SECURITY INCIDENT!!!!

Sorry for the extra exclamations... Two major security events in my life this week.

My clearance cleared.  So people can talk to me now.

On my flight back from the fly-over zone this weekend, we had an "incident".  Now, I am always one to lean toward safety, especially when 80+ people and a Embraer-190 are involved.  We taxi'd out, sat on the tarmac for a while, went back to the gate, sat a while more.  Then they deplaned us all; sent us all back through security, including the crew.  Inspected the plane.  Reboarded us.  Flew off and got us in 2+ hours late.

Now, except for the loss of a brand new soda purchased inside security that I had to toss second time through, and having to get my shoes back on, I really wasn't inconvenienced.  But, oh my, some people were seriously chuffed.  I have never heard so many responsible adults whine about wanting their money back, free drinks, credit, etc becuase they were getting back to our Nation's Capital too late for Happy Hour. 

The people with probably the biggest burden to bear were two couples traveling with children under 6.  One had 2; the other FOUR!  And they were patient and cooperative.  And as soon as the plane was clear, the agent let them back on... and the uproar from the first class passangers was MIGHTY! All I could think - and I am a 'early on' frequent flier - was GOOD FOR THAT AGENT!  They got the rest of us back on that plane in record time, but let those parents have a few minutes to get re-settled.

And good for the TSA agent at the gate who calmly dealt with a bunch of cranky businessmen and noisy leisure travelers who inundated her with questions she either couldn't answer or had no business answering.

And good for the person on my flight I suspect was a Air Marshal who reported the problem.  He did his job.  And I am glad no one except me probably noticed his badge.