Let's just not allow anything onboard and put an end to this nonsense.

It is starting to get really bad out there. I have read of terrorist acts in different parts of the world via tv and newspaper.Personally,I believe that we should beef up security everywhere,airports,malls,anywhere there is an abundance of people.

There was a time when being claustrophobic and drinking water was just part of flying the unfriendly skies. Nowadays, you're automatically branded a terrorist. Don't try to complain about problems on the flight, though. Sounds like some flight attendants were having a bad day.

do we have any screening equipment for people who are JUST DOWNRIGHT STUPID? UGH!

Wow, so much for the land of the brave. Has the entire country gone crazy and descended into paranoia?

Fear! Fear! Fear!

Good God, has fear clouded our judgment so much that we can't use a few critical thinking brain cells before diverting an entire airplane over a 47 year-old clostrophobic woman with a jar of *petroleum jelly*.

this is just sad. A 48 year old Vermont woman with a jar of Vaseline and a bottle of water results in a plane being diverted with fighter jet escorts?! Oh, and "literature in a foreign language"! What the hell is wrong with us?

It seems that we are getting a little carried away. I am very much for protecting our country and our loved ones that reside in it and abroad. But, come on if we're going to suspect someone everytime he/she has a bottle of water on an airplane or a tube of lip gloss..........we're going to turn into a country who believes guilty before innocent. That is not right! I feel the airline industry can not continue in this direction, otherwise I believe they will lose a lot of passengers to trains, buses, cars, etc. I hope that one day we can all live in peace, but for now can't they find a better way to control the safety of the airlines??

Life is too short to worry about every nutcase that needs attention. Why is this woman headline news? Move along, people, there's nothing to see here.

Threatening to pee in a sink while in posession of Vaseline does not a terrorist make. Fear has made us completely lose OUR minds.

Fighter planes?

You mean we actually burned jet fuel for this lady? I mean, what happens if someone brings aboard a particularly deadly-looking spork and threatens to poop in a doggie bag? Will that one get AWACS support?

It sounds like the author is trying to influence opinion of the reader that this woman is a terrorist by mentioning she had a document written in a foreign language. This statement has nothing to do with the story if the contents of the document are not known. The average reader's thoughts are driven to believe that this woman is a terrorist by the author using the phrase, "extremist nature" to describe the document of which it is also stated nothing is known about it. While some people catch this as an attempt to control our minds, most do not notice and allow thier thoughts to gravitate towards the intended influence. The media knows exactly what they are doing, but they don't care because certain people within the organization are enjoying the many perks associated with working for those in power, even if it means many people are being hurt by their actions. I hope they realize that life is short, and they will have to answer for greed once its over.

All this, and STILL there are people without homes in New Orleans. The USA is probably the laughingstock of the world.

Terrorist scare? oh please.. why is everything a terrorist scare with americans?. the US government and media just love to frighten the hell out of it's citizens about terrorism, its overrated

I'm just wondering why there were no Air Marshals on board this flight to stop this kind of thing from happening...

While we are focusing on airplanes our enemys are progressing in other areas such as foreign owned motels, gas stations and convenient stores. Also, if they can create a bomb out of common used products, Ban it from the airplanes!!! IF you are stupid enough to go anainst that regulation and jeopordise everyone, you should automatically be banned from air travel.

TERRORISTS WIN AGAIN................

Take this report off your site! It is innacurate and your news is quite biased

The remedy for terrorism is to stop being afraid. After decades being ruled by dictators and having foreign countries using their homeland as a battleground and , the terrorists are unafraid. They have nothing to live for except the virgins and martyrs of their imagined paradise. We, on the other hand, live in the paradise they imagine and our fear of losing it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Now let's see... the definition of a terrorist is one who want's their victims to feel terror....

And with the terror, let's throw in a little paranoia.

Yup, they're accomplishing what they set out to do.

Let's get real!!

Until ALL the facts are in, we
don't know the degree of threat or the innocence of this woman. Better to er on the side of caution than to have lives lost. One wonders how quiet the critics would be if nothing was done and the latter occurred?

