I don't think there is a problem with that. Jumping a passenger from behind to gain control of his weapon is not possible. With officers on both sides or beside and behind, the guy is going to stay in his seat.

JR

Although you'd think they would be required to take a US flag carrier, they used Thai Air. Besides, taking NW with a connection enroute might be construed to be cruel and inhumane punishment.

Used to be you'd see a prisoner being transported about as often as you see the guy empty the payphone. Now, with the lax sentencing guidelines, very few ever make it to prison. With the exception of that hardened criminal Martha Stewart!

Long before 9/11, when TWA was still flying strong, I spotted a flight attendent with handcuffs on - but I think they were leftover from the night before. Mink-lined if my memory serves me correct.

A few months ago, I was flying back into BWI and was lucky enough to get bumped up to FC. I was sitting on the aisle, reading my book and enjoying a soda, when a clinking noise caught my attention. A guy in shackles was being brought aboard toward the end of the general boarding. He was escorted by two men in plain clothes, one front and back. I didn't see where they sat.

When we landed, there were camera crews waiting to photograph him and they followed him out to the curb, where the agents/officers put him in a vehicle. I looked through the DC and Balto. newspapers, but couldn't find any reference. He could have been on his way back to southern Pennsylvania or even West Virginia, I imagine. He was also sporting a truly hideous bleached out, shaggy, mullet.

I've seen several prisoners being transported in the past, but never the camera crews on landing.

I worked for an airline until about a year ago and the rule of thumb that we went by was any federal agent (DHS, CIA, FBI, Marshals-FAM and regular USM, SS, even Forest Service for that matter...) can carry a weapon with no questions asked, just some paperwork filled out and authorized by a supervisor. Local law enforcement needed a letter of authorization explaning why they needed a weapon (unless prisoner transport, then no letter needed).

Recap, Federal Agent=Always allowed, Local LEO=Sometimes and w/ valid reason.

I'm reasonably certain that the primary reason Mr. Karr was flown back on Thai Air was because it is the only nonstop flight between BKK and the US. The logistics of dealing with a prisoner on a non-stop versus connecting flights are pretty straightforward.

Flying Felons
 

Hawaii has almost two thousand felons, at last report, serving time on the mainland because the island prisons are overcrowded. There are not too many other options to get them to the mainland, other than flying in a commercial airliner. While they are trying to get a new prison built at Kalaeloa or on the Big Island, that will take a while. Thus you will see occassional prisoners on the flights to and from the islands.

Joe Bradley

Prisoner on board
 

ohh and
 

Don't forget about you trusty postal workers.:confused: :confused: