Amsterdam Flight Had Team Of Air Marshalls

Sounds strange, I didn't think they always deployed in teams. I'm wondering if they beefed up for some reason after landing in Amsterdam from Minneapolis-St. Paul. Some reports suggest cell phones were somehow involved.

A team of U.S. federal air marshals was on board Wednesday's flight and, along with the crew members, observed suspicious activity shortly after take-off, according to an unnamed U.S. government official.

The official would not elaborate on the nature of the activity.

According to the official, the crew told passengers to follow the instructions of the air marshals after at least one member of the team identified himself as a marshal.

At that point, the pilot diverted the plane.

As a matter of security, the Federal Air Marshal Service does not confirm which flights are patrolled by air marshals.

Comments

[rwilymz]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210219,00.html
excerpt follows:

And Now This From the Comically Bad Idea Department:

CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors say a 29-year-old man traveling with his mother desperately did not want her to know he had packed a sexual aid for their trip to Turkey.

So he told security it was a bomb, officials said.

Madin Azad Amin was stopped by officials on Aug. 16 after guards found an object in his baggage that resembled a grenade, prosecutors said.

When officers asked him to identify it, Amin said it was a bomb, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto.

He later told officials he lied about the item because his mother was nearby and he did not want her to hear that it was part of a penis pump, Scaduto said.

Amin has been charged with felony disorderly conduct, said Andrew Conklin, a spokesman with the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Amin faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

[jill]

Dan:

I grew up with a guy who is now an air marshall.

He always travels with a partner - usually a woman. they pose as husband and wife.