UAL flight diverted from London

[Rookie120 0]

BOSTON (AP) -- Fighter jets escorted a diverted London-to-Washington, D.C., flight to Boston's Logan airport Wednesday after a distraught passenger pulled out a screw driver, matches, Vaseline and a note referencing al-Qaida, an airport spokesman said.

United Flight 923 landed safely, Logan airport spokesman Phil Orlandella said.

The flight, with 182 passengers and 12 crew members landed safely, UAL Corp. spokesman Brandon Borrman said. Borrman said a female passenger was spotted engaging in some "suspicious" activity, but he could not immediately say what the activity was.

State Police and federal agencies took control of the plane after it landed.




Passengers were seen coming off the plane on the tarmac and being loaded onto a bus. Orlandella said their carry-on luggage was being checked. The flight was from London's Heathrow Airport to Dulles.

Last week, British authorities said they foiled a terror plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights from London to the United States.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[EricTheRed 0]

I read it involved a screwdriver, vasoline and some matches.

No, I'm not joking.

illegible usually

[Rookie120 0]

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I read it involved a screwdriver, vasoline and some matches.

I read the same thing. Guess they have the same rejects foe screeners over in the UK as we have here in the US.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[JohnRich 4]

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BOSTON (AP) -- Fighter jets escorted a diverted London-to-Washington, D.C., flight to Boston's Logan airport Wednesday after a distraught passenger pulled out a screw driver, matches, Vaseline...

Wow! That was a close call. It's a good thing they didn't have any hair gel with them! Then the plane would have really been in trouble.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Wow! That was a close call. It's a good thing they didn't have any hair gel with them! Then the plane would have really been in trouble.

nah...but it would have been really in trouble if the boy who got on anotehr plane, without a passport, ticket or boarding pass had made it on this flight

[Scoop 0]

If its true that a passenger pulled out a screwdriver, matches and vaseline I think its kind of deserving that she got taken down. Screwdrivers are prohibited on an aircraft and can certainly inflict bodily injury to persons. Matches im not sure about but certainly not ideal item to have on aircraft either and arouses suspicion. As for the Vaseline, well, how would they know it was vaseline? Security briefs (as far as I'm aware) are that people were planning to detonate a liquid based IED onboard an aircraft. I think it was reasonable steps in the current climate of heightened security.

The inly fact that doesn't add up to her psycho terrorist image is her age

[EricTheRed 0]

I'm still trying to figure out how vasoline can be threatening outside of a prison kinda context

illegible usually

[rehmwa 2]

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I'm still trying to figure out how vasoline can be threatening outside of a prison kinda context

perhaps alone, sure

but add in a screwdriver and some matches and LOOK OUT

(you just have to MacGiver it out in your brain)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Scoop 0]

Because someone had a pot of vaseline doesn't mean it actually was vaseline in the container.

Such as the bottle bomb type devices that were going to be used didn't have an 'ACME BOMB CO' logo on them.

It is also flammable and can apparantly be used in the use of IEDs (in the right conditions)

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But it can only be explosive if it is mixed with approximately the right amount of oxygen or other oxidizer.
Sitting around in air does not push much oxygen into the jelly, so that is not explosive.
I think the jelly does not evaporate enough at room temperature to make explosive vapors over it.
But I cannot be sure.

At some slightly elevated temperature, a little above its "Flash Point" which is 50 degrees C in one MSDS I found,
the vapors in a deep or closed cup with petroleum jelly on the bottom may explode when ignited.
Drug-store Vaseline might have a slightly higher (safer) flash-point temperature.
Look for "flash point" in MSDS's on the web

Also used as an accelerant to start fires in damp conditions...

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With even slightly damp fuel the need for a hot, sustained starter fire is even more pronounced, and the methods with accelerants such as petroleum jelly or wax are probably favored.

[lawrocket 3]

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I'm still trying to figure out how vasoline can be threatening outside of a prison kinda context

It's a petroleum product! Duh!!

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Scoop 0]

By the way, UK news wsa reporting the woman arrested was in her early 60s and has no mention of screwdrivers or al-qaeda note. Don't know if this is accurate or not, is the media ever?

[kelpdiver 2]

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By the way, UK news wsa reporting the woman arrested was in her early 60s and has no mention of screwdrivers or al-qaeda note. Don't know if this is accurate or not, is the media ever?

so much for profiling as the answer.

[EricTheRed 0]

Alright, I know all that.

a) I was trying to be funny

b) I cant imagine anyone actually posing a real threat by trying to light vasoline with a match - sure it will burn but it's kinda slow to get going.

I think we are getting to the point where we really go oveboard for a couple of loons

illegible usually

[miked10270 0]

Last news I saw was that it was an elderly woman with a book of matches and a jar of face-cream!

Of course, it's entirely possible she was going to MOISTURISE the crew into submission!

Now, it's no longer a "terrorist" thing (unless the thought of premature-wrinkles fills you with terror), simply a hysterical passenger, or a passenger acting suspiciously, or a hysterical flight crew.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Scoop 0]

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Last news I saw was that it was an elderly woman with a book of matches and a jar of face-cream!

Of course, it's entirely possible she was going to MOISTURISE the crew into submission!

Now, it's no longer a "terrorist" thing (unless the thought of premature-wrinkles fills you with terror), simply a hysterical passenger, or a passenger acting suspiciously, or a hysterical flight crew.

HAHAHAHA

[kallend 2,150]

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I'm still trying to figure out how vasoline can be threatening outside of a prison kinda context

It's a petroleum product! Duh!!

So are nylon, dacron, terylene, and other fabrics from which women's clothing is made. Clearly any female wearing clothes is a potential threat to the safety of the aircraft.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[piisfish 140]

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I read it involved a screwdriver, vasoline and some matches.

No, I'm not joking.

I don't know where he/she could hide the matches, but with the help of vaseline I have an idea where he/she could have hidden the screwdriver

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[lawrocket 3]

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Alright, I know all that.

a) I was trying to be funny

b) I cant imagine anyone actually posing a real threat by trying to light vasoline with a match - sure it will burn but it's kinda slow to get going.

I think we are getting to the point where we really go oveboard for a couple of loons

And I was trying to be funny, hence the "Duh" comment. Sorry if my sarcasm didn't come through correctly,,,,

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[bch7773 0]

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So are nylon, dacron, terylene, and other fabrics from which women's clothing is made. Clearly any female wearing clothes is a potential threat to the safety of the aircraft.

I agree. Although only hot chicks use those kind of clothing so...

all hot chicks on planes must be naked. its the only logical conclusion

MB 3528, RB 1182