Fear of Dying While Flying
An irate female passenger dies in a Phoenix airport holding cell. Proof that America has become a police state? Not quite, says Annie Jacobsen, who contends that the Islamic terrorist is the real bogeyman at airports.
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Most people aren’t crazy about flying. The fear of dying while flying was around long before 9/11-at least one American Airlines victim bought terrorism insurance. But in the past six years, this fear has kicked into high gear. The death of airline passenger Carol Ann Gotbaum at the Phoenix airport last Friday night is a reminder that fear of dying while flying has a life of its own.
Carol Ann Gotbaum is the 45-year old woman who was found dead in an airport holding cell at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after being arrested on a disorderly conduct charge approximately an hour before. According to my interview with Sgt. Joe Tranter of the airport police, witnesses told officers that Gotbaum had been “yelling and screaming and running through the terminal.” Airport workers told the New York Daily News that Gotbaum was running around hollering, “I’m not a terrorist! I’m a sick mom! I need help!”
So, how did Gotbaum die? Since there’s no toxicology report yet, it’s too early to say. But while readers all over the web, and specifically at USAToday.com, speculate that Gotbaum was killed by an aggressive airport police force indicative of America-the-police-state, I’d argue that the results of a recent experiment conducted at Heathrow Airport is a more practical place to begin.
Last July, neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis monitored passengers’ heart rates as they went through airport check-in and security procedures at England’s busiest airport. Dr. Lewis concluded that some passengers experienced such intense stress levels-before they got on the plane-that their heart rates exceed levels “recorded by Formula 1 drivers, free-fall parachutists, and victims of knife-point muggings.”
Dr. Lewis’ conclusion? Airport passengers are under so much psychological stress as they anticipate flying, they could be at risk of death. “The conditions at Heathrow Airport and the stress levels that passengers are routinely subject to poses a very grave danger to the health of travelers at the airport,” Lewis said. The doctor also monitored passengers as they flew from Amsterdam to London and discovered that fliers’ heart rates and blood pressure exceeded those of “riot policemen confronting a stone throwing mob.”
Here’s the fascinating part: The analysis of Dr. Lewis’ study by Silverjet luxury airlines (who commissioned the study) laid blame on airport “queues, unfriendly and impatient staff, lack of information, burly security and inadequate facilities.” But wait! What about the terrorists? People’s heart rates don’t mimic that of a policeman confronting a rock-hurling mob because an airport employee left his or her Build-a-Bear personality at home. People’s heart rates skyrocket because they are experiencing the fear of dying while flying. That translates to fear of terrorist, not fear of unfriendly airport employee.
Let’s be clear about who the boogeyman is at airports. It’s not the beefy security guards, nor is it the airport police. The bad guy is the Islamic terrorist who has his or her heart set on taking out another group of planes. It’s the Islamic terrorist who, according to National Counterterrorism Director John Scott Redd, is plotting something, “not unlike the U.K. aviation threat last year.” Passengers know this-it’s not “lack of information” that makes the heart go thump in the chest. And none of this means any of us should refuse to fly. What it means is that it’s time for anyone who wants to, to admit their fear of dying while flying without being called a racist, a coward or a xenophobe.
Three years ago, I unwittingly made a public name for myself expressing my fear and outrage over the behavior of 13 mala fide Syrians-posing as musicians and acting like terrorists-who were traveling alongside me and my family on a Northwest Airlines cross-country flight. The White House Homeland Security Council ordered a federal investigation of what happened on the flight; the results verified my account. That took three years. But in the meantime, I hardly felt it necessary to pretend I wasn’t afraid. On that flight, my heart rate mimicked that of a Formula One driver, a mugging victim, and a parachutist in a free-fall. And sometimes, when I’m in airports today, my heart rate rises again. This has nothing to do with long lines, unfriendly staff, burly security or men in blue. It’s the sometime-experience of fear of dying while flying. I have it, others have-you might have it too.
Don’t blame the police. Face the facts about the terrorists.
Annie Jacobsen writes about aviation security and homeland security for a variety of newspapers, magazines and blogs. She is the author of the book, %%AMAZON=1890626627 Terror in The Skies, Why 9/11 Could Happen Again%%.
