The Airport Kiss from Hell

[marmar]

from the New York Times:



A ‘Romantic’ Now in Trouble Over an Airport Kiss

By AL BAKER and LIZ ROBBINS
Published: January 9, 2010


When a man ducked past security at Newark Liberty International Airport last Sunday to kiss his girlfriend goodbye, the breach in security shut down one of the country’s busiest airports, delayed flights through Monday and prompted an intensive manhunt from New Jersey detectives that ended on Friday evening on a street in Piscataway, N.J.

But the man police sought was not even home. He was at the gym.

When Haisong Jiang, a 28-year-old Rutgers University graduate student, returned, the police arrested him.

On Saturday, some of Mr. Jiang’s roommates described him as a “romantic” now trying to secure a lawyer after the dizzying turn of events. His actions might have seemed innocently romantic to him, his friends said. But the incident was yet another lapse in airport security that frustrated harried travelers in the wake of the failed plane bombing on Christmas and incensed one New Jersey lawmaker over the leniency of Mr. Jiang’s potential penalty.

According to a statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Mr. Jiang would be charged with defiant trespass. He was issued with a summons and told to appear in Newark Municipal Court. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/nyregion/10newark.html?hpw

[arcadian]

1. Am I surprised by this ridiculousness? not really

TSA covering their asses again.

[stray cat]

2. The guy deserves to have the book thrown at him - for extreme self-centeredness/importance

if nothing else. He ruined everyone else's plans in the airport because of what he wanted and he of course was above any law. Not much different from the balloon boy's dad.

The airport followed normal procedures for someone jumping the barrier at least since 2001

[onehandle]

4. Yep. nt

[spanone]

5. they should make it a little more difficult than just ducking under a rope...

not much security imo

[hlthe2b]

6. A little common sense ought to be employed on both sides...

The public should educate themselves on the implications of such an "innocent" act might be and show a damned little sensitivity to the rights of others trying to get on a plane. NSA and other authorities can do a lot more with signage and education to prevent such incidents.. and maybe, just maybe tamp down their response if circumstances do not warrant an all out crisis airport shutdown.

[seabeyond]

3. nothing matters as long as the public feels safer now.... nt

[Don Caballero]

7. He deserves a long prison sentence

In times like these Americans must be acutely aware of the threat of terrorism. He needs to be made an example of.