Pilots lock down cockpit after 3 passengers perform Jewish prayer on flight
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.—Pilots on an Alaska Airlines flight locked down the cockpit and alerted authorities after three passengers conducted an elaborate Orthodox Jewish prayer ritual during their Los Angeles-bound flight.
Airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says the crew of Flight 241 from Mexico City became alarmed Sunday after the men began the ritual, which involves tying leather straps and small wooden boxes to the body.
FBI and customs agents, along with police and fire crews, met the plane at the gate at Los Angeles International Airport.
Airport police say two or three men were escorted off the plane, questioned by the FBI, and released. No arrests were made.
Original post: Pilots lock down cockpit after 3 passengers perform Jewish prayer on flight

Personally, I’m really much more concerned by christians praying in groups… I’ve got a frakkin’ idea…if you don’t know what it is and you don’t know if it’s cause for concern (I will admit that the boxes, if you don’t know about them could be something that could cause alarm)…and then, next time, educate yourself…
Ignorance astounds me. I’ve only vaguely seen this type of prayer, but I think that I would’ve asked when the prayer was over, at least if I was an employee…
Peace, Meredith
19 March 2011 at 12:55 pm