Airport Security Proceedures question

Carrie in PA · Aug 23, 2007

I've been googling my heart out, but I can't find what I need.

Here's the situation: A man is trying to keep my MC from getting on a plane, so in the middle of the crowded airport, he shouts that she has a bomb. (She doesn't know him, never met him, has zero connection to him.) I have her (and the shouter) being escorted away from the terminal. I guess my question is, what would really happen? In my mind they take her to a little room for questioning, search her stuff thoroughly, and when they're satisfied she's innocent they let her go. (The shouter admits that he made it up to keep her off the plane, so I assume he'd spend a night in jail and they'd file charges against him...)

Anybody know what would actually happen with my MC? Do most major airports have little "interrogation" rooms for such things or would she be taken somewhere else? Who would question her?

Thanks bunches!

Rolling Thunder · Aug 23, 2007

I can't answer your question, Carrie, but does it really matter? Given what they show on TV programs like dramas/cop shows/etc I would think most readers wouldn't be any wiser on how 'your' airport security characters do their job.

Tsu Dho Nimh · Aug 23, 2007

They DO have little interrogation rooms.

Just don't ask how I know.

Rolling Thunder · Aug 23, 2007

No no no. You can't get off that easily.

Just how DO you know? Hmmm?

Stijn Hommes · Aug 24, 2007

There was this airport reality show I saw once. I guy was joking about having a bomb and got escorted out - missed his flight. Calling out and saying the woman has a bomb can cause a lot of fuzz. She won't just be taken away. The airport security will be afraid she's going to detonate it right there. Either they'll shoot her on the spot or evacuate the building. Knowing the current climate and fear of terrorism, I'm going to guess the first.

waylander · Aug 24, 2007

Plus the guy who started it will go to jail for several months. At least that is what happens in the UK.
Don't ever joke about having a bomb in your luggage around UK check-in staff.

JoniBGoode · Aug 24, 2007

Stijn Hommes said:
Calling out and saying the woman has a bomb can cause a lot of fuzz. She won't just be taken away. The airport security will be afraid she's going to detonate it right there. Either they'll shoot her on the spot or evacuate the building. Knowing the current climate and fear of terrorism, I'm going to guess the first.

Even in the U.S., we don't usually shoot people on the spot due to an idle remark by someone else. However, I can see them canceling a number of flights and perhaps evacuating the airport, if they take the threat seriously. (They did that about a year ago in the Chicago area, because a passenger exited a secure area and then back in through the "out" door.) They would probably be more concerned if she had a backpack or large carry-on with her, but who doesn't?

I think the scenario you're suggesting...her being questioned in a little room and ultimately released, after she's missed her flight, would only happen if they really don't believe the accuser is credible.

As far as jurisdiction, I'm sure an AW member with law enforcement experience will be along in a minute. Just guessing, I'd say... Air Marshalls and FBI??

Joni

hubbabubbs · Aug 24, 2007

The Operation Kratos [shoot-to-kill] policy allows officers to shoot at the head without warning if they believe the suspect may detonate a bomb.
Kratos does not require police to see a "suicide jacket" before opening fire

dahmnait · Aug 24, 2007

Even if she doesn't get shot, there would be a strong possibility that a vigilante passenger in the airport would tackle her. Escorting her to a security room after someone yells, “BOMB” would be a difficult proposition at best. It would cause panic in a busy airport. Of course if it wasn’t yelled, but quietly conveyed to the security officials, the passenger response would be different. It would give security a chance to converge on your poor MC and escort her without undue panic in the airport.

As for the interrogation rooms, I really don’t have a clue. I ran a Google search and was only able to come up with the following on a quick search.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/06/stories/2006090614350400.htm - story of a bomb scare on a boarded flight.

http://topics.cnn.com/topics/transportation_security_administration - list of articles pertaining to airports and security.

http://www.counterpunch.org/kanazi07192007.html - Interesting personal account of interrogation in Ben Gurion (Israel airport).

