Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(October 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Paranoia and cases of the jitters reign supreme.
There were two incidents in the days before and after the
event. Both were false alarms. The first one was a couple
of days prior to the anniversary when a passenger on a flight
from ----- to ----- went to get something out of the overhead
bins and within seconds two Air Marshals had their guns
drawn and were pointing them menacingly at all the passengers,
one of whom was a United States Judge.
The incident was eventually sorted out when it was found
that the passenger was searching for some item that he wished
to use during the flight.
The second case of mistaken identity was when an American
flight, with 50 passengers and a crew of 4 on board, heading
from Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth was returned to Houston
after a flight attendant noticed a passenger with an “unidentifiable
object”.
The passenger was searched at a remote location on the airfield
at Houston airport. The unidentified object later turned
out to be a hair comb. The Transport Security Administration
said that the plane and all its passengers were searched
and no weapons found.
By the way, two F-16 fighters were scrambled to escort
the Fokker F-100 to Houston, and when the plane landed it
was surrounded by police cars and emergency vehicles.
 On
two recent flights, one to UK and one to Florida, my wife
and I were given a complete and thorough wand and pat down
procedure by a security agent and even had to take off our
shoes and put them through the “X” ray machine.
This incident was on the way to the gate because the alarm
went off when we passed through the security check point.
We later learned that the type of shoes with the brand name
of “Rockport”, which we have worn for years
have a metal support plate in the heel area.
Shades of Richard Reid the shoe bomber.
Still I suppose its better to be safe than sorry.
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