This is just sad. People are just way too paranoid! I understand it was in an airport, but you know it wouldn't have been that big of a deal if the student had not been from Saudi Arabia. It must be hard to be living or travelling in the U.S. right now if you are of Middle Eastern descent,or even look like you are.

Saudi student detained after spritzing airport guards with cologne
David B. Caruso
Associated Press

Published Feb. 20, 2003 COLO21


PHILADELPHIA -- A Saudi Arabian traveler set the city's anti-terrorism machine into full gear when he sprayed three airport guards with cologne while trying to demonstrate that the liquid wasn't dangerous.

The security screeners were rushed to Methodist Hospital after being spritzed Wednesday as the student passed through a checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport.

Unsure whether they had a biological attack on their hands, hospital officials ordered a full quarantine. Ambulances inbound to the emergency room were diverted to other hospitals. Patients and staff who had contact with the guards were quarantined for nearly three hours.

``We didn't know what the substance was,'' said hospital spokeswoman Nan Myers.

FBI spokeswoman Linda Vizi said the 22-year-old student, whose name was withheld by authorities, was detained and questioned, then released hours later after chemical tests confirmed that the vapors were harmless.

``He was here legally. All his papers were in order. His flight plans were in order. No federal law was violated. He was released,'' Vizi said. ``He missed his flight to Europe.''

Initially, even the screeners themselves didn't consider the incident worth reporting, Vizi said. But they had second thoughts about the sweet-smelling spray and called police, she said.

Flights weren't disrupted and no one was evacuated from the terminal, said airport spokesman Mark Pesce.

Paranoia certainly inspires the ridiculous

Remember this? Shortly after 9/11 the Chicago airport was closed for hours when workers discovered an "unknown green substance." Hazmat crews were called in to remove and test it. What was it?

Guacamole.

Some schmoe probably dropped his Chipotle burrito and the nation's air traffic system comes to a grinding halt. It is truly a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad world.

I hope they gave this guy a refund for his ticket...that's insane!

madartista said:

ROTFLMAO!
No, I never heard about that, but I can believe it!

I wonder what scent it was?
.

Yeah it's a shame...but you just don't go squirting something on somebody, especially these days. The student should have just let them figure it out for themselves and then move on.

I'm allergic to some perfumes, if somebody started squirting me I'd kick them!

CarrieLee said:

I concur

June7 said:

Right on. This is not the time to be a smartass at an airport.