Seriously guys why is it always and only Southwest that does this? I'm all for scrutiny of passengers but this was ridiculous....



SAN DIEGO — A local Islamic advocacy group is calling for an apology from Southwest Airlines after a San Diego Muslim woman wearing a head scarf was escorted off a flight bound for San Jose over the weekend.
For the record

The story has been changed to say that the woman is a student at San Jose State University, not San Diego State University as previously reported.

The woman, a graduate student at San Jose State University, was on the 8:15 a.m. Sunday flight to fly to San Jose, where she is doing scholarly research, said Edgar Hopida, spokesman for the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

A Southwest crew member reportedly described the woman as suspicious. Little explanation was given for the woman’s removal, except a statement by a flight attendant claiming she heard the woman say, “It’s a go,” during a cell phone conversation before takeoff, Hopida said.

The woman, whose name was not made public Tuesday, claims she actually said, “I’ve got to go.”

Hopida said once she was removed, federal Transportation Security Administration officers did not search the woman or her luggage and didn’t question her in an interview room. Instead, they led her to a Southwest ticket counter and she left on the next flight to San Jose.

Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Mainz said Tuesday it was too early to comment on the specific allegations. “We’re in the process of collecting the facts and researching this situation,” he said.

A local TSA spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

“The TSA agents took her off but didn’t give her further security scrutiny,” Hopida said. “We believe the suspicious allegations were due to her being a Muslim woman of South Asian descent wearing a head scarf.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is asking for Southwest to investigate the incident and to apologize to the woman, who is expected to give a statement and further details at a news conference Wednesday.

 

Hmmmm, we will need more details and the SWA side of the story, plus, Swa is not the only airline that has had to do this.
However, in defense of the crew, isn't this what we are trained to do? Be on the lookout for odd behavior, and suspicious things? The FA said nothing about her being a Muslim, but somehow the Islamic Relations are involved now?
Imagine if something would have happened, we all would have strung the crew up for ignoring the signs. In my opinion, flight crews are in a lose- lose situation, so we might as well lose and be safe. My 2 cents

 

They kill kittens and are racists. Figures.

 

Because advertising yourself as the absolute cheapest doesn't always get you grade A pax?

 

Seems to me that the system worked exactly as designed in this case. What's the problem, aside from some overly sensitive folks looking for a reason to be offended becoming so?

 

So if a non-muslim said this would the same thing happen. People have got to learn to calm down. Terrorist and or muslims who are out to do us harm have blonde hair and blue eyes too. Think Chechyna.

 

What a stupid statement. I get the pleasure to ride around on all the airlines to get to my active legs and there are grade F people on every flying tube in the sky.

I feel sorry for all of you who have such deep resentments towards things such as the LCCs and anything else you imagine is out for your demise.

Put yourself in that FA's shoes who thought she heard that. It is the World that we have created and it's time for the weak, stupid and lazy people to either get with it and act like a responsible citizen or pay the prices. For example: Don't say things that sound suspicious on your cell phone while sitting in airliner full of people, or you might be detain and questioned about your conversation.

PtP

 

It's puppys, Clamp. I believe it's you guys that are the kitty killers

 

So saying "I've got to go" would be suspicious? Should she "get with it" in your words? How should a reasonable person act when they want to say "I've got to go" - pretty common, I think I may have even said that once or twice on an aircraft? Do you read what you post before you hit submit?

 

Don't read into things. I've ridden SWA for years and have nothing but the best of stories about them. Living in Houston I ride both SWA and CAL quite a bit and I see a difference in PAX. Has nothing to do with the demise of the company or those that work there. A $49 ticket gets you a $49 customers. Last year had a group of homeless flying south for the winter