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Again, Tefillin Cause Alarm Aboard Airplane

Jpost

LOS ANGELES, CA — An orthodox Jewish prayer observance by three passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines flight on Sunday alarmed flight attendants unfamiliar with the ritual, prompting them to lock down the cockpit and issue a security alert, officials said.

Alaska Flight 241 from Mexico City to Los Angeles International Airport landed safety at LAX and was met by fire crews, foam trucks, FBI agents, Transportation Security Administration personnel and police dispatched as a precaution.

The three men, all Mexican nationals, were escorted off the plane by police and questioned by the FBI before being released to make connecting flights to other countries, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. No charges were filed, she said.

The three passengers had startled members of the cabin crew with what what was interpreted as suspicious behavior shortly after takeoff, airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said.

“The three passengers were praying aloud in Hebrew and were wearing what appeared to be leather straps on their foreheads and arms,” she said. “This appeared to be a security threat, and the pilots locked down the flight deck and followed standard security procedures.”

It turned out the passengers were engaged in the wearing of tefillin — small, black prayer boxes containing scripture that devout Jews bind to their foreheads and arms with black leather straps in a daily ritual accompanied by special prayers.

Asked about the authorities’ reaction to the alert, Eimiller said: “We’re obligated, of course, to respond when the flight calls us to clear up concerns.”

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7 Comments

  • AYE

    After this sort of thing happens enough times you would think the FAA would issue an information directive concerning this practice among the flying public. In this era of heightened cultural sensitivity it would be prudent for flight personnel to not make an issue of this.

  • To #1

    You’re kidding, right? Today’s “heightened cultural sensitivity” is extended only towards those who blow up planes, murder families in their sleep, and engage in other “peaceful” activities.

    • Anonymous

      You’re kidding right? Do you even know what an Orthodox Jew is? LOL! It certainly IS NOT muslim! Get a clue before you speak.

  • use common sense

    How about if someone preparing to daven INFORMS the flight crew IN ADVANCE and explans what it is?!!

  • I informed train crew

    Once I was on Amtrak. Having read about a prevoius tefillin scare on a plane(4 yrs ago) I told one of the train crew what I was about to do and why. He exclained, “Thanks for telling us that!”