[size=18]US man shot dead on Florida plane[/size]A passenger who claimed to have a bomb on board an American Airlines plane in Miami was shot dead by a US federal officer, government officials say.
The 44-year-old US citizen was shot after fleeing an air marshal and then reaching into his bag. Reports say no device has yet been found.
Flight 924 had just arrived from Colombia, and was headed to Orlando.
It is the first time since the attacks of 11 September 2001 that a US air marshal has shot at a passenger.
The US dramatically increased the number of air marshals on flights after the 2001 attacks.
[b]'Appropriate action'[/b]
The shooting occurred shortly after 1400 (1900 GMT) as the plane was about to take off for Orlando after about two hours on the ground at Miami International Airport.
A spokesman for the homeland security department said the passenger indicated during the flight that there was a bomb in a carry-on bag and upon landing immediately exited the aircraft through the walkway between the plane and the airport terminal.
Air marshals pursued and ordered the passenger to get down on the ground.
"The passenger then reached into his carry-on bag, at which point, consistent with air marshal training, the air marshals took the appropriate actions. Shots were fired as the team attempted to subdue the subject," the spokesman said.
Airline spokesman Tim Wagner said he did not know whether or not the passenger had been on the plane and was getting off, or was starting to board the aircraft.
A witness told local television that the man frantically ran down the aisle of the Boeing 757 and that a woman with him said he was mentally ill.
Television images showed police and emergency response officers surrounding the plane after the incident.
Later, investigators spread passengers' bags on the tarmac as sniffer dogs checked them for explosives.
[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4508432.stm]BBC News[/url]
US man shot dead on Florida plane
Published by You on 7 December, 2005 - 23:26
Sad story.
Apparently the man had a history of mental disorders.
His wife told the airmarshals that he was not carrying anything, but was mentally unstable.
He tried running off the plane after claiming there was a bomb scare.
the initial story as claimed above has not been chagned to something more confused. He may even have left the plae by the time he was shot.
I have no idea if the Air marshalls could haev done anything diferent.
But shoot first, think later does not seem to be working.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.