Code Orange
Wow, what a crazy day. My cell phone rang at 6:02 a.m.; then my home phone rang at 6:03 a.m. (since I didn’t make it downstairs in time to pick up the cell). A call that early either means a family or airport “emergency.”
Fortunately, this emergency carried good news- a terrorist attempt involving airplanes en route from London to the US had been thwarted. As a precaution and because there are still suspected terrorists associated with this plot at-large, the national airport security alert was raised from yellow to orange, early this morning. Oh yes, the Transportation Security Administration also prohibited passengers from taking a beverage, lotion, tooth paste, chap stick or any other liquid or gel substance through gate screening.
Well needless to say, I showered quickly and got to the airport as quickly as possible. As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by several very helpful but serious, Summit County Sheriff’s deputies. I also ran into our TSA brass and got the scoop from them, so I’d be prepared to issue a press release to media by 8:00 a.m.
As a result, every news crew in the Cleveland/ Akron/ Youngstown region have visited or called us today. We try hard to accommodate news crews when the news is good or bad. So, watch the news tonight, check ohio.com or listen to your radio on the way home, if you want to know more!
Passengers were very pleased with the extra security, the speedy lines and the general sense of calm in our airport today. Two passengers missed a flight at Hopkins, took a taxi to CAK and purchased walk-up tickets on Frontier to go to Denver. One of the travelers said “it was worth every penny,” because this airport is so much easier to use.
If you came through here today, let us know about your experience too.
Comments
add a commentJustin: 08/14/2006 04:38 PM
Great update. The Frontier Airlines example is a great story.
YNG: (http://yngair.wordpress.com) 08/11/2006 08:58 AM
Good Job on calming everyone down. I saw Fred on 21 WFMJ and 27 WKBN here in Youngstown tonight. 33 WYTV may have called you, but they went to PIT.
I hope you guys continue to work to calm everyone down and wish you luck.
If you have a message you want to get across then please email me so I can put it on my blog which has tons of CAK Flyers.
Keep up the great work and sorry you didn't get the SCASD Grant; I would've like to see you guys get it!
