Woman Sues Over 2006 Airport Incident
Woman Sues Over 2006 Airport Incident Save Email Print
Posted: 3:49 PM Sep 4, 2008
Last Updated: 3:49 PM Sep 4, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A Pakistan native barred from boarding a US Airways flight at Huntington's Tri-State Airport two years ago is suing the airline.

Rima Qayyum is a former Huntington resident who now lives in Jackson, Mich. She alleges her constitutional and civil rights were violated.

Qayyum was detained in August 2006 while waiting to board a flight to Charlotte, N.C., because she had face cream and a water bottle.

U.S. authorities had banned the carrying of liquids onto flights a week before.

The lawsuit was filed last month in U.S. District Court in Huntington. It alleges Qayyum was targeted because of her ethnicity.

While an initial airport test found traces of an explosive, a lab test of the items was negative.

A spokeswoman for Arizona-based US Airways declined comment Thursday.

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Posted by: TERRY on Sep 7, 2008 at 02:57 PM
I hope she sue for everything they have and forces the airline and the airport in bankrupty.

Posted by: Foxy on Sep 7, 2008 at 08:17 AM
DEPORT HER AND ALL OF HER KIND.....THEY COME TO THE USA AND WANT TO RUN IT. NO JESUS, NO PRAYERS; CAUSE IT OFFENDS THEM..GET THE HECK OUT OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FACES. YOU CAN NOT USE AMERICAN SPEECH THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE? UH...FOR THE FREE HANDOUTS..WE ARE GOOD ABOUT THAT...FEED EVERYONE BUT OUR OWN. SEND ALL OF THE ALIENS PACKING, THEN WE CAN GET A GRIP ON THE DRUG PROBLEMS. AMERICAN DOCTORS IS WHAT WE NEED. NOT A DOCTOR THAT TELLS YOU A 2 YR OLD ONLY NEEDS A HALF A CUP OF MILK A DAY. THAT IS HALF A CUP NOT WHOLE CUP.

Posted by: Sick on Sep 6, 2008 at 10:55 PM
She needs to go back where she came from and stay there until she learns the laws of the US Airlines. when they say no liquids...they mean no liquids and it doesn't matter who you are. They would have taken the same liquid from my 90 year old, grey-haired grandmother! I guess living off of their green cards and paying zero in government taxes isn't enough. I think the towel is wrapped on her head too tight or the dye from the red dot has finally soaked in and damaged her brain. She doesn't deserve any money! If anything she deserved to be laughed at for trying to play the race card because she didn't get what she wanted. I'm so sick of foreigners coming to American and then thinking Americans owe them something. They owe us for all the crappy doctors they've sent over here!

Posted by: Tim on Sep 6, 2008 at 05:39 PM
She violated newer safety rules that everyone has to follow. They inconvenience everyone, but they're there for a reason. There's nothing discriminatory about it. Letting her get special treatment and money for the incident because of her background would be racist and morally wrong.

Posted by: Local_Yocal on Sep 6, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I remember this happening back in 2006. The local media did a lousy job at reporting the full story and follow-up, but did a great job as always with presenting a one-sided pidgeon-holed opinion. This woman was detained for over 14 hours..and in the words of the late great Benjamin Franklin -"Anyone who sacrifices Liberty for security deserves neither." - OR - in the words of Aaron Russo -"If 40-180 Americans were confronted by 4 hijackers with boxcutters, they would have beaten them to death with their luggage." - anything that comes across my television is only to be considered entertainment. Stop acting like you know everything and get off your butt and actually do some research... this goes for the media as well. I think you will be quite shocked.

Posted by: patriot on Sep 6, 2008 at 07:57 AM
The items this woman had set off machines at the airport that detect explosives, and the state police brought in dogs that identified these items as explosives also. This woman was not singled out she went through random screening just like every one else. Terrorists try to see what they can get by with at what airports this may be the case. They could have been testing the waters at tri state airport. And now they see an opportunity to sue and get more money for bad things. This law suit shouldnt even make it past a judge. I feel better knowing the screeners at TSA are doing their jobs and are making flying much safer. Iam sure this woman has failed to mention about the machines then the dogs that identified this stuff to begin with, wich prompted her problems. something had to have at least been on the bottles to set off those machines and the bomb sniffing dogs!! But what?

