XPost: alt.politics.guns, alt.politics.democrats.d, sac.general   
   XPost: in.bizarre   
   From: democraps.are.cowards@cbs.com   
      
   A federal air marshal on a United Airlines flight was handcuffed   
   by authorities and removed from the plane after a flight   
   attendant thought he was a civilian who “flashed a gun,”   
   according to reports.   
      
   The marshal, whom the TSA told The Post was on “official   
   business,” showed his firearm to a flight attendant during the   
   flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Minneapolis-St. Paul   
   International Airport, leading the crew to issue an emergency   
   alert, according to WCCO.   
      
   Passengers aboard Flight 3531 were told that their landing was   
   delayed because of an “occupied gate,” passenger Jennifer Berman   
   told the Star Tribune. After landing, the plane was surrounded   
   by police cars, and officers boarded the plane to ask the man   
   and another passenger to “come with them.” The two were   
   handcuffed shortly after on the tarmac, Berman said.   
      
   The two men were questioned by the FBI at the airport’s police   
   station, according to the newspaper.   
      
   The Star Tribune reported that the second detained passenger was   
   also a federal air marshal; the TSA did not confirm that.   
      
   FBI officials blamed the incident on a miscommunication,   
   according to WCCO.   
      
   A spokesperson from Republic Airlines, a regional partner of   
   United Airlines which operated the flight, told The Post: “The   
   safety and security of our customers and employees is our top   
   priority. We are aware of this incident and are working with   
   investigators.”   
      
   The TSA said in a statement it is “working with the airline to   
   determine the specific circumstances in this case.”   
      
   The flight was operated by Indianapolis-based Republic Airline.   
   Republic says the airline is working with investigators.   
       
      
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