No Excuse Security

I'll be the first to admit I don't like inconveniences when it comes to flying to an appointment or meeting. I want to get on the aircraft, sit and fly. And I'll be the first to admit that security checks are a hassle.

Likewise, I'm happy security is the first stop before entering the gate area of an airport. The fact is security is a matter of importance to all passengers, regardless of political correctness, race, creed, color or religion. Airport and aircraft security is not a misunderstanding, and it's not something to take lightly.

Apparently, AirTran officials feel the same about aircraft and passenger security as they ordered nine Muslim passengers off a flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando on New Year's Day. To arbitrarily boot anyone from a flight is wrong, but in this case two other passengers overheard what they thought was a suspicious remark about aircraft safety or security.

This is a problem, even though eight of the nine in the party were U.S.-born citizens. FBI officials said the incident was a misunderstanding, but AirTran refused to rebook the passengers. The passengers received a refund and had to pay for seats on another carrier, with help from the FBI.

The comment made, according to news reports, was that the brother of Kashif Irfan, one of the removed passengers, was discussing the safest place to sit on an airplane. Irfan also said his brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security.

Irfan said he and his traveling party were profiled because of their appearance. All are of South Asian descent, with the men wearing beards and the women dressed in traditional Muslim headscarves.

AirTran officials said the incident was a misunderstanding, but also defended the company's handling of the passengers, saying they were following federal rules. They also denied any wrongdoing.

In the final analysis, the Muslim party of nine got on the aircraft and made comments they shouldn't have made. Other people heard them and were nervous, possibly misconstruing what was said altogether.

The pilot has the final decision regarding who will fly on their aircraft. In this case, the pilot made the decision to empty the plane, rescreen all passengers and not allow the party to rejoin the flight.

I believe the pilot and AirTran officials made the right choice based on comments offered by the group. And I have 19 reasons why they made the right decision, all based on the comments and actions of a select few on Sept. 11, 2001.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities