AirTran Apologizes to Muslim Passengers

Security Procedure or Unfair Profiling?

The airline said that the steps taken to remove the family were necessary for security.

Nine Muslim passengers were kicked off a flight from Washington, D.C., to Florida after other...

Nine Muslim passengers were kicked off a flight from Washington, D.C., to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security. AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson called the incident on the New Year's Day flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, Fla. a misunderstanding, but defended the company's response. He said the airline followed federal rules and did nothing wrong.

(Getty Images/ABC)

"Particularly in today's environment, especially after 9/11, I think they're going to err on the side of beyond where they probably should," said Brad Garrett, a former FBI agent.

The FBI got involved and quickly determined the incident was just a "misunderstanding."

When the families tried to rebook a flight to Orlando on Thursday, AirTran initially refused, saying it had not been notified by the FBI that the passengers were cleared to fly. But with the help of an FBI agent, the families were able to get on another flight to Orlando on another airline -- for twice the price.

AirTran Airways apologized Friday to the families -- all U.S.-born American citizens -- and offered a refund of any additional costs for the families' tickets, as well as a free flight home to Washington.

"We apologize to all of the passengers -- to the nine who had to undergo extensive interviews from the authorities and to the 95 who ultimately made the flight," the statement said. "Nobody on Flight 175 reached their destination on time on New Year's Day, and we regret it."

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In a statement, the TSA backed the airline's decision, calling security a "shared responsibility" for pilot, crew and passengers.

"We support the pilot in command in making decisions he or she believes is in the best interest of those onboard the aircraft," said the statement on the TSA Web site. "TSA counts a vigilant traveling public as an important layer of security and continues to encourage passengers to be alert and report suspicious activity."

While everyone involved now agrees this was just a misunderstanding, the incident points out the level of fear among the flying public -- a fear of Muslims in traditional appearance.

It raises new questions about airport security and whether this was proper procedure or unfair profiling against Muslims. It also stems from the fact that no one in the security business wants to take any chances.

"Once somebody makes an allegation," Garrett said of security stipulations, "[officials] have to go through x number of steps -- 10 steps, 15 steps -- even though maybe in their own mind, probably the air marshals in this case probably thought ... 'This isn't much of anything'. ... But because it was brought to light, then these rules kick in."