Today's Hot Topic (12/26): Are you afraid to fly because of terrorist acts?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Jet passengers overpowered would-be bomber

In what was described as an act of terrorism, a Nigerian passenger attempted to ignite an incendiary device aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Friday as the plane began its approach for landing, federal officials said. Other passengers overpowered the man and the plane landed safely.

The suspect, identified as Abdul Mutallab, 23, suffered severe burns as the result of his attempt, and two of the other 277 passengers reported minor injuries, authorities said.

FBI agents were investigating the incident, which a White House official said was an attempted act of terrorism.

"He was trying to ignite some kind of incendiary device," said a federal anti-terrorism official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. "He lit himself on fire and he's suffered some burns."

The device, which mixed powder and liquid, was said to be less powerful than a bomb.

President Obama was briefed on the incident during his Hawaii vacation, the White House said in a statement, and airport security was stiffened worldwide.

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What should be done about airplane security? 

Do incidents like this make you afraid to fly?

Would you call this an "act of terrorism" or something else? 

[cowgirlsr2]

What should be done about airplane security? I think about the only thing left to do is to have dogs search the plane before take off.

Do incidents like this make you afraid to fly?Yes

Would you call this an "act of terrorism" or something else?Sounds like it but can not be sure without more information. 

[Mergath]

I don't have any suggestions for improving airport security, because no matter what they do, terrorists will find a way around it eventually.

As for being afraid of flying, that's just stupid.  The odds are far better that you'll be killed driving your car or walking along the sidewalk.  I still drive and walk.  You can't live in fear just because something might happen to you.

What would that be if not an act of terrorism?  

[EireLass]

I have flown a few times in the past couple years. I have a little fear inside me, but terrorism never crosses my mind (not sure why). It's usually the typical "what if we crash" fear. But I do it and always enjoy it.

LBJ first introduced profiling as a life-saving way. It's not odd to do....parents do it daily to protect their children (not walking on the sidewalk where the punks are hanging out, etc). I think we need to get off the "politically correct" way of life and get real.

I think creep can be called a terrorist. I don't think they have to be a group from a particular religion, or country, etc. If someone is doing this type of activity to a whole plane full of people....THAT is an act of terrorism. And "weapons of mass destruction"? The devious human brain is the worst. 

[katy_kay]

No matter how diligent one is someone is going to get something on the plane if they are really determined so aside from strip searching passengers I don't know if there are further steps that could be taken. 

As for my reasons for fearing to fly, no terrorism isn't one of them.  I'm afraid to crash and I'm grossed out by sharing all that reused air with sick people. 

[Talee]

Quoting EireLass:

I have flown a few times in the past couple years. I have a little fear inside me, but terrorism never crosses my mind (not sure why). It's usually the typical "what if we crash" fear. But I do it and always enjoy it.

LBJ first introduced profiling as a life-saving way. It's not odd to do....parents do it daily to protect their children (not walking on the sidewalk where the punks are hanging out, etc). I think we need to get off the "politically correct" way of life and get real.

I think creep can be called a terrorist. I don't think they have to be a group from a particular religion, or country, etc. If someone is doing this type of activity to a whole plane full of people....THAT is an act of terrorism. And "weapons of mass destruction"? The devious human brain is the worst. 

I am with you Eire...I am beginning to think the whole PC things is getting really out of whack...

 

[jaxTheMom]

I agree that we don't know enough yet about what happened to really comment on what could have prevented this or even if it was an act of terrorism, although it seems to be so far.

Do events like this make me afraid to fly?  A little, of course.  Air travel is still the safest, but just like bad weather and engine trouble - it's something that goes through your mind.  I always say a little prayer to myself on take-off, sort of a ritual.

[heatkab]

What should be done about airplane security? I'm not sure there is a very big issue with security. I am stopped and physically patted down at almost every airport I go through (flying while obviously Muslim). This summer when we flew overseas I was even pat down in Detroit prior to boarding my very first flight and that was after the metal detectors (which I did NOT set off) the x ray of my shoes and bag, and being made to stand in a big clear plastic box while something was blown on me. I still wonder what the heck that was- in fact I think I'll google it. Last year I got to be pat down in Detroit, Paris France (twice) and Geneva Switzerland. It does seem like some security waste their time "profiling" though, I am sure I looked really scary, an obviously pregnant Muslim woman pushing a tiny toddler in a stroller. 

Though the incident in the news could have been catastrophic, it was probably an issue of one person not doing the job they were supposed to on his connecting flight.

Do incidents like this make you afraid to fly? No, not at all and I fly every year to North Africa with several layovers.

Would you call this an "act of terrorism" or something else?  With the information that has been given that's all one can assume it is.

Kind of off topic but I have to admit, I hope the crazy scumbag burned his penis off. As bad as it sounds this was one of my first few thoughts.

[Talee]

Quoting heatkab:

What should be done about airplane security? I'm not sure there is a very big issue with security. I am stopped and physically patted down at almost every airport I go through (flying while obviously Muslim). This summer when we flew overseas I was even pat down in Detroit prior to boarding my very first flight and that was after the metal detectors (which I did NOT set off) the x ray of my shoes and bag, and being made to stand in a big clear plastic box while something was blown on me. I still wonder what the heck that was- in fact I think I'll google it. Last year I got to be pat down in Detroit, Paris France (twice) and Geneva Switzerland. It does seem like some security waste their time "profiling" though, I am sure I looked really scary, an obviously pregnant Muslim woman pushing a tiny toddler in a stroller. 

 Though the incident in the news could have been catastrophic, it was probably an issue of one person not doing the job they were supposed to on his connecting flight.

Do incidents like this make you afraid to fly? No, not at all and I fly every year to North Africa with several layovers.

Would you call this an "act of terrorism" or something else?  With the information that has been given that's all one can assume it is.

Kind of off topic but I have to admit, I hope the crazy scumbag burned his penis off. As bad as it sounds this was one of my first few thoughts.

LMAO...me too!

 

[rfourangels]

 

Quoting Cafe GroupAdmin:

* * *

What should be done about airplane security? 

I have no idea, but I have to say that when I have traveled outside the country, it seems our security is more lax than others.... but this guy boarded in Holland I believe. So, I don't know what the answer is. Perhaps search them better, he had some type of powder and a liquid. Perhaps the "no fly" list needs to be more stringent.

Do incidents like this make you afraid to fly? Incidents like this don't bother me, and I applaud those passengers- Overall, we are however extremely cautious about flying overseas. I was on a plane once that was held up on the ground for several hours, while there were terrorists on the plane next to us in Milan, they killed most of them. They were after Americans- we were finally escorted through the airport once it was all done, it was the most horrible thing I have ever seen, as some terrorists were in the airport as well, they had killed numerous people in there too. I didn't fly for many years after that. Since then, our family splits up when we fly. We do not all fly overseas on one plane together.

I think once you've directly experienced it, you have a different perspective. Peoples experiences shape their opinions, some of those pictures I will never get out of my mind. I will add too that I was in my 20's then, we somehow think we are invincible in our 20's, none of us even cancelled our trip. I look at things differently today, over 20 years later.

Would you call this an "act of terrorism" or something else?  I don't know enough about it.

 

[pageantgirl3]

I'm not afraid to fly because of terriorist attacks, I'm afraid to fly because of how our government handles threats. This guy was a known terriorist suspect but they didn't put him on the no fly list because there wasn't an avaition threat. Who cares? If he's a terriorist then he needs to be on the no fly list.