New details emerge about psychic's airline bomb threat tip

As reported in the July/August issue of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ("Psychic's False Bomb Tip Cancels Flight"), a self-described psychic suggested that a bomb was aboard an American Airlines flight in March 2004. Though the plane was searched and deemed safe, the flight was cancelled and travelers delayed. SI managing editor Benjamin Radford later contacted the officials involved to gain a better understanding of what happened and clarify the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) position on the credibility of psychic information. After repeated queries, David M. Stone, Acting Administrator for the TSA, explained what happened: "American Airlines cancelled the flight from Fort Myers, Florida, to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, when the flight crew refused to fly. The flight crew apparently became concerned after it learned that a call had been received from a psychic suggesting that a bomb may be onboard. Despite assurances from TSA officials at [the Florida airport] that the source was not credible and that a security sweep of the aircraft revealed no threat, the crew would not fly. Unfortunately, other crewmembers were not available in Fort Myers, and American Airlines subsequently cancelled the flight."

These never-before reported details provide insight into a case where psychic claims involve issues of national security. Contrary to previous reports, it was not the actions of the TSA that led to the flight's cancellation but instead a nervous American Airlines flight crew who refused to perform their duties. While the fact that the TSA found the psychic to be a "non-credible source" is encouraging, this case provides an interesting example of how a threat can be taken seriously by those of a superstitious or magical mindset. Even assurances that the psychic source was not credible and that the aircraft had been thoroughly searched were not enough to allay fears of legitimate psychic predictions.

Stone continued, "It is our policy to evaluate information provided from all sources in an attempt to either substantiate or refute the information provided. In this instance, the information proved to be from a non-credible source. However, TSA did conduct a security sweep of the aircraft to alleviate the concerns of the crew--unfortunately, to no avail. The criteria by which alleged threat information is evaluated are considered sensitive security information and may not be released to the public. TSA elected not to treat this report as a criminal bomb threat since the individual wanted to warn authorities. We have determined that no action should be taken against this individual."

While security threats from any source cannot be ignored, hopefully this incident will set a precedent in which psychics are known to be not only non-credible but in fact at times harmful, causing unnecessary fear, inconvenience, and delay.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group