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21 Comments
Al Falfa:I’m sorry, but I just read the entire report issued after the incident with the Syrians and I don’t see where or how it vindicates your frothing paranoia and freak out in the slightest.
It mentions that you apparently “insisted” on giving a statement, indicating to me that they really didn’t want to bother with you, but you inserted yourself into things.
Secondly, it states that the officials involved came to the conclusion after determining the facts that there was no threat whatsoever from these passengers, and therefore let them go.
So tell me again how you’ve been dining out on this sham story for … how long now?
Oct 2, 2007 - 3:25 am mishu:What are you talking about al? You can see right in the executive summary of th OIG report that the air marshals observed that the “musicians” were acting suspiciously and detained them based on FAM’s observations.
Oct 2, 2007 - 4:38 am ex-democrat:The comment from “alfalfa” is a perfect example of the psychopathy that infects the anti-war left. I urge anyone in doubt of this conclusion to read the exec summary of the report in question and decide for yourself who here is ‘frothing’ with paranoia. Here’s a snippet from that summary:
“Thirteen Middle Eastern men, traveling together as a musical group, 12 carrying Syrian passports and one, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., of Lebanese descent, purchased one-way tickets
from Detroit to Los Angeles. Six of the men arrived at the gate together after boarding began, then split up and acted as if they were not acquainted. According to air marshals, the men also appeared sweaty and nervous. An air marshal
assigned to Flight 327 observed their behavior and characterized it as “unusual,” but made no further reports at the time.
During the flight, the men again acted suspiciously. Several of the men changed seats, congregated in the aisles, and arose when the fasten seat belt sign was
turned on; one passenger moved quickly up the aisle toward the cockpit and, at the last moment, entered the first class lavatory. The passenger remained in the
lavatory for about 20 minutes. Several of the men spent excessive time in the Handling of Suspicious Passengers Aboard Northwest Flight 327 lavatories. Another man carried a large McDonald’s restaurant bag into a lavatory and made a thumbs-up signal to another man upon returning to his seat.
Flight attendants notified the air marshals on board of the suspicious activities. In response, an air marshal directed a flight attendant to instruct the cockpit to radio ahead for law- enforcement officials to meet the flight upon arrival.
After arriving, Flight 327 was met by Federal and local law enforcement officials, who gathered all 13 suspicious passengers, interviewing two of them. An air
marshal photocopied the passengers’ passports and visas. The names of the suspicious passengers were run through Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) databases, indicating the musical group’s promoter (promoter) had been involved in a similar incident in January 2004. No other derogatory information was received, and all 13 of the men were released. Weeks after the flight landed in
Los Angeles, following press reports of the suspicious incident, both the FBI and Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) independently opened investigations into the activities that occurred on Flight 327.”
As for any of alfalfa’s fellow-travelers: you need to take a good hard look at yourselves and try to figure out where this toxic attitude of yours comes from and what you need to do to overcome it.
Oct 2, 2007 - 6:40 am David Caskey:This is a perfect example of how deranged our society has become. If you would do a little reading of history, you would find that government loves things like 9/11. In the 30’s, FDR literally kept the “crisis” of the depression going for more than 10 years; if he had backed away we would have recovered like the rest of the world. The same thing is being played out now. Don’t you think that if the terrorist wanted they could easily repeat another 9/11 or other damage? The airport security is a joke, wake up and realize this. There is nothing in this world that you can do to stop a sophisticated group of terrorist bent on doing their job!
Besides, if some nut did harm, what is worse; the death of people given to support our freedoms or giving up our freedoms because of constant fear. What is the purpose of the military dying if we are not willing and brave enough to do the same? My fellow Americans disgust me with their hyped up concerns for “security” and the fact they don’t understand the loss of freedom we experience.
Now I truly feel that travelers’ heart rates go up at the airport. The whole experience is one tailored to make you paranoid. We have mouth breathers at security post and wielding guns who have no idea what they are doing but armed and ready to inflict injury with minimal provocation. We have airline employees who are rude, inconsiderate and looking for an excuse to us the punitive powers they have received from the government. Most of the planes look as if they will fall out of the sky and you know that every effort is being made to delay the flight and cause excessive frustration.
