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Something like that happened once to me - in June 2001, so before 9/11, but it was on a flight to Cairo, so already a sensitive destination.

A passenger was seen as running in the aisles while shouting incoherently. One steward later told me that the guy had already run out of the plane, then back in, and was shouting vaguely threatening or worried stuff all along.

All passengers were asked out of the plane, and made to go through the security check again (the X-Ray machines + individual patting). Then we all boarded the plane again, were taken to an isolated area of thr airport; all luggage was taken out, and we were all asked out with all out stuff to identify our luggage while they checked the plane inside with dogs and who knows what else.

It was done in good order and calm (and I think the Roissy airport security forces used the case as a full scale exercise, as a lot of personnel was brought in)

Nothing was found, and we took off 4 or 5 hours later than expected, without the guy.

But that was really bizarre and worrying stuff (and pretty much everybody saw the guy running agitated and shouting).

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 at 05:20:45 AM EST
As a side note: airport controls have not changed much in Europe before and after 9/11, in my experience. They are a bit more systematic, but not extravagantly so.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 at 05:21:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Which was rather the point: flying in the US in early 2001 scared the hell out of me because there wasn't the normal level of security.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 at 05:23:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
They have gone from no security to paranoia.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 at 05:35:08 AM EST
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Both my son and I have been astonished, when on our various trips we passed the customs booth at Gatwick... and there was no one there. Texas has some very nasty cattle diseases that one would think the Brits would just as soon not have in their country. When I go back to the States, US customs asks very detailed questions about whether or not you've been walking around in farm country, and on occasions they make you sterilize your shoes.
UK customs did frisk my son and open his luggage when he came back from St. Malo on the ferry. He had mentioned he liked it in England and would like to live there someday, so they were searching for a resume. They were very, very concerned.
by northsylvania on Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 at 07:15:53 AM EST
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"Texas has some very nasty cattle diseases..."
<fill in the blank>

...one of which resides in the WH.
...same one as the goppies.

I take it back. It´s not fair to compare cattle to lesser beings.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 at 04:35:35 PM EST
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