Posted by: Me on Sep 6, 2008 at 05:13 AM
This woman just wants money..I hope she goes back to Pakistan,and stays there.

Posted by: To: Of Course! on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:25 PM on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:37 PM
I have to agree with you. YOu are exactly right. Maybe she can't read ENGLISH!

Posted by: LOL on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:34 PM
To:concerned on Sep 5, 2008 at 08:25 AM.. Maybe you should learn how to spell. You may learn that in English. HAHA!

Posted by: MrObvious on Sep 5, 2008 at 07:57 PM
It does not matter if I know any muslims. It is accepted that only about 10% of muslims are terrorists. Unfortunately, the other 90% never say a peep to denounce the bad 10%. Thus, if you cannot root out the bad apples amongst your group, you will all be labeled as "suspicious". That is the only way we can prevent another 9/11. If and when the good muslims start reporting on the bad muslims, then I will begin to respect them and their religion. Otherwise, I have no desire to befriend them. They have the power to change that by actions and words. They know who in their families is involved in terrorism. They have access to a phone. The only thing I can take from their silence is that they condone the terrorists in private then pay lip service by every now and then saying that they do not. I am an American, I will not have outsiders coming here and bringing their jihad. Since the security crackdown, they have been testing small airports. Wake up people, not all of them are innocent.

Posted by: MrObvious on Sep 5, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Alot about this incident has not had much press coverage. It is almost like they are afraid of offending a muslim. I am not anti-muslim. What I am is American. When you call people like me racist because we decry muslims that come over here to our country and refuse to abide by our rules and customs then you are part of the problem. This is America, not little Middle East. The call to prayer is fine in Dearborn MI as long as a Christian Church is also allowed to have its bells chiming. That is not what is happening in Dearborn, Christian Churches are being silenced. A swab test and an explosives dog BOTH confirmed a positive test for explosives on or in her luggage. The containers she had were not the original containers the products came in. This was clearly a security test and she was a pawn. Wake up people, not all muslims are peacefull just as not all are terrorists. But some are terrorists and if you bury your head in the sand, they may just bury the rest of you.

Posted by: Of Course! on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Let the liberals rally round! Why can't people just take respons. for their actions. Everyone's so quick to hire a lawyer and milk the system for all it's worth. This woman suing should be a reflection on the type of person she is. She, KNOWINGLY, attempted to board a plane with prohibited items that were plainly listed on the airport site, at the airport, and all over the media! She was obviously from Pakistani decent and was carrying, what could be construed as, bomb making materials. Materials that were CLEARLY prohibited. Call it profiling, but I'm sorry. I don't know anyone who hand picked the terrorists so stop blaming MY PEOPLE for trying to be safe. She needs to close her mouth, and wallet(which I'm sure she's hoping to fill with this lawsuit), and take responsibility for her stupid actions. What would have happened to her in her own country if she would have ignored a gov. law? I'm sure she could have been stoned to death. She should be grateful she's allowed to live here!

Posted by: Danyeal on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:59 PM
The amount of racism in these comments saddens me. Hate is for the weakminded. Evolve.

Posted by: JD on Sep 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM
the airport security are a bunch of idiots. ive had my problems with them also. mr obvious you sound like the biggest idiot of them all. do you actually know any muslims? you are very paranoid. i guess the government propaganda worked on you. they are normal people like you. wv has no clue on civil rights. out of the world muslim population less than 1% have any terrorist affiliation. it took less than 20 people to put 9/11 together. so you want to critisize a whole group of millions of muslims for acts committed by 50 or even 100 people? what if the mexicans and cubans invaded texas with a full military stike? would we fight or just let them have it? we would fight for it just like the muslims are fighting for their lands. they do not want other countries militaries in their own land. its almost that simple. who cares about the prayer call in dearborn? it is still a free country right? for the uneducated, muslims and christians worship the same god, just diff prophets.

