Pilot held over air ''joke''

[RotorPilot]

Saturday, 9 August, 2003, 15:57 GMT 16:57 UK

 

Pilot held over air ''joke''

 

An Air France pilot has been arrested at New York''s John F Kennedy Airport after reportedly joking at a security checkpoint that he had a bomb in his shoes.

 

Full story: 

[helicopper]

apparently he's got time for a little sole searching...

[Blackmac]

DO WE REALLY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THESE ONE LINERS????????

 

HAVE A G'DAY.

[helicopper]

sorry blackmac... there's far too much sugar in these crullers these days!!

 

i couldn't resist... when dr. scholl's comes up with the cure for "foot in mouth" disease, i'll be the second in line!! (right behind shoeless joe from 'cross da pon')

 

 

 

 

[schteevie]

I think American security at airports has gone insane.

Those "people" do not apply ANY level of common sence to thier jobs.

As a result, someone that is REALLY a threat is probably more likely to get passed them.

 

They are trained to "fight the front line battle" and told it is all up to them to question EVERYTHING.

As far as I am concerned, they are nothing more then poorly educated rent a cops on power trips.

 

Sorry about the rant, I realize this is an ignorant blanket statement, but I have missed several business flights due to rediculous customs delays and have even been held back for questioning due to the nature of my job.

It is tiring.

 

[helicopper]

schteevie... if you're suggesting the blame for this colossal clusterfog should be shouldered by the poor sobs working a 12 hour shift at $8/hr (who are constantly being reminded that they'll be tested on a regular basis as well as being subjected to the ongoing abuse from weary travellers)... as opposed to the (hopefully) semi-professional airline pilot who may have simply had a very large brain fart... i'm sorry, but i'll side with the guy/gal that's doin' their job per their directions... if the sop for air france now includes a pre-boarding declaration from their aircrew of (haha/heehee) "i've got a bomb in my shoe" (just kidding, folks)... then the ac boys & girls just might pick up some business this year!

 

if an individual announced the same thing just ahead of you in line at pearson, how would you expect security to respond???

[RotorPilot]

 

Sunday, August 10, 2003 Posted: 1:02 PM EDT (1702 GMT)

 

Pilot arraigned for alleged shoe-bomb comment

 

NEW YORK (AP) -- An Air France pilot was arraigned on felony charges Sunday after allegedly telling a security screener he had a bomb in his shoe.

 

No explosives were found on the pilot or the plane, but the New York-to-Paris flight he was scheduled for as a co-pilot was canceled.

 

Philippe Rivere, 50, was charged with two counts of falsely reporting an incident. He could face a seven-year prison term if convicted on the first-degree count, said Patrick Clark, a spokesman for the Queens district attorney.

 

Full story:

 

 

 

Sunday, 10 August, 2003, 20:32 GMT 21:32 UK

Pilot on bail over air incident

… … …

He is charged with two counts of falsely reporting an incident and faces up to 11 years in prison.

… … …

 

The flight eventually returned to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on Saturday after a new co-pilot flew in from Paris.

 

The airline, who has apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused, said the pilot had been arrested following "misinterpreted remarks".

But US officials describe the pilot's remarks as inappropriate.

 

"It's not very often that you find a co-pilot making such inappropriate comments," Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokeswoman Lauren Stover.

 

"We have zero tolerance for those kinds of comments."

 

… … …

 

"Terrorists are still trying to perfect a shoe bomb, and here is an employee of the aviation industry - the very people we are trying to protect and who we are counting on to be alert in security matters - who is making the threat," Ms Stover said.

 

… … …

 

Full story:

 

 

[RotorPilot]

 

schteevie

 

It seems that you don't know that playing or joking with very serious matters at a time like this is not only a stupid action but also a crime, as you can well see by the above post. And the fact that the "joke" came from a pilot, be it co-pilot or pilot in command, just made things worse and a lot more difficult to accept because they are supposed to be responsible guys... aren't they ?

 

You should read the comments of US offical Lauren Stover in the link above, and the news about the arrest of Richard Reid, the real "shoe bomber" and what his answer was when questioned about what he was doing... His answer was "I am trying to light up this thing. I have a bomb in my shoes". The stewardess jumped on him and cried for help and everybody subdued the would be bomber,  preventing the explosion. 

 

As far as I am concerned, if the story is proved true, the guy should get a few years locked up for what he did and also to send a strong message to other short sighted and funny guys who think that security nowadays is something anyone can "joke" with.

 

 Oh BTW and the security officer that nailed him should start getting $10/hr (at least)... 

 

[schteevie]

yes, I know it is illegal to joke about bombs.  points taken.  my comments were harsh

I am just continuosly frustrated with the way U.S. security/customs is handled...

[Biggles]

helicopper:  I'll be third in line !