[IP] iPod in plane toilet leads to Incident
Begin forwarded message:
From: Meng Weng Wong <mengwong@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: August 26, 2006 2:09:23 AM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Meng Weng Wong <mengwong@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: iPod in plane toilet leads to Incident
Seen on BoingBong and on Schneier's blog.
Short version: http://xrl.us/q9ix
A suspicious package found in an aircraft washroom on a flight from
Chicago on Tuesday afternoon brought out Ottawa police canine and
bomb-disposal units.
A member of the crew found the package about 4 p.m.
The plane landed safely and was isolated away from the terminal.
Passengers were taken off the plane and questioned by police while
experts investigated the 'package.'
The airport was not closed during the three-hour incident.
Police issued a statement Tuesday evening saying the suspicious
package 'has been identified as an electronic devicde commonly
known as an iPod.' "
Long, funny version: http://xrl.us/q9iy
It all started when I got out of my seat to go to the bathroom. I
went to the bathroom, washed my hands, and returned to my seat. A
little while later the two stewardesses on the flight crossed each
other in the aisle. They had a quick conversation that I was in
earshot of.
"I locked off the front lav. There's something in the toilet that's
preventing it from flushing. Run some water and see if you can
clear it." My face immediately turned red. The seat cover! I
thought. It must have been too big to flush! I should have thrown
it out!
I was so embarrassed. I tried to act normal ... I took a sudden
interest in the contents of the seat pocket in front of me, acted
nonchalant and all. I watched as the stewardess got on her hands
and knees in the lavatory and did unfathomable dirty work.
Sometime later, I decided it would be best if I forgot the whole
thing happened, so I went to put on my headphones and drown myself
in iPod music. But ... no iPod. I panicked, checked my other
pockets. Where was it? Not under the seat, not in the pockets,
not ... anywhere. I looked up to the stewardesses. One of them had
run past me in a decent clip. She was carrying a green handbook.
She brought it to the other stewardess. They flipped through the
handbook, read a page, then made a call. The other stewardess had
retrieved a blue metal box and was removing some equipment from it.
I put two and two together. I knew what had happened.
So I walked up to the stewardesses, both clamoring over the
handbook, and tapped one on the shoulder.
"So, I had an iPod before I went to the bathroom, and now I don't.
I think I know what's in the toilet."
We had a quick conversation. I told them, "You don't have to call
the TSA or anything, it's just my iPod." They said, "Oh, but we
already did."
So now I'm starting to realize that this is turning into a big
problem. They offer their condolences, tell me that it's
unfortunate, and I take a seat. Okay. So far, not so bad. I return
to my seat and spend the rest of the flight trying to act normal.
That is, right up until the pilot comes over the intercom.
"Folks, this is the captain. I don't want to alarm you, but we've
found a suspicious device in the front lavatory. Now, we think it's
probably nothing, but in this day and age ... you can never be too
careful. We'll be landing at Ottawa, where we will await further
instructions."
The cabin erupted with commotion. At that very moment, my face fell
into my hands. What have I done?
continues at http://xrl.us/q9iy
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