Rolling Thunder · Aug 24, 2007

*scene opens at airport*

<detector machine> Beep! Beep! Beep!

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: I'm sorry, you'll have to come with me.

Tsu Doh Nimh: Who? Me?

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: Yes, you. Poet? Give me a hand here.

<~~Mods~~...Goons frog-step Tsu Doh Nimh to secret interrogation room. Which looks oddly enough like the broom closet Inside the Super-Secret Mod-Proof User Rec Room. Members Only.>

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: Okay, what's your name?

Tsu Doh Nimh: Tsu Doh Nimh.

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: Eh? What's your real name?

Tsu Doh Nimh: No, really. It's Tsu Doh Nimh.

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: Poet, get the rubber hoses off the top shelf. The big ones with holes drilled through them.

Tsu Doh Nimh: No, wait! It's Tsu Doh Nimh, I tell ya! Check my laptop!

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: <turns on laptop, sees AW site up and running> Poet? You know this Tsu Doh Nimh person?

Poetinahat: Um...yes, I do. I guess we can put away the rubber hoses now.

~~Mod~~ Security Goon: You'd rather use the cattle prods?

Poetinahat: I love working for you Mac...um...I mean...Security Goon.

Tsu Doh Nimh:

Carrie in PA · Aug 24, 2007

Thanks so much guys! (Well, most of you.

) This is very helpful!

I don't think I'll have her get shot... that would kind of make it difficult to finish the story. LOL

I guess I should add that the shouter was causing a bit of a scene before that, as well, so I don't think passengers in the immediate vicinity would tackle her. Which also makes him uncredible.

Lots of food for thought! Thanks again!!!

Rolling Thunder · Aug 24, 2007

Hmmph! See if I ever help you again.

Damn. I'm starting to whine like Pete.

pdr · Aug 24, 2007

In the current climate...

and spoken as one who bounces from Japan to China, to Canada, to Taiwan, to New Zealand, to Korea, during the year, I would NOT have someone point to your female MC and say she had a bomb. Frankly she'd be killed.

Maybe say she has a knife? That might result in slightly less violence from the security staff?

JoniBGoode · Aug 25, 2007

hubbabubbs said:
The Operation Kratos [shoot-to-kill] policy allows officers to shoot at the head without warning if they believe the suspect may detonate a bomb.
Kratos does not require police to see a "suicide jacket" before opening fire

Hmmm...so all I need to do if I want to murder someone is follow them to the airport and scream, "S/he's got a bomb!"?

Joni, who is scribbling a list of likely candidates right now.

Stijn Hommes · Aug 27, 2007

JoniBGoode said:
Hmmm...so all I need to do if I want to murder someone is follow them to the airport and scream, "S/he's got a bomb!"?

Joni, who is scribbling a list of likely candidates right now.

Not really. You may get them killed, but once they find out you falsely claimed they had a bomb you'll end up in jail for causing a panic and if they figure out you know her, there is probably going to be an additional murder charge.

JoniBGoode · Aug 27, 2007

Stijn Hommes said:
Not really. You may get them killed, but once they find out you falsely claimed they had a bomb you'll end up in jail for causing a panic and if they figure out you know her, there is probably going to be an additional murder charge.

Okay, thanks!

Joni, erasing names that can be traced back to her from the list but leaving the name of the lady on the cell phone driving the Hummer who stole her parking space.

PS Couldn't I just say I thought I saw a bomb? And, wouldn't the sentence for "causing a panic" be substantially less than the sentence for first degree murder?

Airport Security Proceedures question

Carrie in PA

Write All The Words!

Rolling Thunder

Tsu Dho Nimh

Rolling Thunder

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

JoniBGoode

hubbabubbs

dahmnait

Just a figment…

Rolling Thunder

Carrie in PA

Write All The Words!

Rolling Thunder

pdr

JoniBGoode

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

JoniBGoode