Remember the woman who was removed from a Southwest flight because of some improperly perceived threat based on someone “overhearing” a partial phone conversation?  She was actually kept off by the captain because the crew just didn’t feel “safe”.  Get the details here with a Dallas Morning News Aviation Blog post.

The woman, Irum Abbasi,  has decided to sue and I don’t blame her.  You see, I’m not a subscriber to the idea that the 1% rule is valid and I sure don’t subscribe to the “abundance of caution” approach to safety.  The woman was inconvenienced, humiliated and insulted primarily because she was a muslim and dressed accordingly. 

A muslim woman dressed according to her religion is *not* a threat.  It’s time that commercial businesses, even a nice one like Southwest, get their act together and start using better judgement.  I do *not* disagree with the woman being questioned.  That is, perhaps, appropriate.  But once the TSA determined she was not a threat, she should have been put right back on that aircraft and into her same seat. 

And the aircrew should have been told to settle down and do their jobs.   And captains need to get over themselves and failing to do so, should be reprimanded for engaging in behaviour that would get most people fired today.  If airlines continue to fail to exercise good judgement, I would recommend a few airline execs and airline captains go through extra screening, have their religions questioned and be inconvenienced with a voucher and offer to fly the next day. 

The woman suffered harm and, possibly, damages.  That’s what lawsuits are for.

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