Hmmm... I think i'm going to move to australia. The aussies just gave a warning to any Islam Sharia extremists to get out of their country and for all the foreigners to learn english. Sounds like my kind of place

This lady is very stupid. Does she know that she was not supposed to bring that stuff on the airplane. The news are all over the world. People are always have to follow the policy at the airport. The policy always have to keep that way forever. We are American tending to forget it easy and quick. Did we all learn anything about 9/11? People seem forget it so fast. If we are stopping hunting the terrorist so what will happen to this country.

We are too spoiling in America. Don't forget that we are very lucky to be here.

The terrorists are winning. They are making people so terrified of flying that people will stop booking flights altogether. The airlines are already in enough trouble. This paranoia is not helping. The whole air travel situation is out of hand.

Oh geez. Why didn't they just do like I do with my toddler...go ahead, there's the floor, pitch your fit. We'll talk when you're done. She was certainly given a lot of power with her tantrum.

I think this whole terriorest crap is bogus just because 9/11 happened now they are taking away our right to take our personal hygiene supplies with us on our trip that just sucks terrorably.

So it was written in a foreign language...yikes...anything but English is now potentially terrorist material? Come on. For all we know she had printed out passages of The Illiad in the original Greek.

Yes, let's continue to use fear to control the US population.

I didn't know that threatening to urinate in a sink was a terroristic act.
I am surprised that Homeland Security has not perform color analysis of her urine and raised the treat level to the appropriate level (yellow).
Another issue that surprised me was that they found petroleum jelly in her position and Exxon, Texaco, BP, and the rest did not raise the gas price. What’s up with that?
Missed opportunities for gas companies.

It's time to start racial profiling. The next time I see a Middle-Easterner with vaseline, water and Scope on board, he's getting beat down. Not too afraid of them as they usually only weigh about a buck twenty or so and I figure the average Scandinavian-American can handle 2 or 3 of them. Speak unbroken,unaccented English or get out of my country.

the extremists have won already. this is exactly the kind of paranoia they want from us. everybody's acting jumpy and ready to shoot first, ask questions later. and of course, the media is ready to jump on this, hype it up, scare everyone just to get more readers and justify special powers for bush. land of the free, home of the brave indeed.

Hmm. I can see where London flight crews get a little skittish w/cranky passengers this week. I can even see where it's a big story to ABC and the rest of the gang on a Slow News Day (plane from London gets diverted - yeah, that's news).

But "Security Scare?" That's pushing it a bit. Judging by the comments of others above, no one seems that scared by this. Ah, sensationalism! C'mon, ABC!

Most of these comments would not have be made if the plane had blown up. That she was a 47 year old woman from Vermont was discovered after the fact! Better safe than sorry.

So does this mean United will charge the remaining passengers for the rest of the flight from Boston to Washington like the way they charged customers the extra fee last Friday for overweight check in baggage due to the extra security?

After being herded through long ineffective security checks and have valuables stolen from checked bags by unscreened "baggage checkers", one is crammed into more seats than the planes were ever designed for. But if you complain about no leg room, no service, or just being treated as a terror threat instead of a highly paying customer, WARPLANES will divert your plane and do MORE security checks.
And to ABC News, the comments about the literature are embarrassing journalism. If it is "unclear if it is extremist" than it is also unclear if it is a cheesecake recipe. I expect journalists to question events, not to lead on suspicious minds without substance.

Are you kidding me? Who is hard up in the news department? Should every premenopausal woman who might be a little on the dry side need to worry about being taken down by fighter jets? As if menopause isn't bad enough. You haven't seen war if you interrupt the last flow she has left.

oh come on! I believe that we should be more aware, that American has always had its arms open, leaving our behinds unprotected, but give the lady the break. She knows the rules, regulations and paranoia that abounds. I would rather be a little inconvienenced and be alive.

On a flight from London (where the terrorist plot was foiled) to DC (a major target in the US), the flight crew had to take any irregular behavior seriously. When objects that have clearly been banned from airplanes are spotted on the plane, they cannot ignore it... I think they did the right thing and potentially saved many lives. Better safe than sorry.