Posted by: t. adkins on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:53 AM
a true american would not have been offended by our security and would have understood, how would they treat me in her country?

Posted by: Resident on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:14 AM
MrObvious is right about Dearborn. I went trucking with my husband for a week this summer and he had a load that delivered in Dearborn. I thought I was in another country and it was very startling. My Operation Iraqi Freedom shirt didn't go over well with the locals either.

Posted by: concerned on Sep 5, 2008 at 08:25 AM
As I look thru this post all I see is a bunch of prejudice and persication. No I don't think this woman should sue for having banned items and being detained. I don't think she should suffer the persicution I see in this post either. Yes she is Pakastani. Maybe she wears a head covering as part of her religion. SO??? I was under the idea that our great country was formed on the fact that people are free to worship any religion without persicution. I was also under the impression that this great country was a melting pot of races and religions. My own family back ground is Irish and Macadonian. I am proud of my heritage and my country, the great and wonderful United States of America. Unfortunatly when I see some of the comments posted below it makes me want to cry and apoligize for all the stupid people who make up the population of this country. But then again freedom of speach is also 1 of our rights too.

Posted by: Bryan on Sep 5, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Award her a free one way airline ticket to her homeland for any inconvenience the U.S.A. has caused her. Hell, I'd pay for it if she wouldn't be allowed to return. GOD bless the U.S.A.

Posted by: MrObvious on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:17 AM
This was a test of security where the bottles were carrying ordinary items. Then, a person that has handled explosives places them into the bags for her. When the initial swab and the explosive detection dog both detect explosives, she was detained. Then, the definitive test of the contents comes back negative. It is simply a way for the terrorists to try and test our defenses. Also, they can scream racism. It is curious that after this happened, this lady immediately went to Michigan, which has become a place where terrorists are quietely building up their numbers so that they can attack us from within. In Dearborn, they play the call to prayer over loudspeakers so that they can pray to mecca but will not allow Christian Churches to have bells. It is sad that we are letting this happen.

Posted by: LOL! on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:48 PM
LOL well, it does say they banned liquids from being carried on a week before. Which means, NO LIQUIDS! Sorry you're from Pakistan! Learn some ENGLISH & read the RULES! I also have to agree with Bryan. I can stand that face covered, they look like bank robbers!

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I would award her 3 goats and a sack of flour.

Posted by: Bryan on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:21 PM
She can sleep safely at night in the comfort of a free nation paid for with the blood of brave Americans. Welcome to the U.S.A. Uncover your face, look up at the sky, and smile. You have these rights and you had to do was miss a flight.

Posted by: what? on Sep 4, 2008 at 09:14 PM
If this was banned before she tried to board the plaine then she shouldn't have the right to sue anyone, If it had been anyone else they would have been detained also because it was banned

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 08:51 PM
it wouldnt happened if she didnt bring it on ugh its annoying to see talibans do this. Two things i cant stand is racial profiling and arabs on a plane.

Posted by: annoymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 06:46 PM
To annoymous at 4:05 p.m. If you have insurance, you are being "judged" every day without the benefit of them knowing you. Your premiums or rates are based on data that is compiled to profile you in a large group, not as an individual. Age, gender, where you reside, etc. are all taken into account when determining what you will pay. When people argue the point that profiling is somehow wrong, I always think of insurance companies and how they have become one gigantic profiling industry and have the blessings of government. State law prohibits you from driving without insurance and the providers of insurance are privately owned.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 06:43 PM
I agree with anon at 5:00. Her family would have sued if the airlines had let someone else carry on explosives in a water bottle.

