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http://www.change.org/petitions/jet-blue-apologize-and-refund-costs-settle-don-t-judge-on-stereotypes# Riyanna.You have to hand it to the TSA.
When they discovered that eighteen-month-old Riyanna was on the no-fly list (or at least someone with the same name was) they didn’t bat an eye. They didn’t stop and think about whether a one-and-a-half year old posed a security threat, or whether it could possibly be a case of mistaken identity. There’s no time to think in these tense situations.TSA Removes 18-Month Old Baby From Plane [Updated]
Wyatt SmithSomething similar to this happened to my son a couple of years ago – he was not quite two at the time.Erik Kain, ContributorWell Smith is a name that conjures terrorist plots…chiguy31Sometimes we forget how hierarchical the government bureaucracy is.3 comments, 3 called-out + Comment now
+ Comment now 120 58 2 0 0
The new face of terror. Or something.
You have to hand it to the TSA.
When they discovered that eighteen-month-old Riyanna was on the no-fly list (or at least someone with the same name was) they didn’t bat an eye. They didn’t stop and think about whether a one-and-a-half year old posed a security threat, or whether it could possibly be a case of mistaken identity. There’s no time to think in these tense situations.
No sir, the TSA agents at Ft. Lauderdale airport did what needed to be done and pulled that terror-baby off the plane.
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Man Strips Naked At Oregon Airport To Protest TSA Erik Kain
Contributor
Actor Steven Seagal Sued for Driving Tank into Arizona Home, Killing Puppy Erik Kain
Contributor
Up to this point in her life, Riyanna had only ever dropped bombs in her diaper, but that wasn’t fooling the TSA:
She and her parents had just boarded a JetBlue flight when an airline employee approached them and asked them to get off the plane, saying representatives from the Transportation Security Agency wanted to speak to them.
“And I said, ‘For what?’” Riyanna’s mother told only WPBF 25 News on Wednesday. “And he said, ‘Well, it’s not you or your husband. Your daughter was flagged as no fly.’ I said, ‘Excuse me?’”
Riyanna’s father was flabbergasted.
“It’s absurd,” he said. “It made no sense. Why would an 18-month-old child be on a no-fly list?”
Why indeed?
The family was kept off the plane for 30 minutes before being allowed back on. Surprisingly, their 18-month old daughter was not considered a terror threat at the end of the investigation (though the TSA are denying that it was an investigation.)
Riyanna’s parents believe they were being profiled due to their Middle Eastern descent, and the fact that Riyanna’s mother wears a hijab.
I think it’s more likely that the TSA just has a bone to pick with anyone who wears diapers. Or who are comfortable walking around naked. Or maybe they just don’t like kids.
Whatever the case, at least they’re keeping us safe.
(Hat-tip Boing Boing)
See Also: SOPA, NDAA, and Patent-Trolling: Why We Need A Civil Liberties Caucus
P.S. It’s already hard enough flying with kids, especially kids who aren’t even two years-old yet. I think it’s easy to forget what a tremendous effort it takes just to get from here to there with young children. Toss the TSA into the mix and…well it’s almost enough to make you not want to fly anymore.
UPDATE: The TSA has reached out to me with a statement on this incident:
“TSA did not flag this child as being on the No Fly list. TSA was called to the gate by the airline and after talking to the parents and confirming through our vetting system, TSA determined the airline had mistakenly indicated the child was on a government watch list.”
“Individuals on the No Fly list do not get boarding passes,” the TSA also noted.
So apparently this was a mistake on the part of the airline, JetBlue, not the TSA. Still, I think it underscores the absurdity of this entire system of hoops and red-tape.
When they discovered that eighteen-month-old Riyanna was on the no-fly list (or at least someone with the same name was) they didn’t bat an eye. They didn’t stop and think about whether a one-and-a-half year old posed a security threat, or whether it could possibly be a case of mistaken identity. There’s no time to think in these tense situations.TSA Removes 18-Month Old Baby From Plane [Updated]
Wyatt SmithSomething similar to this happened to my son a couple of years ago – he was not quite two at the time.Erik Kain, ContributorWell Smith is a name that conjures terrorist plots…chiguy31Sometimes we forget how hierarchical the government bureaucracy is.3 comments, 3 called-out + Comment now
+ Comment now 120 58 2 0 0
The new face of terror. Or something.
You have to hand it to the TSA.
When they discovered that eighteen-month-old Riyanna was on the no-fly list (or at least someone with the same name was) they didn’t bat an eye. They didn’t stop and think about whether a one-and-a-half year old posed a security threat, or whether it could possibly be a case of mistaken identity. There’s no time to think in these tense situations.
No sir, the TSA agents at Ft. Lauderdale airport did what needed to be done and pulled that terror-baby off the plane.
Move up Move down
Man Strips Naked At Oregon Airport To Protest TSA Erik Kain
Contributor
Actor Steven Seagal Sued for Driving Tank into Arizona Home, Killing Puppy Erik Kain
Contributor
Up to this point in her life, Riyanna had only ever dropped bombs in her diaper, but that wasn’t fooling the TSA:
She and her parents had just boarded a JetBlue flight when an airline employee approached them and asked them to get off the plane, saying representatives from the Transportation Security Agency wanted to speak to them.
“And I said, ‘For what?’” Riyanna’s mother told only WPBF 25 News on Wednesday. “And he said, ‘Well, it’s not you or your husband. Your daughter was flagged as no fly.’ I said, ‘Excuse me?’”
Riyanna’s father was flabbergasted.
“It’s absurd,” he said. “It made no sense. Why would an 18-month-old child be on a no-fly list?”
Why indeed?
The family was kept off the plane for 30 minutes before being allowed back on. Surprisingly, their 18-month old daughter was not considered a terror threat at the end of the investigation (though the TSA are denying that it was an investigation.)
Riyanna’s parents believe they were being profiled due to their Middle Eastern descent, and the fact that Riyanna’s mother wears a hijab.
I think it’s more likely that the TSA just has a bone to pick with anyone who wears diapers. Or who are comfortable walking around naked. Or maybe they just don’t like kids.
Whatever the case, at least they’re keeping us safe.
(Hat-tip Boing Boing)
See Also: SOPA, NDAA, and Patent-Trolling: Why We Need A Civil Liberties Caucus
P.S. It’s already hard enough flying with kids, especially kids who aren’t even two years-old yet. I think it’s easy to forget what a tremendous effort it takes just to get from here to there with young children. Toss the TSA into the mix and…well it’s almost enough to make you not want to fly anymore.
UPDATE: The TSA has reached out to me with a statement on this incident:
“TSA did not flag this child as being on the No Fly list. TSA was called to the gate by the airline and after talking to the parents and confirming through our vetting system, TSA determined the airline had mistakenly indicated the child was on a government watch list.”
“Individuals on the No Fly list do not get boarding passes,” the TSA also noted.
So apparently this was a mistake on the part of the airline, JetBlue, not the TSA. Still, I think it underscores the absurdity of this entire system of hoops and red-tape.