Bad behavior onboard a plane: Clearing up confusion about no-fly lists
2010-11-03
The federal government maintains a no-fly list for suspected terrorists, but airlines each have a similarly-named list of people banned from traveling on that airline due to unruly behavior.
The fact that these lists are similarly-named yet comprise very different individuals has recently created confusion, MSNBC reports.
According to the news source, the federal government's no-fly list, which is made up of people with suspected terrorist ties, contains about 2,500 names. Only a few hundred of these individuals are U.S. citizens, according to Trent Duffy, spokesman for the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center.
Each airline, however, can maintain its own list of people that are banned from flying with the carrier due to unruly behavior on an airplane. The way one ends up on such a list is dramatically different from the way one ends up on the federal government's list.
According to the news source, one woman was banned from flying with a certain airline for appearing to use her cell phone after being told she couldn't make a phone call.
Knowing the difference between the two lists may be beneficial to those planning air travel during the holiday season.
See also ...