iPod in plane toilet leads to Incident

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Meng Weng Wong <mengwong () pobox com>
Date: August 26, 2006 2:09:23 AM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Cc: Meng Weng Wong <mengwong () pobox com>
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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