What Arline Safety?

Another airline tragedy in the Queens area brought to you by the lax american airline industry. All that is known is that an American flight out of NYC crashed just after take-off this morning. A few witnesses said an engine fell off before the rest of the plane crashed into a residental area. What a mess! Now I definately won't fly in the USA for quite a while. I live in upstate NY close to Canada so Toronto isn't too far away. Maybe I'll fly from Toronto-Pearson I'll pray for the victims. Vais con Dios. Kev

[Bill123]

At this juncture it appears that it was just an accident and not terrorism, but the situation is still shuddering.

For instance, they talk and talk about how they are beefing up security, checking carry-on luggage, getting new cockpit doors, hiring sky marshals.

YET, what they don't tell you is how 95% of the CHECKED luggage goes on uninspected, and the same goes for freight.

And checked luggage will probably be where the next problem will be and where the big liabilities are. The airlines sue a mickey mouse profiling system to determine who's checked luggage to examine.

It's a wide open hole in the security of airline passengers today. Yet it isn't being talked about...

I finally got an airline to admit to it, and they said it would take too long to check everyone's checked lugggage!

So I, for one, am only flying when I have to. Airline flying is still the safest mode of transportation, but it being so easy to just check a bomb aboard doesn;t make me really want to climb aboard!

Bill,
I hear ya there. I have already scheduled 2 more trips to Colombia and flying has never bothered me too much. I have always doubted the cheched luggage. Now I really think about it. But, I wont let those little *******s change my way of life and get in the way of my persuit of happienss. It was a terrible tragity and my heart goes out the the victims families. Lets just hope it was just an accident and it only opens up the possibility of a bomb on board so they will get off thiere *sses and make some more changes. If not, I think that that airline industry has not seen the worst.
MIkeb

[Lostagain]

There is no doubt that we need to do something to improve airport security both in the passenger areas and where the baggage and cargo are handled. Congress should get off its butt and pass a functional airport security bill. Instead, we get the lowest bidders like Argenbright who couldn't find a howitzer in a dufflebag.

Despite the need for better security, I agree with Bill, I am not going to stop flying. It is still safer than most other things we do. I have been to Cali once since 9/11,will be there again at the end of November and will move there before New Year. Right now the prices are about a cheap as we are ever going to see for the forseeable future, so why not take advantage of the good deals. AA has tickets from the west coast for under $500 including taxes and you get double frequent flyer miles until about the middle of December. (No, I don't work for AA nor do I have any of their stock.)

[Bill123]

Even a howitzer would stick out of a duffle bag, and they's probably still miss it!!!

[Junfan]

The FAA needs to fly out of Colombia some time so they can get some pointers...those guys really know how to screen a guy before he gets on a plane.

Mike

Airline security in this country is a F_____n' JOKE!

Mike (junfan68), I actually thought I was searched better after my arrival at Miami than when I flew in and left Cali. Jan '01 to April '01. Just my one time experience. Paz. Kev

[Jim]

I felt security leaving Colombia is second only to Israeli security. However, imperfect as it is, people either worry about everything or they don't worry.

Even on September 11 more people flew safely than died by a large margin. There are maniacs on the streets of Phoenix and I certainly could worry everyday when I drive to work.

I personally don't worry about civil war in Colombia or airline safety. I realize that a perfectly rational person could disagree with me.

Peace,

Jim

[Bill123]

Here's an idea...if they aren't gonna check the checked luggage, except on a profiling basis, maybe they install one of those red light/green light things which causes random red light hits...those with red get checked.