Saturday, August 14, 2010

Slow Saturday Special: Big Old Jet Airliner

It didn't take them too far away!

"3 youths take impromptu flight to Tenn." by Associated Press | August 14, 2010

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bored on a hot summer day, three Florida youngsters were just sitting around when one sent a text message to another with an adventurous idea.

“Hey do you want to go 2 Tennessee today,’’ the message read.

“Sure,’’ the other responded.

Not even old enough to have a driver’s license, they took a taxi to the airport Tuesday, bought tickets with baby-sitting money, and — unbeknownst to their parents — the three (ages 15, 13, and 11) boarded a Southwest Airlines flight from Jacksonville to Nashville, according to a TV news account of the incident.

Nobody asked a question. Nobody asked for identification.

So when they landed in Nashville with just $40 and their destination, Dollywood, still miles away, they finally called home.

The jig was up.

“I just wanted to fly,’’ 15-year-old Bridget Brown told WJXX-TV in Jacksonville. “I had the money.’’

Now their parents are wondering how the trip was possible....

The Transportation Security Administration does not require anyone under age 18 to show identification....

Boy, did "Al-CIA-Duh" ever blow an opportunity, huh?

In an age of heightened security, some are concerned that three youngsters could so easily board an airplane....

--more--"