'Tefillin' Prompts Scare On Plane

A plane from New York's La Guardia Airport was diverted to Philadelphia after a teenage passenger put on a religious item disrupting the flight Thursday morning.

Authorities say, Chautauqua Airlines flight 3079 from LaGuardia to Louisville was diverted to Philadelphia after a 17-year-old male strapped on a "tefillin" for prayer purposes after takeoff.

Sources say a female flight attendant had never seen a tefillin before, which has two small black boxes with black straps attached to them and one box was placed on his head and the other tied to his arm. The attendant became concerned and reported it.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says they were notified of a "disruptive passenger" on the plane and as a result was diverted to Philly.

The plane that departed LaGuardia at 7:25 a.m. landed in Philadelphia at 8:50 a.m. and the teen and his 16-year-old sister were met by Homeland Security and the Philadelphia Police Bomb Squad.

"Per standard procedures, TSA and law enforcement personnel met the flight. The disruptive passenger was interviewed, the plane was swept with negative findings, and the flight is taxiing to the gate," the TSA.

The commuter plane operated by Chautauqua Airlines under the US Airways name was occupied by 15 passengers who according to sources were unaware of the incident.

No charges have been filed and the plane remains on the ground at Philadelphia International Airport.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tefillin
• Philadelphia
• LaGuardia
• Transportation
• Security
• Administration
• Police
• Bomb
• Squad
• International
• Airport

[PhillyPhantom1970]

What I would like to know is why this stewardess and other airplane staff were not given religious sensitivity training? She was doing her job, but others should be aware what a specific religious item is.

[Yuval012]

lol... stupid americans...

scare of Tefillin....

[KingOystar]

If I am flying to California and I know I will have time to put my Tefillin on when we land then I will wait to land but if im on a flight to Israel or Europe then I do it in flight.

[punjabnolan]

seriously .... if you sat down on a bus in isreal in with a Koran in hand you would probably get lead behind the ear before you could say Allah Akbar ...why is this OK given the current climate? ...this dude knew quite well what the reaction would be .

i think a breach of the peace should be served . some people believe in whipping themselves till they bleed ...would that be aloud in any confined space let alone a plane ...hell no .

before you shout anti this or that i have no religious views

[sherriebolen]

Good grief!!! Now they will use this to say that NOBODY can pray publicly watch!!!

[1margaritta]

The flight attendant Asked the guy what he was doing and what it was. He gave ni response, no one else on the plane new what it was or what he was doing. So everything went as it should.

[gamalieli]

If it aint a kefiyah don't worry about it

[RATIONALMIND001]

A four year old boy appears in a superman costume. On his forehead, a rock secured with a band. Under his right arm, a rolled up mat in which is a tubular container holding Superman wafers. In his left hand he has a compass. I am going to pray to superman he announces, the rock is kryptonite to disable my powers, the compass is to orient the mat on which I pray and I will eat one wafer after my prayers. At what age would you tell this young man he has to stop? Are you an anti-marvelite?

[PhillyPhantom1970]

As far as ViolentWhiteMan's comment, it is true that there are ignorant pathological liars like you who spread misinformation.