Attempted Hijacking in Australia.

[Always Free]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National/story_49051.asp

We don't know the motive yet.

[Genghis Pwn]

Lol, it's funny how all the news accounts avoid the obvious 500-pound gorilla sitting in the middle of the room: was the man a muslim fanatic or not?

[Graham]

Originally posted by Genghis Pwn
Lol, it's funny how all the news accounts avoid the obvious 500-pound gorilla sitting in the middle of the room: was the man a muslim fanatic or not?

I don't know, was he?

[Graham]

CNN says:

A 40-year-old Australian man was taken into custody. Anderson said there was no suggestion of terrorism.

[Always Free]

It will all come out soon I imagine. Don't know anything about him.

Security at the airport failed. Just goes to show doesn't it. If someone wants to cause trouble in the air they can still do it.

[arcticpenguin]

Federal Transport Minister John Anderson said the would-be hijacker had intended to crash the aircraft.
...
"I can only say on that on the information available to me at this point in time it does not, although it looks like it was premeditated, it doesn't appear to have been an act of terrorism," Mr Anderson said.


Did he really mean it's not terrorism, or did he mean the perp did not look like an A-rab? In my book, you stab a couple of the flight crew and try to take over a plane, that's terrorism.

He could be a nut job who thought the crew were vampires...

[Always Free]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin


Did he really mean it's not terrorism, or did he mean the perp did not look like an A-rab? In my book, you stab a couple of the flight crew and try to take over a plane, that's terrorism.

He could be a nut job who thought the crew were vampires...

LOL!

He isn't allowed to say, 'well I don't think this bloke is an Arab, he doesn't look like one'.
And don't take any notice of what John Anderson says, he's a twit.:D

[Zep]

The guy was described by Federal police as "Australian in appearance" (whatever THAT means!), he was not intent on terrorism (whatever THAT means!), he was "unbalanced" (whatever THAT means!), he wasn't a Muslim, he wanted to crash the plane, and he was armed with two sharpened sticks, a lighter and a can of hairspray. He didn't get past the flight attendants and another passenger who were injured in a scuffle, or into the locked cockpit. He was subdued, and the plane returned to Melbourne 20 minutes later, where a bunch of coppers hauled him away and the usual press conference was held with politicians involved

Oh yeah! Terrorism rampant in the skies...! :rolleyes:

Zep

[Always Free]

Zep-"Oh yeah! Terrorism rampant in the skies...! "

Are you making light of the incident?

[Genghis Pwn]

Lol, maybe he was a an Australian Taliban (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6502255%255E421,00.html)?

[a_unique_person]

Sorry guys, but it appears he was an ordinary, every day xian nutcase, after 'armageddon'.



After he was detained, the man spoke of "God's will" and "Armageddon", the sources said. It is believed he planned to crash the plane, which did not have a sky marshal on board, though he did not specify a target.



We invade the US tomorrow.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/29/1054177673194.html

[reprise]

I want to know when news agencies are going to learn the correct use of the word "allegedly" - this misuse of it in relation to this incident is driving me nuts.

Maybe this guy is pissed off that the pole shift didn't happen and he thought crashing an aircraft into Bass Strait might get the Zetan's attention.

And to those Americans who are horrified by the response of us Australians to this incident, please don't think we aren't questioning how he was able to get past security - we are. But just as the "skyjackers" of the 1980's were not regarded as "terrorists", nor should this whackjob be.

Anyone want to bet that the female flight attendant who sat on the guy will be the most interviewed person from this incident and that 60 Minutes is currently running all around Melbourne waving its chequebook at anyone who so much as saw one of the passengers disembarking?

[ImpyTimpy]

I'm not questioning how he got past initial security, after all he was using wooden weapons. All he needed to do was tape some wooden pointy sticks to himself and the metal detector won't pick it up. Luggage is scanned for items but you're not.

However, the remainder of safety features held up, he didn't take over the plane did he.

Originally posted by reprise
I want to know when news agencies are going to learn the correct use of the word "allegedly" - this misuse of it in relation to this incident is driving me nuts.

Maybe this guy is pissed off that the pole shift didn't happen and he thought crashing an aircraft into Bass Strait might get the Zetan's attention.

And to those Americans who are horrified by the response of us Australians to this incident, please don't think we aren't questioning how he was able to get past security - we are. But just as the "skyjackers" of the 1980's were not regarded as "terrorists", nor should this whackjob be.

Anyone want to bet that the female flight attendant who sat on the guy will be the most interviewed person from this incident and that 60 Minutes is currently running all around Melbourne waving its chequebook at anyone who so much as saw one of the passengers disembarking?

[reprise]

Has anyone else seen the front page of this week's Chaser (http://www.chaser.com.au/splash.asp)?

I understand how the kebab sticks or whatever got past security checks, but the can of lighter fluid and the can of hairspray should have been detected. I assume he shielded them in some way which allowed them to go through the x-ray machines and metal detectors unnoticed.

In many ways I'm glad that there wasn't a sky marshall on board - who knows what might have happened under those circumstances? As it was, the training of the crew and the assistance of the passengers was more than enough to bring the situation quickly under control.

[reprise]

Alleged hijacker faces court (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6516717%255E2,00.html)

I'm amazed at the way US posters on the several messageboards I visit have been astonished by the reaction of Australian posters to this incident - I guess that even though it occured many thousands of miles from the US and even though it was not a terrorist act, it's struck some nerves which are still very raw from the events of September 11, 2001.

[peptoabysmal]

Originally posted by a_unique_person
Sorry guys, but it appears he was an ordinary, every day xian nutcase, after 'armageddon'.



We invade the US tomorrow.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/29/1054177673194.html

Oh, no, anything but that. I hear the Aussies torture POWs with Vegamite.

[Zep]

Of course, it will all get quite silly at airport security. People will be searched for kebab sticks, and anyone found with some on their person will be asked to assist with enquiries, (ie. summarily belted with phone books by 6 big coppers).

Meanwhile, the great herds of hard-working capitalist execs(?!) with attache cases full of ball-points and sharpened pencils will troop on and off the shuttle flights between our capital cities every day. And they will refresh their tired faces from bottles of eau-de-cologne and aftershave on the way, and use spray-on deoderants and hair-sprays to stay nice.

None of which are dangerous or flammable... :rolleyes:

Zep

[reprise]

The funny thing is that it's always said on your airline ticket that you can't take aerosol cans in your carry-on luggage (fire risk, I assume), but even now that rule isn't enforced. My son flew to Melbourne a couple of weekends ago and was asked what the can of deodorant in his carry-on bag was (I assume the questioner was illiterate, as the can quite clearly stated what it contained).

Fortunately, our authorities seem to be ruling out the possibility of "patting down" passengers, but the point that a biro is about the same size as the weapons used in this case is a valid one. About the only way we could completely eliminate the possibility of someone carrying aboard an aircraft a potential weapon (and pretty much anything can be used as a weapon by the truly creative) is to require all passengers to fly in hospital gowns.

[fishbob]

People will be searched for kebab sticks It will probably be carried to extremes and your toothpicks will be confiscated. Possession of a number 2 pencil will be grounds for arrest.

[bjornart]

Originally posted by reprise
About the only way we could [/b]completely eliminate the possibility of someone carrying aboard an aircraft a potential weapon (and pretty much anything can be used as a weapon by the truly creative) is to require all passengers to fly in hospital gowns.

I think they should start requiring this. "Please strip down, sir, and put on these pyjamas."
And make them turn in their glasses. I'm sure I could stab someone with mine, or break the lenses and use them as knives.