I can certainly understand airline security wanting to be cautious - even super-duper-extra-special cautious - about potential bombs. However, stories like these have become so routine and (fortunately) uneventful that I can't help but wonder if serious security resources and attention aren't being squandered with periodic panic evacuations over a mis-heard or misconstrued phrase:

FARGO, North Dakota (AP) Monday, October 18th -- A Northwest Airlink commuter plane was evacuated before takeoff Monday morning after two passengers claimed to have overheard someone mention a bomb while talking on a cell phone, police said. Sgt. Steve Lynk said the plane's crew was alerted and passengers were told to leave the plane around 5:30 a.m.

The plane was at Hector International Airport ready to leave for Minneapolis-St. Paul with 57 passengers. As they were waiting to board, two passengers overheard another passenger talking on a cell phone, making a reference to "bombs away" and the flight. "They overheard the man say that into the phone," Lynk said.

Cynical me, I somehow doubt a genuine bomber would be so foolish as to utter the actual magic "B" word within earshot of an airport, and would instead cagily substitute an innocuous term - say, "football," "eagle" - or perhaps, "package." After all, if a single throwaway utterance of the "bomb" is enough to evacuate an aircraft, wouldn't the word likely be being used as a strategic distraction or prank rather than an accidental giving away of the fact there's a "Bomb On Board"?

Good heavens - what's next? Will airlines (and travelers) not be satisfied until each and every passenger is bound hand-and-foot and gagged in their seats before the plane takes off? Then again, you can never be too careful. Don't even think of telling your sweetie they're Da Bomb. Is it even OK to say "package" in an airport these days?

Anecdotally, a friend told me recently that an acquaintance had been using a pay phone at a Chicago Airport, and the "b" word somehow popped up innocently in conversation. Reportedly, even though no-one seemed to be around while this person was on the phone, moments later two security guards appeared and questioned her in detail about her identification and travel plans. This could be a simple FOAF story, and being questioned by security shortly after the call could be just a coincidence. But, then again...

This one isn't a FOAF: my partner's cousin was going through the security line at Burlington, Vermont's airport a few years ago with a jug of maple syrup purchased there. Security asked her to put the jug on the x-ray conveyor belt, and she jokingly said to her travel companion, "what, do they think there's a bomb in that maple syrup?" Oopsie. Let's just say she didn't make her flight - and ended up having to rent a car and drive the 9 hours back to New Jersey instead.

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