Refusal to let KLM plane to fly over U.S. questioned

[question everything]

Refusal to let KLM plane to fly over U.S. questioned

ASSOCIATED PRESS

April 12, 2005

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Two Dutch lawmakers demanded an explanation yesterday of why a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight with 278 passengers was forced by U.S. authorities to turn around near the Canadian border and fly back to The Netherlands.

The airline said its Amsterdam to Mexico City flight Friday was refused permission to fly over U.S. airspace at the last minute and told two passengers were a security risk.

"Was there no other option than to make this plane turn around above Canada?" wrote lawmakers Peter van Heemst and Co Verdas in a long list of questions to Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner. "What was it these people were suspected of by the United States that they couldn't pass through its airspace . . . and why isn't that information known in Holland?" he wrote.

(snip)

KLM spokesman Bart Koster said the airline was seeking information from U.S. and Dutch authorities, and might file a claim for damages of less than $1 million.

More..


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050412/news_1n12neth.html

[wtbymark]

1. great - piss off another country

its really starting to be laughably ludicrous

[Ironpost]

2. If it wasn't for the seriousness

I say we keep given 'em rope that they'll hang themselves with.
I see clothes coming off..... finally

[Hobarticus]

3. Why couldn't they land in Canada, and sort this out? eom

[question everything]

4. Or fly parallel to the coast over the ocean

but outside the U.S. airspace?

Being stuck in Amsterdam airport last month, after 6" of snow closed the airport, I could see first hand the ineptitude and bureaucratic approach of the KLM personnel.

This is what made all of us - who spent the night at the airport, often sleeping on the floor - so mad. Not that the airport was closed - Atlanta would, too - but that all the airport (mostly KLM) personnel just left and went home without leaving a skeleton crew to answer our questions, to keep a restaurant open, to assist us with rebooking and to start clearing the snow..

[berni_mccoy]

5. Canadian Airspace is controlled by U.S.

Under NORAD perhaps?

[Hobarticus]

8. Still, for TWO passengers, they'd turn back a plane?

Isn't that a bit extreme? Considering it just now took them almost three years to finally ban lighters on aircraft?

[jobycom]

6. Them two passengers was probly Democrats!

Damn straight we don't want them in America no more!

[AuntiBush]

20. LOL Good one! Why does this not surprise me anymore.

On a serious note, does the extremists making the decisions in this country surprise anyone? We can either go :crazy: or stock-up on :popcorn:

Sadly, * probably wants us to become complacent. Now, that's :scared:

[jukes]

7. well now

let's be reasonable. these un-named two threats cd have flushed a WMD from the airplanes restroom and contaminated sacred american soil! can we be sure the Dutch conducted a cavity search for boxcutters pre-flight?

it might very likely have been Cat Stevens & a disreputable associate, & we can't have that sort pissing into our stratosphere!

[leftofcool]

11. I knew that "peace train" bullshit.........

was just a terrorist money laundering outfit.

Left of Cool

[DrDebug]

17. I thought they were chemical toilets

Just imagine walking on the street minding your own business and all of sudden you get shit on by an airplane flying 30,000ft over your head.

Shit happens!

[TexasSissy]

9. It'll be interesting to see who those two passengers are, and why

they raised red flags. Considering 9/11, I think it's appropriate to refuse permission to fly in our airspace, when there are suspicious passengers aboard who might be terrorists. We really need more facts.

But I'm one of those who was glad to see Cat Stevens denied entry for having contributed to Hamas, a terrorist organization.

[kat21]

10. Are you sure he donated money to Hamas -

or do you just believe the rumors? It was never proven and he denies it.

[TexasSissy]

12. I read his admission that he contributed to Hamas. It's just that he

denied that it's either a terrorist organization, or that that's why he contributed to it. Hamas also does some charitable works.

[kat21]

13. Well, he did donate to charity -

my guess is that at the time he donated the money he did not know the money might go to fund terrorism. He is a very peaceful man. I don't think he did it intentionally.

[TexasSissy]

19. Anyone who contributes to Hamas knows that it's a terrorist

organization, and it takes $$$ to fund terrorism. There are non-terrorist charities to give to.

A terrorist organization that also does some charitable work is still a terrorist organization. Cat Stevens contributed to it. That is one of the rules our country has to keep suspicious foreigners out. It's a good rule, IMO. There's a way for it not to affect them, of course. And that is not to fund terrorist organizations. People don't have a right to visit the U.S. But if they want to, they have to abide by rules.

I don't know if Cat Stevens is a peaceful person or not. He is an activist who is a muslim who practices Islam, is that right? He knows our country is at war with Islamic terrorists. He should know better than to try to come here after funding a terrorist organization, is all I'm saying. He wasn't arrested or anything. Just denied entry, for our safety.

[surrey405]

15. CHARITY FOR GODS SAKE

Hamas kills...we know that....but it is a whole organization...and they help people in Palestine...i would certainly give money for a charity cause...but not for acts of violance...but CHARITY IS OK...let me be clear...we are willing to give taxes for Bush to kill more Iraqis and we are not giving any money to the charities.

[surrey405]

14. Are we in a military state

We are...this country has suddenly changed into a state owned by the president who owns everything, a word he says is commanded, one day the secret service questions artists, other day they make people not enter into their air space. we are seeing the start of a totalitarian govt and it needs to stop, why cant americans take him out of power, if anyone wants me to head a protest in Austin, TX, tell me and i will, everyone will and we can see chnage for the betterment of this country. I am totally about to kill myself if this goes on. We need to stand up and fight it with the rights given to us through the constitution, not long before they will be gone, they are already being wiped away through the patriot act.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi surrey405!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[surrey405]

18. thank you...lets move ahead

thanks for welcoming me...i have been dying to voice my opinion and these bloody tv news channels are so biased and politically charged...no one is there to stop it...we in the underground can do that