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Associated Press – July 3, 2007
Flight bring Afghan delegation to Vermont delayed
A flight bound from Chicago to Burlington yesterday was delayed for extra security screening, and some on board say it was because of a group of Afghan passengers in traditional dress.
The group was part of a delegation in the US studying its democratic institutions.
A Transportation Security Agency spokeswoman says the United flight crew asked for the extra screening.
A spokesman for the Council of American-Islamic Relations says he's not surprised by the incident.
Ibrahim Hooper says such stepped-up scrutiny of Muslims is all too familiar, and usually increases following international threats of terrorism or violence.
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=6741302&nav=menu183_4
Burlington Free Press - July 3, 2007
Flight from Chicago delayed after security incident
By Leslie Wright, Adam Silverman and Sky Barsch
SOUTH BURLINGTON -- A flight from Chicago to Burlington was delayed for more than an hour after the flight's crew refused to take off without additional security screening.
Passengers on the flight included a group of Afghan men visiting Vermont whose interpreter suspected the group, dressed in traditional clothing, triggered the security scare.
"We always, always attract a lot of attention. This time was not an exception," said Wais Ahmad, an interpreter who was traveling among a delegation of nine, including five wearing traditional Afghan clothing. The group was coming to Vermont to learn about democracy and community development as part of a four-city tour of the United States sponsored by the State Department. Their trip to Vermont is through the Vermont Council on World Affairs.
The flight was United 868, a non-stop flight, that was scheduled to depart at 1:10 p.m. Central Daylight Time and arrive in Burlington at 4:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Boarding was delayed, however, and passengers heard a number of reasons for the delay.
Passenger David Williams said United personnel addressed passengers several times as they waited to board the flight. First, Williams recounted, United agents said a problem with the plane's kitchen was delaying departure. Next, passengers were told United's flight crew had logged too many hours and couldn't fly the leg to Burlington…..
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/NEWS01/707030311/1009&theme
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