r hettinga rahshipwrightcom httpwwwnytimescom20020923opinion23herbhtmltodaysheadlinespagewantedprintpositiontop new york times september 23 2002 highaltitude rambos bob herbert dr bob rajcoomar us citizen former military physician lake worth fla found handcuffed taken custody last month one many episodes hysteria erupt board airliners us since sept 11 attacks dr rajcoomar seated first class delta airlines flight atlanta philadelphia aug 31 passenger coach section began behaving erratically passenger steven feuer nothing dr rajcoomar two us air marshals got seats first class moved back coach confront mr feuer described witnesses slight man seemed disoriented ensued terrifying mr feuer refused remain seat marshals reacted trying lead roles hollywoods latest action extravaganza handcuffed mr feuer hustled first class restrained seat next dr rajcoomar 180 passengers quite jittery dr rajcoomar asked seat changed flight attendant obliged finding another seat first class incident already scary could ended marshals ready let things quiet one marshals pulled gun brandished passengers marshals loudly demanded passengers remain seats remain still barked series orders one stand reason arms legs extend aisles one try visit restroom message could clearer anyone disobeyed marshals danger shot passengers petrified believing terrorists plane afraid going gun battle pressurized cabin said senior judge james lineberger philadelphia court common pleas veteran 20 years military sitting aisle seat coach afraid going die gunfire shootout dr rajcoomars wife dorothy seated quite distance husband said really like rambo air worried might people plane speak english therefore understand marshals orders someone got go bathroom might shot terrorists board threat kind plane landed half hour later mr feuer taken custody shockingly dr rajcoomar air marshals grabbed doctor behind handcuffed good reason anyone able give hauled airport police station thrown filthy cell airline security gone berserk one ever suggested dr rajcoomar straightarrow retired army major done anything wrong dr rajcoomar indian descent said believes taken custody solely brown skin held three frightening hours released without charged mr feuer also released officials tried conceal names marshals eventually identified philadelphia inquirer reporter shawn b mccullers samuel mumma transportation security administration part us transportation department transportation security administration declined discuss incident detail spokesman offered absurd explanation dr rajcoomar detained watched unfolding incident closely becomes criterion arrest us lot us reporters headed jail dr rajcoomar told yesterday remains shaken episode never treated like life said afraid beaten killed lawyers american civil liberties union taken case filed notice may sue federal government unlawful detention take look name security said dr rajcoomar many men women fought died freedom great country danger ruining name security r hettinga internet bearer underwriting corporation 44 farquhar street boston 02131 usa however may deserve respect usefulness antiquity predicting end world found agreeable experience edward gibbon decline fall roman empire mon 23 sep 2002 103639 0400 highaltitude rambos