PASSENGERS SCREENING PASSENGERS

A few days ago there was a little noticed story about a passenger “Mutiny.” This is how the story begins in the Daily Mail of London:

Mutiny as passengers refuse to fly until Asians are removed

Passengers refuse to allow holiday jet to take off until two Asian men are thrown off plane

By CHRISTOPHER LEAKE and ANDREW CHAPMAN 12:08pm 20th August 2006

British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny - refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were forcibly removed.

The extraordinary scenes happened after some of the 150 passengers on a Malaga-Manchester flight overheard two men of Asian appearance apparently talking Arabic.

Passengers told cabin crew they feared for their safety and demanded police action. Some stormed off the Monarch Airlines Airbus A320 minutes before it was due to leave the Costa del Sol at 3am. Others waiting for Flight ZB 613 in the departure lounge refused to board it.
…
Passengers noticed that, despite the heat, the pair were wearing leather jackets and thick jumpers and were regularly checking their watches.

Initially, six passengers refused to board the flight. On board the aircraft, word reached one family. To the astonishment of cabin crew, they stood up and walked off, followed quickly by others.
…

"Some of the older children, who had seen the terror alert on television, were starting to mutter things like, 'Those two look like they're bombers.'

"Then a family stood up and walked off the aircraft. They were joined by others, about eight in all. We learned later that six or seven people had refused to get on the plane.

"There was no fuss or panic. People just calmly and quietly got off the plane. There were no racist taunts or any remarks directed at the men.

You can read the whole story *HERE*. But another part of the story was yet to come. The on-line edition of the Daily Mail asked for comments. Here is the comment section as of this writing:

Add your comment Reader comments (5)

5 people have commented on this story so far. Tell us what you think below.

I have never in all my life heard anything so stupid. I can't believe that we Brits have become so hysterical and gullible over just a few years.-

Patricia, Jarrow,Tyne and Wear

How absolutely appalling. That people would allow their ill-founded prejudices to spill over and affect these two men, already cleared by airport security, is simply farcical. -

Lorrie, Manchester, UK

What next? Not letting Asian people board buses or even worse segregating them just like in America until recently. We must tackle the root causes of ignorance and not judge a book by its cover. As a British Muslim I feel less and less part of Britain because of the media and government campaign that lumps the trouble makers and law abiding Muslims in one basket-

Malik, London

What a disgrace. -

Tom, London

What knee-jerk ignorance!-

Bernie, Canada

Can you believe it? There are only five comments and all of one opinion: opposed to the actions of the passengers. How much would you bet that they have received hundreds of comments supporting the passengers that they have refused to print? Here is that stupid political correctness again.

I, for one, support shunning all Muslims until they get their house in order. Only they can do that. Make it clear that it is their problem.