Professional Pilots,

I am curious...do you believe that this story could be true...

Flight 253 passenger: Sharp-dressed man aided terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab onto plane without passport (MLive.com exclusive) | Detroit News - - MLive.com


Julie (UAL Pilot Wife)

 

Me personally - yes i believe it could be true. I am always vigilant even on my regional airline flights and I always take a look around the gate area when i approach it for my flight.

 

I travel through AMS fairly often, both operating and as a revenue passenger.

In a word -- no. No one is going to put someone on an International flight without documentation. In addition I have always found Dutch security to be first rate (with much more frontal brain activity than the American TSA), though they do have a challenge with the varied nationalities that transit Schiphol.

Which is not to say that there might not have been a "lost passport" game being played, but that involves a consulate or embassy -- and certainly not at the gate and not near departure time.

 

Mr. and Mrs. lawyers. My guess is they are trying to set up a good law suit.

 

At least someone is making money in this economy.

 

Most of us who are attached to someone who are in the front lines of the terrorists most "lusted" after targets - commercial airlines feel helpless (except for supporting you and sending good thoughts and prayers) and want to do something.

Last night, I was thinking about all the "dry runs" groups of intimidating terrorists (or would like to be) have done on airplanes since 911. What would bother could be that their were instantly created other group on board, the passengers. When I teach a college class I have found that when I make an announcement that they are going to be in semester long subgroup for the duration of my class (college classes like the flights you make are made up of people who are thrown together by accident.) at first, they moan and groan, but by the end of the semester they have "empowered each other" and have identified the weak links and have compensated for their work in order to get the highest grades possible. I was thinking how frustrated, uncomfortable, or in a way even fearful if before taking off a pilot made an announcement regarding being a team for the duration of the flight (passengers love to hear from the pilots when they know we are awake) such as,

"It is important to know who is on your team. What I would like you to do is to turn to the person closest to you and introduce yourselves. Then make sure your seat belts are on. We are ready to fly! Have a good trip everyone!"

Do you think it could work?