Thread: Babies Caught Up in 'No-Fly' Confusion

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050815/ap_ ... fly_babies

Babies Caught Up in 'No-Fly' Confusion

By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer 6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Infants have been stopped from boarding planes at airports throughout the U.S. because their names are the same as or similar to those of possible terrorists on the government's "no-fly list."
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It sounds like a joke, but it's not funny to parents who miss flights while scrambling to have babies' passports and other documents faxed.

Ingrid Sanden's 1-year-old daughter was stopped in Phoenix before boarding a flight home to Washington at Thanksgiving.

"I completely understand the war on terrorism, and I completely understand people wanting to be safe when they fly," Sanden said. "But focusing the target a little bit is probably a better use of resources."

The government's lists of people who are either barred from flying or require extra scrutiny before being allowed to board airplanes grew markedly since the Sept. 11 attacks. Critics including the
American Civil Liberties Union say the government doesn't provide enough information about the people on the lists, so innocent passengers can be caught up in the security sweep if they happen to have the same name as someone on the lists.

That can happen even if the person happens to be an infant like Sanden's daughter. (Children under 2 don't need tickets but Sanden purchased one for her daughter to ensure she had a seat.)

"It was bizarre," Sanden said. "I was hugely pregnant, and I was like, 'We look really threatening.'"

Sarah Zapolsky and her husband had a similar experience last month while departing from Dulles International Airport outside Washington. An airline ticket agent told them their 11-month-old son was on the government list.

They were able to board their flight after ticket agents took a half-hour to fax her son's passport and fill out paperwork.

"I understand that security is important," Zapolsky said. "But if they're just guessing, and we have to give up our passport to prove that our 11-month-old is not a terrorist, it's a waste of their time."

Well-known people like Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), Rep. John Lewis (news, bio, voting record), D-Ga., and David Nelson, who starred in the sitcom "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," also have been stopped at airports because their names match those on the lists.

The government has sought to improve its process for checking passengers since the Sept. 11 attacks. The first attempt was scuttled because of fears the government would have access to too much personal information. A new version, called Secure Flight, is being crafted.

But for now, airlines still have the duty to check passengers' names against those supplied by the government. That job has become more difficult â€â€

Well, NOW I feel Safe, Millions of Illegals in this country and they stop babies from flying....

Originally Posted by jp_48504

Well, NOW I feel Safe, Millions of Illegals in this country and they stop babies from flying....

I agree with you. Now I can sleep better knowing that baby, isn't going to throw up on me.

Originally Posted by Scubayons

Originally Posted by jp_48504

Well, NOW I feel Safe, Millions of Illegals in this country and they stop babies from flying....

I agree with you. Now I can sleep better knowing that baby, isn't going to throw up on me.

I just had to add this. I heard some of the things, that are being considered to be allowed on an Airplane, is Knifes, ice Picks, and even Bows & Arrows. But you had better watch out for that baby.

Oh forgive me, but this is unbelievable

So now we have to watch out for Osama ben-baby

Why don’t we just all go to the airport naked? That way we would not be a threat to anyone, and then of course they would insist on doing cavity checks! Watch out for those diabolical babies!

Originally Posted by jp_48504

Why don’t we just all go to the airport naked? That way we would not be a threat to anyone, and then of course they would insist on doing cavity checks! Watch out for those diabolical babies!

I am just simply not going to any airport if I see one of the Terrorist Babies around.