It's unfortunate that this happened, however if I was a terrorist I'd worry just a little bit more that I would be caught, if not before I boarded, then during the flight. Personally I'm glad that she was identified as a potential terrorist and that the story has received national attention. Kudos to the vigilance of the flight attendants and the implementation of emergency procedures after the incident.

Uh oh!!! Homeland security is now going to ban literature in foreign languages.... This is just plain stupid on the airlines part. Let's accept the fact that the woman had a disorder and needed to be calmed down or worse case restained. No reason to divert the flight for that... just give a valium or a few drinks, that always does the trick.

When things like this happens, it means one thing - the terrorists are winning...

I think the woman just wanted to go to Boston. Oh, and what was the purpose of mentioning she was wearing a "college sweatshirt". I love journalism!!

Open a jar of petroleum jelly and get a fighter escort?! Must be Dick Cheney's idea.

I have Vaseline, and I'm not afraid to use it!

Gimme a break.

Let's see. What I derived from this article was that this whole incident happened because upon claiming to be "claustrophobic", the woman started acting "aggressively". We're all adults here to know that in today's world, you can't act aggressively on an airplane - period. Everyone is running scared (and rightfully so), so why do ANYTHING to add fuel to the fires of paranoia? Had she have been a "real" terrorist and had our government not taken steps to show (F16's) that they were aware and ready to do what they needed to do, then people would be screaming about that too. I guess you can't please everyone. This may (in hindsight) have been an overreaction to the situation but given the current climate, it's better to err on the side of caution than to do nothing at all. I listened to the new 911 tapes today and I say "overreact" if you have to. I don't want to ever find myself on that side of the line pleading for my life because of a terorist act.
Perhaps the terrorist are banking on us deciding that we can't overreact and will pounce upon the first lax opportunity they are given, which in light of the noted responses, should be realively soon.

This is the most overblown reaction I have seen to date. What ever happend to "common sense". I think you reporting is biased and is meant to foster fear in the populas.The more afraid the people are, the easier it is for them to give up their freedom.

You will now no longer be allowed to bring urine with you onboard an aircraft. This nation has become unhinged. Not to mention the fact that we always wratchet up the security AFTER a terror plot is broken up and all/most of the conspirators caught. It's like the saying about fighting yesterday's war... but worse.

Excuse me...How did matches and petroleum jelly get on board with all of these restrictions that are supposed to be enforced?
Also, why would a woman who knows that she is clausaphobic put herself on a plane?
Terrorist plot? Probably not. Overreaction? The pilot and crew felt in danger enough to wish to divert. Let us not judge unless you were in their shoes.

Funny how those who complain about fear believe the government / airlines / train attendants / bus drivers /truck drivers and such all know exactly what a terrorist looks like (like they were a t-shirt - I'm a terrorist) and should suspect no one. If one acts crazy on a flight, should not they be responsible for their own actions? Get a grip, be responsible.

This women caused a disturbance on a plane when the airline industry is particularly vigilant (and on a flight from London to the U.S., no less). I believe the right action was taken -- what if the authorities had chosen to blow it off like the people on this board wanted, and the plane went down? Then they would have asked where security was, and likely, found a way to blame it on Bush. The price of the lives on the plane is worth far more than inconvenience or the cost of jel fuel, for God's sake. Nobody can win with you people.

Enough already!! Why didn't they just take away her matches and petroleum jelly, restrict her to her seat under constant surveilance, and procede to their destination??

Ever since this incident in Britian happened, I think the airlines in the U.S are going a little overboard with the items we are allowed to bring onboard. Now, this silly incident with the woman who wants to urinate in the sink? There is more important news in the world!!

Ok this insident clearly shows what we need - just go to Washington and tear-up our Constitution and Bill-of-Rights. No more innocent until PROVEN gilty - let's just let the media and panicking extremist in our society have the control they are trying to take while the rest of us just stick our head in the sand while saying - "I'de rather be safe than sorry".

Now on your other story item -- I am all for burning braws and the idea that you can not wear a braw with jell is just one step away from saying that the jell implants must go also.

I think the FAA, TSA, FBI, HLS, UAL, CNN, FOX, and NBC had the panic attack.

