Transportation Security Administration notice (Photo credit: timbrauhn)
The TSA isn't on furlough, so they're still there to provide your preflight groping services. What they're not doing, however, is actually more important: they're not talking about several apparent terrorist dry-runs that have occurred on flights in recent weeks.
The pilots say the most recent dry-run occurred on Flight 1880 on September 2. The flight left Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. and headed to Orlando International.
Crew members say that shortly after takeoff, a group of four "Middle Eastern" men caused a commotion.
The witnesses claim one of the men ran from his seat in coach, toward the flight deck door. He made a hard left and entered the forward bathroom "for a considerable length of time."
While he was in there, the other three men proceeded to move about the cabin, changing seats, opening overhead bins, and "generally making a scene." They appeared to be trying to occupy and distract the flight attendants.
As it happened, these antics perturbed the Federal Air Marshals (FAM) who made their presence known to the gentlemen in what is described as "no uncertain terms".
Before departing Orlando, the captain of the plane ordered a full inspection and search with bomb-sniffing dogs. Evidence of unspecified "tampering" was discovered.
But according to the TSA, there's nothing to worry about, and "the matter requires no further investigation". That's certainly comforting. Well, they are from the government, so they must be there to help.
