A Cautionary Tale

This is a cautionary tale. It cautions against breaking the law, underestimating TSA, and attempting to sneak out of town aboard an aircraft. 

Recently, I have witnessed three arrests on the airplane. One was a middle-aged woman handcuffed and taken away during the boarding of a flight to Mexico. An unlikely suspect, she looked like an average carpool mom. The second was a young lady with very long eyelashes and fuzzy slippers. She didn’t look like she could hurt a fly. She was apprehended just as the doors were closing on a flight departing at 5:23am. Maybe she thought she could make her escape before the police woke up. The third would-be-fugitive was a young man. 

All three arrests were conducted without incident. That is to say that no one resisted or caused a scene. But in the case of the young man, his arrest was nearly an international incident.  

We were on our way to Central America when we received notice of a security threat onboard our aircraft. We were directed mid-flight to return to the United States. As the crew, we were unnerved, not knowing precisely who was posing a threat nor the exact nature of the threat. All we knew was that one of our passengers had breached security in the airport. Were they smuggling or concealing something? Drugs? Weapons? Were they “working” with other passengers onboard? Were their intentions criminal, life-threatening? Or were they just running late for the flight, deciding to bypass security?  

The authorities were able to track and identify the suspect by using captured images from cameras throughout the airport, ultimately tracing him to our flight. Lucky us. When we landed, we were greeted by the police, sheriffs, and giant dogs with vests and important jobs. Police boarded the aircraft and flashed us his picture. We easily identified him because he was the first person to ask why the plane was turning around. (Incidentally, before we even knew that we were turning around.) After he was apprehended, we all had to file out to be sniffed by the dogs. Then, everyone had to be re-screened by TSA. 

Onboard were two young autistic twin boys. Who incidentally are the only two people I have seen with medical mask exemptions throughout this entire pandemic. Their autism was that severe. So passing these giant, sniffing dogs (almost as tall as they were) was a VERY difficult thing for them to do. But these brave boys and their beleaguered parents set an example for the rest of us. 

Our passengers were resigned, and I think not a little bit impressed. At least, I know that I was. I was both impressed and relieved to know that people are paying attention. People are doing their jobs. And I, for one, appreciate that. Because while we as crewmembers are there for your safety, I certainly don’t want to be your first line of defense. And following these recent incidents, I’m happy to report that we are not.

Having said that, witnessing the arrests made me feel sad. Actually, just the two young peoples’ arrest; the middle-aged woman just made me feel curious. But watching the two young people upset me. Maybe it was my mother’s instinct kicking in, but I couldn’t help but feel sorrow. Those two young people are in a stage in life that should be full of possibilities -not hard, life-altering consequences.

I guess I’d make a terrible police officer. ….But I bet I’d make a great judge. 

However, I’m happy to be a flight attendant. It’s an interesting job.