According to one Homeland Security Officer:
He said there had been 50 other similar incidents across the country that day.
How is is we are letting things like this happen? This womans crime? Sitting next to two other swarthy passengers while being swarthy herself:
In the aftermath of my events on Sept. 11, 2011, I feel violated, humiliated and sure that I was taken from the plane simply because of my appearance. Though I never left my seat, spoke to anyone on the flight or tinkered with any “suspicious” device, I was forced into a situation where I was stripped of my freedom and liberty that so many of my fellow Americans purport are the foundations of this country and should be protected at any cost.
I believe in national security, but I also believe in peace and justice. I believe in tolerance, acceptance and trying–as hard as it sometimes may be–not to judge a person by the color of their skin or the way they dress. I admit to have fallen to the traps of convention and have made judgments about people that are unfounded. We live in a complicated world that, to me, seems to have reached a breaking point. The real test will be if we decide to break free from our fears and hatred and truly try to be good people who practice compassion–even toward those who hate.
We really need to calm down.
Here is the news feed of another incident in which fighter planes were scrambled.
American Airlines 34 has 3 passengers locked in a restroom refusing to come out.
Manhattan: American Airlines 34 has 3 passengers locked in a restroom refusing to come out. Fighter Jets are assigned for an intercept.
U/D flight is From LAX to JFK. Fighter Jets have a visual of the craft and will remain out of sight until AA Flight 34 lands in due time.
U/D flight is landing momentarily. Reporting nothreat the passengers have "returned to their seats" fighter jets are continuing an escort .
From NBC:
Three passengers caused a scare on a flight from Los Angeles to John F. Kennedy airport when they refused to come out of a bathroom.
A security official initially said fighter jets had been launched. Another security official said later that they had been set to launch and it was not immediately known whether they were in the air.
The three passengers on American Airlines Flight 34 went into a bathroom and were "not compliant."
Unsourced Tweeter:
According to police, passengers on AA34 did not appear to be terrorists, just individuals who kept going to the bathroom.
I hate it I have to pee so much when I fly.
From NORAD:
A NORAD spokesman says two military aircraft were dispatched to intercept an American Airlines flight bound for New York from Los Angeles after a report of a disturbance.
Flight 34 landed safely after 4 p.m. Sunday. The nature of the incident was unclear but a law enforcement official says it isn't thought to be terrorism.
Conflicting statements.
The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The official says three passengers locked themselves in the bathroom and were still inside when the plane landed.