Thread: Language problem creates chaos at Nashville airport

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Language problem creates chaos at Nashville airport

By YVETTE CRAIG
Staff Writer

Published: Monday, 08/15/05
A Nashville International Airport passenger, unable to translate his destination request into English, brought the airport and airlines to a screeching halt yesterday as authorities searched for any signs of security threat.

The chaos was sparked just before 6 p.m. when a passenger who speaks only Spanish at-tempted to walk through the exit lane instead of the screening lanes in Concourse C, according to spokeswoman Lynne Lowrance.

Airport officials cleared the terminal and asked the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic controllers to ground flights and restrict airplanes from taxiing to the gates at Concourse C, Lowrance said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of confused passengers were pulled off planes and taken back to the ticketing area while security officers swept the terminal, Lowrance said.

"This is just procedure," Lowrance said. "They're rescreening everyone and they are sweeping the concourse with two of our canine units."

The passengers waited in long lines as airport employees using bullhorns announced that all flights would be held so the passengers could clear the security checks, and the delay would not cause them to miss their flights.

By 7 p.m., passengers were sent back through the security checkpoints and allowed on their flights.

After a lengthy interview with authorities, the lost passenger was rescreened and assisted to a flight that would take him to Raleigh, N.C., airport officials said.

This was not the first time the Nashville airport conducted such a "breach clearance" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, Low-rance said. The exact number of clearances was not immediately available last night.

Well, since a mild understanding of English is supposed to be a requirement for citizenship, there is a good chance this guy was another illegal alien flying in like the hundreds of others we have caught landing at Raleigh Durham Airport.

W