We are going to maybe see a day where there will be no such thing as "carry-ons", and maybe that is what should be considered. We need to keep U.S. citizens save. Perhaps putting all luggage on one plane and passengers on another, meeting at the destination. Who will fly the luggage planes?? Our world/lives will never be the same after 9/11, and because of that, terrorists are winning!!!

the world knows the US is off it's rocker. If they don't know just read our newspapers. that should make a believer out of them.

And if she was a terrorist acting as a bonafied nut and the plane blew up then what would you'all say? I pay enuf taxes to cover this and everything else good/bad/ugly/stupid that this country does--so be it!

Has it ever occur to anyone that this woman may be behaving weird to devert attention away from a possible terroist. Think about it!!

We've become gun shy, fear of being politically incorrect, fear of making a error, fear of accusing anyone, fear of law suits, fear of getting involved, fear of loosing a job, fear of being labeled, fear of bodily harm, fear of bias judgment. So we cover all bases, and go to extremes.

i say we all do what the folks of south park did. Did holes the size of a human cranium and stick our collective heads in the earth until the world calms itself back to when clinton was president. or.....amend the laws so that we can reelect Clinton because apparently, the "terrorists" didn't have too much of a beef with him.

I don't mind waiting and I won't be offended if questioned. I think the politics of it all and our legal system...and worrying about being politically correct and discrimination......is getting in the way of our security. I say do what you have to do to protect us....I'm not too worried about inconvenience or discomfort....because if we don't watch it....we will be living like the 3rd world countries too and sooner than we think....everyone needs to stop whining and complaining. If you even so much as look like a terrorist, you should be the first to be questioned.

I agree! Bill Clinton '08!

Had this lame-brained lady had the decency and common sense to explain to the flight crew that she suffers from claustrophobia and might react during flight this whole nasty incident might have been avoided. Instead she caused a furor, stressed the flight crew, put additional pressure on the pilots, inconvenienced her fellow passengers and wasted as lot of time and money. For her efforts she should be placed at the top of the "Do Not Fly" list and be sent a big fat bill from the government.

Sounds like the airline personell and DHS are doing exactly what they are trained to do: ensure our safty in the air. It also appears they are doing a great job in light of no serious incidents since 9/11. As for the "cry babies" who don't want to be in convenienced; I wonder if they think everone who is stopped or arrested by law enforcement are in prison. Sometime inocent people are inconvenienced in the persuit of the truly criminal. Suck it up. You are the first to complain about not being protected when something bad happens.

Well i think that they did the right thing ,for god sake who would want to take the chance and i,m sure it put alot of fear into the other passengers, yes she was a brainless idiot for doing this on the plane and she needs dealing with.
Glorified journilism it may be but i,m sure i wouldnt have wanted it any other way if i was on that plane.

A UK READER

You know where this is going? Soon we will all have to dress in airline-issued clothing, drink airline-issued water all the while our luggage and any personal "carry-ons" will be flying on another plane.

I find it interesting that all these people are posting how ridiculous this event was and that we have gone too far and are paranoid. Wasn't it just last week that terrorist threats were discovered AND thwarted by authorities? I say good job to all that are keeping us safe. I wonder how these people complaining would feel if they were on a plane that was brought down because of something placed in a jar of petrolium jelly? The pilot and aviation were correct in landing the plane in Boston, they were looking out for the other passengers aboard. I would guess if the passengers were asked, they would be thankful for the airlines decision to look out for their safety above all else. Isn't there an old saying..BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!! Did we not learn what dangers are out there for all those that hate Americans.
Good job to all involved in helping make our skies safe.

The media should be ashamed of themselves. Their reporting is not about seeking out the facts and "reporting" them, but more about sensationalism. The news channels have become an outlet for whatever an "expert" wants to speculate about, or irresponsible reporting of items that did not exist. It is not okay to indicate that an American citizen had intentionally smuggled contriband onboard, just to get viewers. It is inflamitory and disgraceful. The terrorists of the world have won credit for this and had nothing to do with it. We cause our own fear.

Give 'er the chair!

