2 Men Detained after Flight to Phoenix

(AP)  Two men thought to have been acting suspicious aboard a flight bound for Phoenix were detained and questioned by federal anti-terrorism authorities before they were released, the FBI said Sunday.

Transportation Security Administration officials said passengers aboard U.S. Airways Flight 192 from Orlando, Fla., on Saturday night reported that two men, described as Middle Eastern, were acting strangely and talking loudly to each other in a foreign language.

A nearby passenger also observed one of men watching what appeared to be footage of a suicide bombing, but was actually a scene from the 2007 movie "The Kingdom." The man also got up from his seat while the seat belt warning sign was still lit, FBI spokesman Manuel Johnson said.

"The totality of those three occurrences led this passenger to believe this was suspicious," he said.

The flight crew called for law enforcement and TSA officers to meet them when the plane landed at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport at about 8 p.m. Authorities said the two men were met by Phoenix police and TSA officials at the flight's airport gate and later interviewed by FBI agents.

Nothing dangerous was found during a search of the plane and passengers' luggage, police said. The men were released after questioning and allowed to continue on to California, Phoenix Johnson said.

The flight's final destination was San Diego. Authorities did not release the men's names, ages or hometowns.

[sean56v]

Most Arabs and Africans oppose the war against America. Attacks on passenger jets promote hostility in the Middle East. A reduction of sabotage on U.S. aircraft encourages this country to seek a peaceful solution in Afghanistan.

[nowhiningallowed]

Stop giving out visas. Refuse any passengers entering the U.S. that come from countries known to be terrorist hot-beds or those that give them safe-haven. Cease all diplomatic relations with these countries. Withdraw from the UN. Never mind about appearing to be isolationist or offending foreigners. Our security is more important than any of this. Bury political correctness once and for all. Being PC has ruined this nation.

[sandy19731]

We have nothing to fear but people like you.

[AOCGUY]

whining - Where in this article does it state these men had or needed visas? For that matter where does it state they were not Americans?

[thesevenveils]

And still,
NO ISLAMIC CHURCH IN THE US DENOUNCED THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE NOR TRIED TO SHOW THEIR SOLIDARITY AGAINST ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS AND THEIR VIOLENCE.

Why are these people so silent?

[displeased]

How do you know? Did you attend one of these churches?

[luvheat]

Look...Thousands killed by terrorists (not only Americans) on 9/11. Several attempts to blow up planes. And now two incidents involving the same flight, same nationality, and same extended stays in bathrooms, within three days. Yeah excuse the EFF out of me if I sound paranoid. Those of you who talk crap about the U.S. and it's policies can either stay in your EFFED up countries or be one of the loudest screamers when YOUR ass gets blown out of the sky. Hell don't come back to the U.S. no one noticed you the last time you were here. Go to france or canada

[brianbwb-2009]

If anyone gets blown up, there will be no screaming from them Sherlock.

It is your support of the racist "manifest destiny" policies of the wanna be Napoleonic world- conquerors that cause the circumstance of your paranoia.

So you just sit and stew in your paranoia, for it is a prison of your own making, the fear of the logical reaction to hostile government actions which suckers like you supported.

The saner amongst us are not going to let anyone reduce us to cowering in fear, and will regard with a mix of amusement and pity, for those proudly professing the cowardice which is paranoia.

We will continue to live our lives as we have, and will continue to oppose illegal actions by our own government against other people as well as against ourselves.

Don't like it? Then you should be the one leaving, as there is nothing you are going to do about it.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Don't worry about Brianwb. He is just an American hater. Always seems to have been, and probably will always be. Some don't seem to understand what a great nation we live in. It is their loss.

I, myself love my nation and the people in it. I love it enough to want to defend it from harm as well as all those who live here or travel within her shores. Brian, on the otherhand would just as soon we all die in fiery explosions for the perceived wrongs and slights against the muslims in other countries. I say to you, Brian; Please move to Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan and join your brothers and sisters in your hatred of America. Do your plotting over there where a predator might get a shot at you.

[erb0087]

"Nothing dangerous was found during a search of the plane and passengers' luggage, police said. The men were released after questioning and allowed to continue on to California, Phoenix Johnson said."
====================================

I thought his name was Manuel Johnson.

[erb0087]

Why didn't Jasper Schuringa tackle these two guys, just to be on the safe side ?

[actornaught]

...the witness was overheard giving his name as Barney Fife...

[erb0087]

Speaking of films, there are some tense scenes in the 2005 Jodie Foster film "Flightplan" where two doctors of Middle Eastern origin are practically lynched by their fellow passengers when they are perceived to be acting suspiciously on the flight.

(My sister ridiculed "Flightplan" as the most improbable, unrealistic depiction of a commercial flight she had ever seen on film. I told her, Hey, it wasn't supposed to be a documentary...)

[joetheplumer]

""Middle Eastern talking loudly to each other in a foreign language"" is this enough to be treated as suspicious?

[brianbwb-2009]

Are you kidding?

Just having dark skin is enough for many "Amerikkkans".

[themooniac]

Hey, you bought it on yourselves a-ho'S

[BuddyBeanbags]

This will definitely be the Fox News hysterical theme of the week and I fully expect Rush will have a heart attack or stroke on the air bloviating over this stuff.

[brianbwb-2009]

From your keyboard to "God's" LCD monitor.