I just dont see how this turns out good for ASA unless these guys made some threatening comments or something of that nature.

 

I find the racism allegations against the crew rather comical.

I know of NO crewmember who enjoys filling out reports or having conferences with management enough to arbitrarily remove a passenger without cause.

The path of least resistance is to just go fly, and there must be a darn good reason why these people were removed.

 

I agree with lostinpa. Hopefully we'll eventually hear the full details. The pilots had to know nothing good would come of this so I don't see how anyone would boot someone for no reason.

 

ajc.com story has a new wrinkle:

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Jon Allen in Atlanta confirmed the incident and said it was not initiated by that agency.

Another passenger aboard the flight called the AJC Saturday and said the pilot told him a different story.

Sean McKinney, an accountant from Greeenville, S.C., said he spoke to the pilot after landing in Charlotte and the pilot told him that TSA requested the plane return to the terminal.

"That seems more reasonable to me," said McKinney, 38, who was traveling for business. "Why would the pilot pull away from the gate if he had a concern with the passengers?"

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which operates the flight, could not be reached for comment Saturday. Spokesman Jarek Beem said Friday evening the incident is under investigation.

McKinney said the Muslim men were screened by TSA along with other travelers before boarding the 8:40 a.m. flight.

"I had no problem with them. They seemed very cordial and professional," said McKinney, who said he overheard the men speaking in English while waiting to board.

McKinney said the men "stood out" but he noticed no passenger concern until after the plane returned to the terminal and TSA began searching the overhead luggage bins near where the men sat.

McKinney said the aircraft pulled away from the gate but the pilot announced they were turning around before reaching the runway.

TSA workers boarded the plane, removed Rahman and Zaghloul and began searching the overhead bins and the area near their seats, said McKinney, who landed in Charlotte two hours late.

Beem said the Muslim men were put on another flight to Charlotte later that day. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused," Beem said.

 

I agree - I can't imagine any captain I've flown with returning to the gate without an FA expressing concern over a situation in the back. Once we begin our engine start and taxi flows, the pax are no longer a major concern. If the captain is sticking up for the FA in this case, kudos to him for backing his crew! I'd love to hear the real story on this one!

 

Sometimes the difference between a good outcome and a bad outcome (life and death) is a split second decision that we, unless we are sitting in the seat making that decision, really don't know how we would decide. The Captain has authority over the safety of the flight, and as such, must make difficult decisions sometimes. Since every situation is different, I think we should be applauding the fact that he had the guts to make the decision he did. Too many of us are unwilling to make, and stand by, the tough decisions in life.

 

So were the 9/11 hijackers right up until H-Hour.

Not saying I agree without knowing any details, just arguing both sides of the coin. As was already mentioned, 9/11 had more effect than some realized. Radical Muslims failed to realize that in a free country with free speech, we'd still be free to exercise those privileges afterward, misplaced or not.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not completely up on my history), but if I recall correctly Rosa Parks and her fellow activists weren't inclined to strap on TNT and walk into a crowded cafe or bus, or fly airliners into a buildings.

Now, I'd actually be $2 that the two gentlemen in question aren't inclined do to so either. The problem being that there is precious little for the rest of the world to help us distinguish those Muslims who do advocate such acts from those who do not. The silence from within their community is deafening. As has been pointed out, the 9-11 hijackers were just ordinary people until that faithful day.

I'm not condoning or condemning the actions of the crew, but until the "vast majority of peaceful Muslims" stands up and denounces the other element and cleans their own house, then the problem is on their own heads.

Just my $ 0.02...

Hopefully I haven't stepped outside of the TOS...

 

I'm not going to call the pilot racist because I haven't heard his side of the story .. but I will definitely call it ignorant.

 

I couldn't agree with you more. It's a subject that a lot of people won't live up to but it exists. Again, I'm not say that the captain was right or wrong but I think you're observation is spot on!