Last night, Wednesday, April 7th, a diplomat from Qatar, an oil-rich Middle East nation and close U.S. ally, tried to sneak a smoke in an airplane bathroom. This act and an alleged joke he made, set off a shoe bomber scare, jet fighters were scrambled to intercept the plane. He was manhandled by air marshals, taken into custody, and questioned for hours. Passengers were kept on the plane for nearly an hour after it landed, and then were questioned by officials. The questioning of the passengers went on for hours and hours. Finally, when the authorities were convinced that the diplomat wasn't a bomber, just a man hooked on cigarettes, he was released without any charges filed.
I do not criticize the authorities. It is better to act than to be sorry. I am just wondering: What are the lessons to be learned here? Yes, do not smoke and fly. Also, there must be some sort of smoke detecting equipment or cameras in the airplane toilets? Shouldn't we assume that everything we do on or near an airplane is being observed and recorded? Even when we take out pants down in the toilet? Also lesson number 1, don't fly unless you have to? Take the train or the bus? Yeah, for unfortunately, because things are what they are, any incident on a plane or at an airport can set off a delay. What do you think?
News Source: The Associated Press
This video was made before the government decided not to file charges against the diplomat.