Posted by: What? on Sep 4, 2008 at 05:28 PM
At the end of the day, you are responsible for knowing what is lawful and what is not. It appears that our good Pakistan native failed to inform herself of our laws. I would suggest she either drop the BS lawsuit or ICE will draft up the appropriate deportation paperwork to send her back the the cave next to the Bin Laden clan.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 05:00 PM
"Qayyum was detained in August 2006 while waiting to board a flight to Charlotte, N.C., because she had face cream and a water bottle. U.S. authorities had banned the carrying of liquids onto flights a week before." Maybe she was targeted for breaking the law.

Posted by: Voter on Sep 4, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Let her sue, she is wasting her time. People who travel on airlines need to know the rules. If I'm not mistaken, she was traveling with another Pakistani woman and they were both suspicious. She can stay in Michigan for all I care too.

Posted by: anon-1 on Sep 4, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I'm glad she is suing. I would have been angry if that were to happen to me. It would suck to live day to day with people judging you without knowing you.

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  • Posted By: git is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, to be offended by the word "Holiday", this all comes from you bible thumpers that all want to tell other people how to think and what to say. You offend me! This is the Holidays! Even 50 years ago before all this ridiculous crap started, cards said Happy Holidays, because it covered Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, it is the Holiday Season! So Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays Y'all!
  • Posted By: to Lady A:The "holiday" season also encompasses Hanukkah, a major holiday for those of us who follow the Jewish faith. We also give gifts and do "holiday" shopping this season; thankfully WSAZ is less ignorant than you are and recognizes that their viewership reflects more than one faith.
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  • Posted By: Christian not offendedOk there Lady A, just slow down a minute. Huntingtonian made a good point. Have you ever heard of Hanukah? Some people shop for Hanukah. Jesus was Jewish, so don't tell me that being a Jew is a sin, & Christmas is THE ONLY HOLIDAY this time of year. Yes, I too love to hear MERRY CHRISTMAS, but I refuse to become upset when someone says happy holidays. How do you know if when you say MERRY CHRISTMAS to someone, your not saying it to a Jewish person? Do you ever hear them make a big fat stink about it? NO!!!, you don't. So I think you should just be happy that God has given you another day on this Earth. So that you have the time to celebrate, with your family, whatever holiday you choose. I've decided to say HAPPY MERRY KWANZ~MA~KA that way I've covered them all.
  • Posted By: PatMuch like New Coke and the new Marco I think you've made a mistake with the new web pagedesign. I don't use Yahoo because the site is too cluttered and I feel the same about your new page. More is not necessarily better!
  • Posted By: AriIt is CHRISTMAS it is the time we celebrate Christ being born, not Kwanzza or Hanukah. Kwanzza is racist anyways it's a celebration of being black. I have no problem with people saying Happy whatever it is but I am NOT going to watch what i say and not say Marry Christmas becasue it might offend people
  • Posted By: LadyA`The question was, Did you do any Holiday shopping over the weekend? The shopping they were referring was Christmas shopping. What other holiday shopping would we be doing? Thanksgiving was over. It offended me like many others. It is the Christmas season and I want to see the word Christmas used, not holiday or xmas.
  • Posted By: HuntingtonianI agree with Anonymous!! It is the "holiday season" and by definition, it encompasses all of the holidays that are coming, not just Christmas. I also am a christian and see something inherintly wrong with pigeon holing this time of year to simply "Merry Christmas." What I find really offensive is those of you who believe that it is ok to say "Christmas" but would be outraged if "Happy Kwanza" or "Happy Hanukah" appeared anywhere. So, that being said: HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a JOYOUS NEW YEAR to all!!
  • Posted By: Holiday is in referance to ALL holidays this time of year. I have been saying Happy Holidays since I was a kid, growing up during the 80's. Christmas is not the only holiday this time of year. We did just celebrate Thanksgiving, remember. I am a Christian, that is not offended by the phrase HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
  • Posted By: annI agree with ladyA its CHRISTMAS
  • Posted By: LadyAWSAZ- Could you please change the word Holiday to Christmas on your question? The word Holiday offends me.
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