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The family was not allowed to board the AirTran flight to Orlando from Washington after they were removed from the plane despite the FBI clearing them of any wrongdoing.
Kashif Irfan and his brother Atif, both Indian-Americans born in Detroit and based in Virginia, along with their wives, a sister and 3 children were removed from the filght before takeoff on Thursday after some passengers reported that one of them was discussing the safest place to travel in an airplane.
The airline refused to re-book the family despite FBI clearing them of any wrongdoing after interviewing them. Ultimately the FBI helped them book a flight on USAirways.
"We regret that the issue escalated to the heightened security level it did," AirTran said in a statement last evening. "But we trust everyone understands that the security and the safety of our passengers is paramount."
The airline said it had refunded the family's money and offered to fly them back home to Washington free.
Kashif Irfan, a 34-year-old anesthesiologist, said he was ‘surprised’ by AirTran's apology, CNN reported.
The AirTran statement was an abrupt about-face for the airline, which came three hours after it had issued a press release without an apology.
The dispute occurred as Kashif and Atif, a tax attorney, boarded the AirTran flight 175 at Reagan National Airport near Washington for a trip to Orlando, Florida.
Federal officials, quoted by the media here, said some passengers on the plane told a flight attendant about a ‘suspicious’ conversation among the family members. The pilot then asked the air marshals to remove the passengers.
"The conversation, as we were walking through the plane trying to find our seats, was just about where the safest place in an airplane is," Inayet Sahin, Kashif's wife was quoted as saying by CNN.
"We were (discussing whether it was safest to sit near) the wing, or the engine or the back or the front. But that's it. We didn't say anything else that would raise any suspicion."
The conversation did not contain the words ‘bomb’, ‘explosion’, ‘terror’ or other words that might have aroused suspicion, Atif, 29, said.
"When we were talking, when we turned around, I noticed a couple of girls kind of snapped their heads," Sobia Ijaz, Atif's wife, was quoted as saying.
"I kind of thought to myself, 'Oh, you know, may be they're going to say something.' It didn't occur to me that they were going to make it such a big issue."
Authorities first removed Atif and Sobia, then returned for the rest of the family. They also removed a family friend, Abdul Aziz, a Library of Congress attorney who was coincidentally taking the same flight and had been seen talking with the family.
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What has happened is really unfortunate; however it is imprtant to note that the matter was resolved amicably. All of us with brown color especially with berds and turbans are suspect, rightly so. while travelling we should fully cooperate with authorities and not try to be smart. After all every thing is being done for the safewty of fellow travellers.
Why this news is being blown out of proportion ? all Hindus, sikhs and other people of south asian descent are suffering due to misdeeds of Muslim Jehadis, due to same skin color and appearance. All south asians are happily facing similar situation but they are facing it happily as they know it is all being done for their secuirty. so why Media is blowing this news out of proportion? who is responsible for this heightened secuirty?
What happened is unfortunate. But educated Muslims in India and Pakistan need to speak against terrorism and explain to their poor brainwashed brethren that it is not holy war but a ghastly crime being done by killing innocent people in the name of religion. That will help improve the situation and remove the prejudice being built against them.
Without wishing to excuse what has happened, it is only this type of heightened awareness that has prevented any untoward incident in the US since 9/11.
With the exception of a miniscule minority, whether it is a Pakistani muslim or of any other nationality, including of Indian origin, every one is suspect. So, there is no discrimination.
Behaviour is the best option to avoid such disturbance. Keep religion in mind and do not make panic to co passengers by using religious freedom giving by democratic countries. Above all denounce terrorisom and file law suite against terrorist organisations and its cartetaker countries for the inconvenience caused by their acts against modern human beings.
Minorities have always the victim of such incidents which in future lead to hatred. In India, Muslims and Sikhs have always been looked with suspicion. The part of such behavior can be attributed to ignorance and intolerance. People have thier own pre-notions with regard to specific community. It is just the narrowmindeness that we feel unconformtable seeing people have different beliefs. Sikh religion has came into existence to protect poor, oppresed, and downtroden people. It preaches universal brotherhood. Infact it is not any seperate religion but a faith which belives in all the faiths.But due to ignorance some people look sikhs with suspicion. It is not thier fault, we have to preach our religion and make them understand that we love humanity as other people do.Such incidents should not be taken in wrong sense. Infact this is the time for liberal muslim brothers to come forward and put principles of Islam in context to Universal brotherhood.
This is what Pakistan and other Muslim world is bringing to the world. At this stage all Muslim must not use this airline.
The USA authority has done the correct thing, better be safe than be sorry later. The families should have know better than to talk about safety and security while on the plane. They should realise that it has happeened because of the actions of the members of their religion and community and they should do something to correct it rather than to make mountain fom a mole.
This is another classical example of how terrorist activities reflect back on their own community no matter how innocent or educated the community members may be. Not only this but the airline refuses to fly them despite clearance from the FBI.
Guys, who think that they were kept out because of being muslim, so you are wrong. They see all the asian with one eye and treat them as third world citizen. This is a fact. Only in India, you are hindu, muslim or christian, but when you travel outside, they see your passport and your nationality and then they treat you accordingly. So there is no religion in between. Secondly I have seen many hindu people being questionend in US, so what will you say now. Anyways even in gulf you will find the same situation, they see the nationality and colour of passport rather you are hindu or muslim, so please stop fighting among yourself. Jai HInd
All over the world Muslims are treated with doubt. This is not a good sign. Good to know that Airline has apologized and FBI helped them to reach to their destination.
Better sense prevailed.