First off, whoever said something about homes in New Orleans... who cares, the idiots in New Orleans should know they are living below sea level and not live there and/or have the proper insurance to cover the lost homes... Stupid is as Stupid does... I don't feel for stupid people... since when is my responsibility to pay for stupd peoples mistakes (did they add this to the Bill of Rights or Constitution when I wasnt' looking ?)

As for this lady, she was stupid to... I think a smack in the head to knock her out and then duck tape her in the bathroom until landing would have worked just as well...

Let's completely change the way sir travel is done. Fly passengers and cargo on two separate planes. Passenger planes can only carry passengers- no luggage. Cargo planes will carry the luggage and can then utilize solar powered/radio controlled airplanes, because while I am not crazy about risking my life with a solar powered/radio controlled plan (no pilot)I do not have qualms about putting my luggage on there.

This will reduce security tensions by minimizing what needs to be screened on passenger planes, utilize economical means for transportation, and nip the terrorist one tactic in the behind.

Everyone thinks we're getting paranoid and crazy.... till someone blows a plane up with an innocent looking bottle of toothpaste. Then the cry "where was the government when we needed them!" will fill the air. Just goes to show you no matter what happens, someone will whine about it. –as I point my finger at all the whiners on this page.

We need to remove "Home Of The Brave" from our national anthem. Our country has become a nation of cowards and bigots. Just say "BOO" and the mighty USA will scramble jetfighters and kill a hundred innocent women and kids to get that suspected terrorist.

This is what happens when a bunch of clueless lawmakers accepted the Patriot Act which was written well before 9/11. Our rights as free citizens are forever gone. And we call all thank our senators for this atrocity. Only one, had the sense to say hey maybe we should read it first. Yes only Russ Feingold had the balls to stand up and question such a railroading of our liberties and freedoms. And he took nothing but flack for doing so, at the time. So much as them being for the people. Time to clean house.

I can't believe how arrogant you all are! If Americans didn't think that everything in the world revolves around our country, maybe people in other countries wouldn't feel the need to murder the innocent. We are NOT invincible. That's obvious. Why is it such a big issue to have extra security when a person becomes hysterical and shows erratic behavior on a transatlantic flight? Remember, it was just a few days ago that 24 people were arrested in a terror plot against the US? Hmmm...a little quick to be so bold. Quit being so damn cocky and get a grip with the reality that is the rest of the world!

Get clued in people, The incident in Britain was a ruse, a bunch of rubbish created and imbelished to scare us into submission. Those so-called 19 terrorists in Britain, not one had purchased a plane ticket yet, and most didn't even have pass ports. Time to get off the kool-aide.

And just what would all of you people think if she did blow up a plane? You would then wonder why no one stopped her if she had all these things. I think you should be glad that flight crews are taking precautions. You may just live a little longer because of it.

I think some of you have gone MAD!! Are you all menbers of the the liberal, Love-All Sissy Part??

DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT WE ARE AT WAR WITH millions of psychotic Jihadists? I happen to be friends with many Muslims I work with. They are normal Americans. HOWEVER, the people who are trying to kill ALL OF US in America are beyond psychological help. They will do anything to kill us all. If this woman DID have the ingredients mix a 'gel explosive' bomb, the plane would be scattered all over Manhattan right now. I am working in a high rise office in NYC right now, I don't fell like having to go thorugh another 9/11.

Thank God they got her and everyone out safely. She may have just been claustrophobic, on her very first airplane flight, or a reporter "testing' the airline or another Islamo-Fascist Jihadist. Rules are rules. Work within the system and everybody goes home tonight. Screw with the system and this is what happens. I say arrest her and throw the book at her. I have to take my family to Florida this weekend.

Why not make all seating like military aircraft? A passenger giving problems, just hit the ejetion button and away they go and with no parachute.

Way too many of you keep talking about "where is our common sense?" Comon sense post 9/11 is to control idiots like this woman before they can harm themselves or the entire plane. What is she was claustrophobic or just off her Meds? Maybe not a terrorist, but certainly unstable enough to pull on the cockpit door or the emrgency exit door? The flight attnedants did the right thing. Another 9/11 averted.

The terrorists have NOT WON anything. I still have a country called America and I am still Catholic and speak English. When I have to go to Arabic as a second languarge class I wll be really cheesed off.

