With a hat tip to the Drudge Report, in what could be an advancement of media protestations that air marshals on American Airlines flight 924 overreacted when they shot and killed distraught passenger Rigoberto Alpizar, TIME magazine reported last night that another passenger on the plane is claiming he never heard the word “bomb”:
“‘I don't think they needed to use deadly force with the guy,’ says John McAlhany, a 44-year-old construction worker from Sebastian, Fla. "He was getting off the plane." McAlhany also maintains that Alpizar never mentioned having a bomb.
“‘I never heard the word 'bomb' on the plane,’ McAlhany told TIME in a telephone interview. ‘I never heard the word bomb until the FBI asked me did you hear the word bomb. That is ridiculous.’"
McAlhany went on to describe the chaotic scene that ensued, followed by his conclusion:
“McAlhany said he saw Alpizar before the flight and is absolutely stunned by what unfolded on the airplane. He says he saw Alpizar eating a sandwich in the boarding area before getting on the plane. He looked normal at that time, McAlhany says. He thinks the whole thing was a mistake: ‘I don't believe he should be dead right now.’"
Where are Janet Reno and Elian Gonzalez when you need them?