We need to remember that terrorism is a weapon. We need to concentrate on killing those that use that weapon and not rebuilding their countries at our expense or going about the hopeless task of making them democracies (especially when we have forgotten what one is). This woman was killed by the police as sure as if they had fired a gun, and for what? She created a disturbance because she had experienced enough of the abuse. My only hope is that with the economic crisis that is to occur in the next few years, my country -the South- will be able to seek its freedom once again.
Oct 2, 2007 - 7:42 am David Thomson:Al Falfa and David Caskey represent the heart and soul of the “elite” Democrats. Don’t forget that when you vote in 2008. They believe the war on terror is something of a neo-con con job.
Oct 2, 2007 - 8:17 am Stephen Campbell:That has to be one of the dumbest articles I’ve ever read. I want that 12 seconds of my life back.
I routinely pass through airports and it’s plane as day (pun intended) that terrorism is the last thing on most peoples’ minds. “Oh good gawd, is this ham-fisted moron really going to make me throw out my Head-n-Shoulders” is a far more prevalent concern.
Oct 2, 2007 - 8:35 am richard miniter:Ms. Jacobsen misses the obvious point that the Heathrow researchers identified: the stress is caused by airport security and the delays and annoyance they cause. I know that my stress level surges at airports–not because I fear terrorism–but because I fear what harmless item will be taken from by bag or what muslim immigrant in a TSA uniform will stop me from getting to my plane on time…
Oct 2, 2007 - 8:42 am David Caskey:Mr. Thompson,
Oct 2, 2007 - 9:43 am Robert:I might point out that I have been a Republican since 1970. Now I am certainly not one of the “new” Republicans. My party left me after Ragan. I have more of an association with Goldwater or the Libertarians since I don’t see that much difference between the current state of the Republican party and the Democrats. Appartently I am not alone as contributions to the Republicans are dismal and for the first time businesses are actively beginning to court the Democrats. This is all thanks in part to this stupid “war on terror”. This concept has robed us of our rights, privacy and security. We are currently in the hole for 7 trillion dollars thanks to Bush and he and the Democrats keep spending money like there is no end. My only hope is the Hillary is elected. That will kill the country that is already tottering on the brink with the collaspe of the dollar and the pending economic crisis. Then, maybe, the South will be able to obtain its freedom once again and life will be good!
Mr. Caskey:
You say that you have been a Republican since 1970, but that “My party left me after Ragan.” I find it difficult to believe that a Republican since 1970 would spell “Reagan” so incorrectly. Mr. Caskey, are you even a US citizen? Is English your first language? Who, exactly, was “Ragan?” And how can anyone who was ever actually a Republican support Hillary Clinton? How can you also not notice how our economy is now better than it ever was? Your initial assertions are inconsistent with your political rants. So I must question your honesty.
Oct 2, 2007 - 9:57 am mishu:I’m sure Mr. Caskey also wants to get back on the gold standard, impose a tarrif on all imported goods and is against the Missouri Comprimise.
Oct 2, 2007 - 10:17 am David Caskey:Mr. Thompson,
All I can say is that you are a little person. A mistake in spelling and suddenly I am a foreign citizen. Makes as much sense as your rant on the economy. Try buying something from Canada. Or take a trip to Europe. See how much your dollar will buy. Better yet, try arguing on the topic and not attacking me. You obviously are very much unaware of the state of the Republican party. Take off your blinders and look around. As to supporting Hillary, I am not. I am only a realist and feel that the Republican party has let us all down. Now if any of this is misspelled, that is too bad.
Oct 2, 2007 - 10:22 am mcsmcs:This article is pretty dumb, because it doesn’t address an incredibly obivious question: to what extent are peoples’ pre-flight anxieties related to fear of terrorism and to what extent are they related to the fear of non-terrorist related airplane accidents? I’d bet about $1000 that people would be anxious before flying even if terrorism didn’t exist. So what is the point of this silly post?
Oct 2, 2007 - 12:02 pm Morton Doodslag:I”m amazed at the nastiness of the critics in this thread. Yes they may have a point that the link hasn’t been established between traveler’s fears and terrorism, per se — but what sane person would deny that the very act of flying has been made much more troublesome, burdensome, and fear-inducing than Islamic terrorism?
