crew' -- what I do not believe they heard clearly was EVERY word that was said -- and when questioned by police, AFTER being briefed as to the flight attendants version, it would not be uncommon for any passenger to say what these passengers said. Also remember WE were the bad guys, everyone was missing their connections & meetings, and they saw us as the problem.

Planting their story was good strategy on the flight attendant’s part, because when 2 nearby passengers were questioned, their stories corroborated the flight attendants. The FBI agent implied he wanted the case to disappear before he arrived at the airport, but ALL 3 flight attendants were ADAMANT that we were guilty of 'interfering w/ their duties' -- the only prosecutable charge they could dream up -- because remember pointing out ANY safety risk, including suspicions of a crew member on drugs is not a prosecutable offense (as long as its not done maliciously).

What is amazing is that a flight crew would embellish and work so hard to pin what amounts to nothing, on two very passive, innocent people. I honestly believe ONLY the flight crew lied. It was also fascinating to see how ANYTHING said by a flight crew is at first considered gospel and beyond reproach, it is assumed that all passengers are lying to save themselves -- this flight crew knew the system and used it in every way they could to their advantage.

I would be interested in filing a complaint on the safety announcement, if anyone knows the procedure. Interestingly NOBODY from the US Air mgmt. who questioned us, nor the police, had ANY interest in pursuing the safety announcement.

I do not begrudge US Air at all, and will continue flying them without hesitation -- this only reflects on the human nature of the flight attendants, and I'm afraid the sad, sorry state of the safety systems that have evolved to 'protect' us.