(CNN) — An Indonesian man, who has been publicly identified only by the initials “DW,” boarded a domestic flight while wearing a niqab that covered him from head to toe.
The disguise was intended to enable the man to fly even though he had reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
His wife, however, had tested negative, so he used her ID and negative PCR test results in order to board the plane in Jakarta, says the report.
It’s unclear if the man would have been caught had he not given up on his ruse in mid-air.
A flight attendant reportedly told authorities that she saw “DW” go into an airplane bathroom, then come out wearing men’s clothes instead of the niqab — a full-face veil with an opening for the eyes.
She notified airport authorities, who detained the passenger upon disembarking from the plane.
An on-site health officer immediately tested the man for Covid-19, and the PCR test came back positive, according to officials.
After that, “the airport immediately contacted the Ternate City Covid-19 Handling Task Force team to evacuate the man while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) … ” READ MORE.
Muslim woman says Southwest barred her from plane’s exit row because of hijab
Eve Chen, June 2, 2021
USA TODAY – A Muslim woman from Texas has filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation, saying she was not allowed to sit in an emergency exit row on a Southwest Airlines flight because she was wearing a hijab, but her sister was allowed to sit there without one. Southwest says it’s not what it seems.
Fatima Altakrouri and Muna Kowni were traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Dallas on May 22, when they spotted the last two seats together in the emergency exit row.
Altakrouri said that at first, she didn’t think anything of it when she asked a flight attendant if they could sit there and was told no.
“As I was walking, I overheard her saying to the passengers in the seats that were around that area, laughing, saying that ‘If we sat her there, she’d bring down the plane in an emergency,” said Altakrouri, who wears a hijab. “You can imagine the shock I was in at that time.”
Altakrouri said she wasn’t sure she heard that right, but then her sister followed up … READ MORE.
“May I keep head coverings and other religious, cultural or ceremonial items on during screening?”
TSA – Persons wearing head coverings, loose fitting or bulky garments may undergo additional security screening, which may include a pat-down. A pat-down will be conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender. If an alarm cannot be resolved through a pat-down, you may ask to remove the head covering in a private screening area.
Religious knives, swords and other objects are not permitted through the security checkpoint and must be packed in checked baggage.
Inform the TSA officer if you have religious, cultural or ceremonial items that require special handling. SOURCE.
