Originally Posted by Mats (Post 15292869)

Or it's the six or seven guys who bypass secondary screening for the flight to Tel Aviv and who stand around joking and chatting before the flight, but act like they've never met once on board.

I understand but oppose the Federal Air Marshal program. And it's not just the downgrades. I am reminded of EgyptAir 648, in which marshals miscalculated and there was a mid-air gunfight. There were five fatalities.

I am reminded of Rigoberto Alpazar, who was shot and killed by US Air Marshals in 2005 due to an acute psychotic episode.

Passengers have clearly shown their ability to handle problems on their own, like Richard Reid and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The Marshals have only seem to have demonstrated a threat rather than a benefit to aviation safety.

Originally Posted by Good Guy (Post 15293960)

Mr Alpazar was shot by US FAM's because he stated he had a "bomb". The FAM's did not know he was having a psychotic episode.

Originally Posted by BearX220 (Post 15299540)

I believe that guy was shot in the back as he was fleeing the aircraft and trying to head up the jetway, so... the FAM wasn't exactly saving the plane and passengers. Any cop who shot someone under such circumstances would find himself switching careers.

Originally Posted by Bearcat06 (Post 15297386)

LOL.... That's funny.....as every FAM I know eats.... And will tell how they rate the food based on the Airline.......

Originally Posted by MikeMpls (Post 15294618)

Still doesn't change the simple fact that for decades the FAM's big "catches" have been limited to that one mentally ill individual.

Originally Posted by birdstrike (Post 15300239)

Hey! That's one more than the TSA.

Originally Posted by Good Guy (Post 15300286)

FAMS is part of TSA, but you'll be hard pressed to get a Marshal to admit it.

Originally Posted by birdstrike (Post 15300339)

Ewwww. I thought they were part of DHS. But TSA? How degrading. I'm surprised they haven't quit en masse.

Originally Posted by Good Guy (Post 15300429)

DHS - TSA - FAMS. All one big happy family.

Originally Posted by Mats (Post 15292869)

He's the guy in 2B or 2C--the seat to which you were assigned, but mysteriously ended up downgraded for reasons the airline "cannot explain."

Or he's one of three guys eating sundaes in first class--the only passengers in that cabin other than me. They had to act like they didn't know each other, but gave up after a while.

Or it's the six or seven guys who bypass secondary screening for the flight to Tel Aviv and who stand around joking and chatting before the flight, but act like they've never met once on board.

I understand but oppose the Federal Air Marshal program. And it's not just the downgrades. I am reminded of EgyptAir 648, in which marshals miscalculated and there was a mid-air gunfight. There were five fatalities.

I am reminded of Rigoberto Alpazar, who was shot and killed by US Air Marshals in 2005 due to an acute psychotic episode.

Passengers have clearly shown their ability to handle problems on their own, like Richard Reid and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The Marshals have only seem to have demonstrated a threat rather than a benefit to aviation safety.

Originally Posted by FriendlySkies (Post 15300437)

All one big, seriously screwed up family :) ;)

Originally Posted by FriendlySkies (Post 15300130)

Perhaps some of them eat. The one that sat next to me on two flights, going to ORD and also to IAD refused to have anything besides water.. He also had a document that he was eying that said at the top "SSI: Sensitive Security Information", which had various flight numbers on it ;)

He did have a laptop with him, but fiddled around with his anti-virus on both flights...

Originally Posted by blue_can (Post 15301182)

Maybe a terrorist may find a way to become an air marshal.

Maybe an air marshal on a flight may go insane and decide to start shooting.

Plenty of undesirable possibilities not to mention accidental shooting holes in the aircraft in the event of a problem. I don't see this as a good solution to the security issue.

Originally Posted by RedEye27 (Post 15462936)

Ur kidding right?? hahaha This forum makes me laugh! Well if we are dealing with maybes........Maybe the fuel will leak out of the wing and catch fire and make the plane explode. Life is full of "Maybe". Let's deal in WHAT IS instead of what COULD BE. Stop worrying about how to spot a marshal and let them do their jobs.