I can't even believe that there are people who are upset about the way things were handled! Think about your Mom, or child, or significant other being on that plane - what would you want done if you heard there was a psycho with matches and a petroleum product on the plane? WAKE UP! It sucks that we have to be so vigilant, but WE DO! I agree that this woman should have to pay in some way for having caused all of this ruckus. She either should have been medicated or she should have flown 1st class and kept the flight attendants apprised of how she was feeling. I agree that those who are complaining should consider that this woman may have been creating a diversion for a "real" terrorist act. And I agree that our world would be MUCH safer - INFINITELY safer with Bill Clinton back in office.

Did anyone here stop to think that petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is flammable. Do we really know it was pure petroleum jelly? What better substance to mix some type of explosive with and take on the plane. Well it's only petroleum jelly, and she is just having PMS. Then BOOM! the plane is gone and you are too if you're on board.

Aug 15 2008 - A plane was diverted to an emergency landing today when a passenger, thought possibly to be Canadian, began acting bizzarely and had to be restrained. "We were just sitting down to our meals, when this guy pulls out a container of maple syrup and pours it all over his plate!" said fellow passengers. Upon being questioned, the man, who was wearing a shirt with a Canadian flag on it, answered in what experts believe may have been a Canadian accent. "He just sounded plain weird, like someone trying to speak French and English at the same time, so naturally we tackled him to the ground". There are reports of strangely colored money found on his person, but any connections to terrorism are as yet unconfirmed. Officers later detonated the maple syrup, and the shirt.

The media is great at scaring the hell out of everyone. If the terrorists aren't going to get us...it's the birds, mosquitoes, ticks or mad cows. Sensationalism sells papers.

Everyone should know what a terrorist looks like. They own all the gas stations, motels, deli's and liquor stores.

And beware of the pertoleum jelly ! I worked for the government for 35 years and it was always a threat. You knew they were using it, but couldn't see it.

Seriously, being careful is a good thing. We shouldn't get crazy. We can't allow this kind of thing to happen. If this lady did this as a test, she should be sent to jail for a long time.

Where is the journalism in this article? There is no reporting of the news. It's been manipulated by ABC to get the biggest "punch" it can. The Bush administration has by default got the news to continue the hype on the "War on Terrorism". If Bush had listened to his advisers in the first place and stayed out of Iraq, and gone after bin laden like he should have, do you think we would have these problems today?

Put me on the side of the people who want to retain our freedoms and liberties as Americans--as the founders envisioned this. We do not have to give up our rights and cower before these terrorists. I think the new security measures are ridiculous and impossible to to enforce 100%. This is all going to destroy the travel industry. We are "paying customers" not cattle to be prodded and poked. I am staying home--not out of fear--I travelled right after 9/11--but because I want to enjoy travel and the powers that be have made it nearly impossible. The airlines have eliminated nearly every service for their customers--including food--BRING YOUR OWN--didn't they tell us that? Now you can't even bring water or keep some of life's little necessities with you. There is something wrong with this picture.

Oh please lady please. That petrolium jelly sticks to kids like napalm. And the headlines from the Bush administration? We have detained another terrorist and her petrolium jelly explosives. She was planning to mix the pertrolium jelly with the water she had on board. Finally, she was going to go into the lavatory and mix it with the blue water creating a chemical reaction that would cause the lavatory to explode and bring the aircraft to a sudden hault. The pilots were forced to pull the aircraft over to the side of the air so that the passengers could be safely evacuated but there we not enough parchutes, a catastrophe of TITANIC proportions.

Perhaps America needs to realize that it's time to move on.

For whoever said that the terrorists didn't have much against and he should be re-elected. Let's see:

February 26, 1993
First World Trade Center Bombing. Whose watch? Clinton

August 10, 1998
Bombings at the U.S. Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya. Whose watch? Clinton

October 12, 2000
Attack on USS Cole in Aden Harbor for a routine fuel stop. Whose watch? Clinton

And lets not forget April 19, 1995
Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing. Whose watch? Clinton
Home grown terrorists even.

Let's al