Flying Prisoners?

[bensjamin]

Hi, I know that this isn't directly cruise related - but it is travel related. I flew from Chicago to LA today, and in addition to being on the same plane as Bernie Mac again - I had an interesting passenger next to me.

 

He was one of the last people to board the plane, and in addition to his ticket, I noticed he had a form in his hand that said something like "Prisoner Return Authorization," or "Prisoner Transportation Authorization."

 

I'm not sure what the exact wording was, but I definately saw "Prisoner" and "Authorization" with some word in the middle. Have any of you experienced anything like this, or know anything about it? He did not have a guard or anything!

[lvcruiser]

Sounds like he may have been a Federal Marshall on his way to picking someone up.

[TimmyII]

Bensjamin3 I have just retired after 30 years with the Harris County Sheriff's Department in Houston Texas. One of my duties was to return prisoners from other jurisdictions via aircraft. What you probably witnessed was a law enforcement officer enroute to pick up a prisoner and return him to the original demanding jurisdiction. While I have known some agency's to purchase a tickett and return an unescorted prisoner, my agency would never do so. The liability factor was way too great. The airlines really do frown on it also. If that was an officer escorting a prisoner, he would have been required to sit next to him/her, usually on the very last row of seats. Armed escorts are always boarded first with or without prisoners. That plane crew really wants to keep track of them for obvious reasons. If you have anymore questions reference this, let me know via this thread and I will try to answer them.

[Saymyname]

Hi, I know that this isn't directly cruise related - but it is travel related. I flew from Chicago to LA today, and in addition to being on the same plane as Bernie Mac again - I had an interesting passenger next to me.

 

He was one of the last people to board the plane, and in addition to his ticket, I noticed he had a form in his hand that said something like "Prisoner Return Authorization," or "Prisoner Transportation Authorization."

 

I'm not sure what the exact wording was, but I definately saw "Prisoner" and "Authorization" with some word in the middle. Have any of you experienced anything like this, or know anything about it? He did not have a guard or anything!

 

Prisoners are usually boarded first, handcuffed, with 2 guards.

[birdie16]

Prisoners are usually boarded first, handcuffed, with 2 guards.

Our airline would NEVER allow a prisoner travel without a law enforcement officer, usually two guards per prisoner. You should not even notice when a prisoner/guard is on board, it is all handled very discretely before you even board.

[bensjamin]

What you probably witnessed was a law enforcement officer enroute to pick up a prisoner and return him to the original demanding jurisdiction. While I have known some agency's to purchase a tickett and return an unescorted prisoner, my agency would never do so. The liability factor was way too great.

 

I think that this is probably what was going on, but still - seeing the words "Prisoner" and "Authorization" scared me a little. I was pretty sure that they wouldn't let a prisoner fly alone, but I was still a little surprised. And, it wasn't exactly the type of thing I would want to ask!

[Saymyname]

Our airline would NEVER allow a prisoner travel without a law enforcement officer, usually two guards per prisoner. You should not even notice when a prisoner/guard is on board, it is all handled very discretely before you even board.

 

Just checking? I think you were agreeing with my answer?

[TimmyII]

I will agree with birdie16 reference the Airlines discreet handling of prisoner transport. The F.A.A. and the Airlines have very strict rules and regulations reguarding this issue, with passenger safety given the foremost priority. I am not, for obvious reasons, going into the intricate details of those rules and regulations and how they are applied in various situations. As no two situations are alike, various applications of a rule may apply. The bottom line is the fact that the Captain of a particular flight has the last and final say so as to who does or does not board his/her aircraft.

[birdie16]

Yes I was...sorry I didn't mean to duplicate what you said, just offering my own experience as a flight attendant. I am still getting used to these boards...

[barbarajoy]

Did you try to strike up a conversation? You know, the usual airplane chit-chat: "Where are you from?" "Are you travelling for business or are you on vacation?" "Don't miss the article about Texas in the airline magazine." "How much time did you spend at the Crossbar Hotel?" "Do you have any violent tendencies?" etc.

[bensjamin]

haha, no conversation starters from my end. however, at the end of the flight he asked me about my iPod. He asked if it was an iPod. I was afraid his next sentence would be "Good, because its mine now."