Traveler Arrested for “Terrorist Threat”

November 26, 2013

in Airport Stories

I was supposed to fly on Hawaiian Airlines today, November 18th, 2013 in Oahu, Honolulu. We were in line to check in our bags. Normally I can carry two carry-ons. The airline agent said only one was allowed and to read the sign. I asked to speak to someone else; she kept telling me to read the sign. I commented back calling her rude. She said, “You’re fucking rude.”

I responded, “In customer service you’re supposed to always keep composure and be polite to people.” We started getting into it. I told her if she didn’t get someone else to speak to me because she kept trying to argue that I’d “blow my brains out.” I said this in a sarcastic manner meaning that I’m annoyed and going crazy.

The agent tells her manager that she felt threatened by me and said I used the words “blow up” in the airport. I’m a 25 year old girl. I was arrested for “terrorist threats.” I weigh 100 pounds and was racially profiled because I’m Middle Eastern. I went to jail because of a baggage claim person from Hawaiian Airlines. They are the most unprofessional/trash-mouthed airline service I have ever dealt with. Be careful.

{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }

Regular reader November 27, 2013 at 7:44 am

Both of you were rude, but saying you'll "blow your brains out" is not the smartest thing to say in an airport even if you were only sarcastic. Besides, the rule has been "one carry-on and one personal item" for years, how do you think you can carry-on two items? (unless you're calling your personal item a carry-on). That said, airlines can always make you gate-check your carry-on if the aircraft is too small for it. Regular flyers don't question these rules, at least not as rudely as you seem to have done.

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lol November 28, 2013 at 3:30 pm

they are just fuckin pathetic!!!!!!!!!!! i was there when it happened too they cancelled m fuckin holiday but you shouldnt have said that

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Omer February 16, 2016 at 11:41 am

When flying buisness class or first u can carry 2 carry ons dumb fuck

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Jeanie Schneider November 29, 2013 at 8:02 am

In an airport or on a plane, you have to choose your words very carefully, even if the employee is in the wrong. You really put your foot in your mouth.

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Aaron November 29, 2013 at 12:29 pm

Flying from Oahu to Maui last summer on Island Air, I found I had to check my carry on bag because it weighed too much and then incurred a checked bag fee. So many people were trying to move things from one bag to another to make the crazy weight restriction and frustration was apparent. I kind of thought it was a scam, but just took it in stride and off to Maui we went. Once I got on the plane, I understood why. The overhead bins were tiny and they would not have accommodated the typical carry on bag. Fine. It was only a 30 minute flight. No one was arrested, but some were rude like the OP. Gotta be thoughtful about what you say and do in airports.

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Shannon December 2, 2013 at 2:50 am

Well stupid, you are Middle Eastern and you said something that stupid in an airport. I'm kind of surprised that you wonder why you ended up in handcuffs.

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Luna August 10, 2015 at 5:46 pm

Shut up. Do the Internet a favour and not spread you stupid opinions.

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Dan December 2, 2013 at 9:27 am

She was definitely rude but you should never talk about blowing your brains out or blowing things up in an airport. All it will do is get you into trouble, even if you don’t mean anything by it.

I had a friend who was flying back from overseas and he had a case of alcohol with him. He told the flight attendant that the booze he bought was “explosive” and asked if she wanted any. This was before 9/11 and he still got kicked off the flight and detained

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DTS December 2, 2013 at 10:06 pm

"you should never talk about blowing your brains out or blowing things up"

Agreed. Back in 2002, a friend was detained because he was overhead saying he was going to "blow up some balloons for his daughter's birthday party." Suffice to say, security in Newark heard the first two words, and that was it…

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Hugh December 10, 2013 at 6:16 am

There was no racial profiling, you were arrested because of your stupidity. You NEVER say anything like that.

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Luna August 10, 2015 at 5:47 pm

Your negative a$$ is everywhere so shush. Also racial profiling is very wrong.

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RedHead0186 December 27, 2013 at 3:06 pm

If you had been pulled aside/detained/arrested without anything else happening, that would be racial profiling. You were arrested because of the comments you made. I think perhaps the agent went a little overboard, but you certainly deserved some repercussion.

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@RhovanionGirl February 5, 2014 at 12:06 pm

You totally deserve it I'm afraid. You don't make comments like that in an airport and it sounds like you were being rude as well.

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tollbaby February 5, 2014 at 3:30 pm

The staff's behavior is no excuse for you to sink to her level. You were EXTREMELY rude, and when the other person has the power to kick you off the flight? Keep your idiot mouth shut.

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Leanne March 8, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Well I’m sorry but you are an idiot for saying that!!!
I work in an airport we have strict rules that if anyone mentions anything like that even if in a sarcastic manner we have to immediately call the police and security!!!

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Derek March 18, 2014 at 3:04 am

We all know that Hawaiian Airlines sucks ass, but talking about blowing anything out is asking for trouble in an airport.

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