Many here seem to forget that Yassir Arafat began hijacking planes over three decades ago and began the security crackdown we now accept as “normal” when flying by air. Sure, a few communists, a few Tamils have hijacked planes, but they are as frequent as the unibombers and Timothy McVeighs.
Nearly ALL of the remaining hundreds upon hundreds of atrocities involving airplane terrorism has been committed by Muslims.
Nasty posters above who are attacking Annie Jacobssn’s inferences about the role of Islam and Muslims in air security show themselves to be cravenly forgetful fools, hypocrites, or Islam apologizing nitwits.
Oct 2, 2007 - 1:25 pm mcsmcs:Morton, I totally agree about the threat of Islam. It’s just that I think sloppy reasoning and writing like this essay (which one sees all the time on PJM and other such sites) actually works against those of us who are trying to increase public awareness.
Oct 2, 2007 - 2:25 pm johnnycwest:Terrorism has led to authoritarianism generally and at airports in particular. The threat to our freedom and way of life comes from Islamic fundamentalism in general and Iran in particular. They have to be dealt with forcefully and soon before we will be safe.
Long lines in airports, confiscating toothpaste and nail files and having people take off their shoes is a pathetic joke. The stress of air travel is indirectly due to terrorism, but it is directly due to the enthusiasm some have for window dressing and petty policing. I understand the need for greater security, but the measures taken are trivial, yet excessive.
Most airport security measures make my blood boil and I feel no safer. Lets deal with the real problems and let us live our lives with as much freedom as possible. Isn’t that the point of fighting “terrorism”? Air travel has become a nightmare and Osama is only part of the problem.
I worry that the security bureaucracy will become so entrenched that we will be living with this for decades. “Better safe than sorry - step away from the 150 ml. shampoo bottle” and “Oh yes Mr. Ahmadinejad, we would love for you to speak to our university.”
Oct 2, 2007 - 3:50 pm Yo!:Steven Campbell (08:35am), in all his snippiness, misses the obvious. He states that few worry about terrorists at airports, because of the prevalent fear of the loss of one’s Head-and-Shoulders at the security gate. Anyone near Mr. Campbell is invited to slap him upside his dandruff-laced head while pointing out that most sentient travellers have already thanked the terrorists for rendering shampoo to the discard bin at TSA points.
Oct 2, 2007 - 4:23 pm mcsmcs:not to mention that the subhed for this piece makes no sense. Isn’t ‘real bogeyman’ an oxymoron? Sorry to harp, but when people I agree with write dumb things, I get more riled than when people I disagree with do.
Oct 2, 2007 - 7:48 pm Amy Alkon:I grew up in Detroit (near, as Debbie Schlussel calls it, Dearbornistan), and my father sometimes sends me the Muslim newspapers (or as he calls them, “hate rags”). In addition, I blog weekly about the dangers of Islam to our society, but I have to agree with a commenter above. I am not agitated because of potential terrorism at the airport, but because of the measures designed to give us the appearance of being safe…instead of actual safety. My stress is typically…will I get my shoes off, my laptop out, not leave my boarding pass on the floor, and remember to dump out my water bottle and put my Chanel lip gloss in my Ziploc bag of tiny toilet articles…and then not forget to put that on the thing. No jewelry…don’t forget to remove that sweater…and so people who probably couldn’t spot Osama Bin Laden himself, if he strolled through security, can give me the once-over. Excuse me if I’m not entering a zen state.
Oct 3, 2007 - 6:35 am Chip:David Caskey,
A ‘Republican’ who wants “the South” to “regain its freedom”?
As for the rest of you, I hope you’re proud of yourselves going around and harassing potential terror victims telling their stories. That’s the Left: classy.
/not
Everyone who really follows the news knows dry runs are real.
Oct 3, 2007 - 7:11 am mcsmcs:Chip: I’m not ‘harassing’ anyone. I’m explaining why I think this is a bad essay. What’s the point of a comment section if not to comment/criticize?
Oct 3, 2007 - 11:19 am marc page:Hi Annie
Remember: your best thinking got you where you are today.
Let go and let God.
(Thank you for the opportunity to serve)
Oct 3, 2007 - 4:27 pm