2005 Medellin Reports

[Ngp477]

Seven passengers interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel -- seated in both the front and rear of the main passenger cabin -- said Alpizar was silent as he ran past them on his way to the exit. One thought he had taken the wrong flight. Another thought he was going to throw up.

"I can tell you, he never said a thing in that airplane. He never called out he had a bomb," said Orlando architect Jorge A. Borrelli, who helped comfort Alpizar's wife after the gunfire. "He never said a word from the point he passed me at Row 9. . . . He did not say a word to anybody."

Two teens seated in Row 26 agreed. So did Jorge Figueroa, a power-plant operator from Lakeland seated a few rows behind first class.

"He wasn't saying anything; he was just running," Figueroa said. "I said to myself, 'It is probably a person who took the wrong plane.' "

Wife tried to explain

What Alpizar's fellow passengers did hear were the desperate explanations from Buechner, Alpizar's wife, who at first seemed embarrassed by her husband's hasty exit. She started to follow him off the plane, saying, "He's sick. He needs to get off the plane," witnesses said. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...home-headlines

[RoadGlide]

NGP; To answer some of your questions you should remember that there are some things that you DO NOT say on an airplane these days, and one of them is talking about a bomb.

I agree with Ricker, it is sad that this guy died, but I can't blame the Air Marshals for shooting him. What if he really did have a bomb in his bag and was reaching for a detonator? What do you think that the response would have been then?

Here is a quote from a local news source "They say Alpizar claimed to have a bomb in carry-on luggage and ran towad the cockpit. His wife ran after him.

"She was crying, 'my husband my husband' when he ran up there. I know there was a scuttlebutt, some kind of intensity happening in the front and those poor people in first class saw everything. There were children there and I know that was horrifying for them," said witness Mary Gardner"

I don't see where those two air marshals had any choice but to put this guy down.

RG.

[Tom 33]

Walk out the front door and into the minibus. It takes you to Centro next to Hotel Botero Plaza for 4K pesos.

[Ngp477]

Dear Morph

You may like to call Cesar to pick you up at the airport. His number is 315 514-3390 and he is family. I own the cab, it is a new 2006 Chevrolet, so I can guarantee he will treat you decently or please let me know. 38,000 is the normal rate from the airport. If you want you can ask him for 35,000 as the rate because you were referred from the internet.

[WhiteLight]

Morph,
Any taxi at the airport can take you most anyplace in the city for 35-40,000 pesos= $15-18....it's about a 30 drive at that time of night unless it's Friday or Sat.

I use a cabbie named Juan to take me on "special trips" or help me find casas, chicas. etc.
He speaks good english and is cool and is honest and doesn't gouge the gringo
His number is 311-303-8435

Another driver who I've not used but he speaks good english is Robinson
311-307-8913

Enjoy.

[Ricker]

Having gotten all my knowledge of the incident from CNN ... like most of you ... we still don't know the "whole" exact correct story yet.

It's sad, really sad to think an unarmed guy was killed.

but ...

With the victim claiming to have a bomb, and with the world full of bombers, suicide bombers ... it would be tough to ignore claims of a bomb.

More and more devices are being invented to make it thru security ... terrorosts are tricky MFs.
Also ... have you seen some of the security screeners ... not brain surgeons.

I had friends killed on airplanes by crazy dudes on 9/11.

I've met many air marshalls ... they're anything but murderers ... of course there's the occasional dip-shit, most are pretty cool ... doing a necesary job.

Hard for me to condem the shooters til I hear the "real" story.

I'm very sad that an un-armed, disturbed guy was killed.

Also ... I'm not a Bush supporter either ... proudly voted Democrat.

[Ngp477]

Question: The airplane was on the ground, parked at the airport before leaving the gate. Wasn't the Patriot Act designed to prevent airborn airplanes in flight from being AIRBORNE missiles into World Trade Centers???

Question: None of the passengers heard this man say he had a bomb in his backpack. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...home-headlines Seven passengers interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel -- seated in both the front and rear of the main passenger cabin -- said Alpizar was silent as he ran past them on his way to the exit. One thought he had taken the wrong flight. Another thought he was going to throw up.

Now after he is dead it is only the government who alleges he "said" he had a bomb. Isn't this a convenient alibi to justify their murder? How can a dead person testify to refute this allegation?

Question: They shot him in the back for running off a plane, up the ramp, not for hijacking a plane. What is to protect me the next time I get diarhea and have to run out ? Will I get shot in the back?

Question: The guy had already been screened twice before getting on the plane. Were the government agents justified in thinking he had a bomb?

Question: What the fuck was the man's wife doing chasing him up the aisle of the coach section, shouting at him? Having a wife like that would make any normal man be bipolar.

P.S. The guy worked in an Orlando Home Depot in the paint department. He lived in Costa Rica 20 years ago, but owned a quarter of a million dollar home in suburban Orlando (Maitland) since 1998.

[Slumlord]

While I agree there is an ignorance about Colombia I would like to say its not limited to the United States. I felt more secure leaving from Medellin than I do in the United States airports with the third party companies running security they have here.

Not all Colombian airports use the military for security. They use private security at the x-ray machines in Bogota.

[Tom 33]

Huh?

Let's see, maybe they should have tried to read him his rights. God forbid, unless they actually see the bomb and get it tested to be sure it can explode, DON'T SHOOT!

Fuckin' Bush.

[Money 69]

While I agree there is an ignorance about Colombia I would like to say its not limited to the United States. I felt more secure leaving from Medellin than I do in the United States airports with the third party companies running security they have here.

[Ngp477]

CBS news "he came from Medellin. who knows what kind of security screening they have down there."

Just like the americans to blame Medellin. I came from Mde the day before and was scanned 3 times before boarding. 2 girls on my flight had their stomaches x-rayed. Last time I came from Cali they x-rayed my stomach.

Seems the guy worked at Home Depot. They should blame Home Depot for his problem.

[Ricker]

Well ... just back from Medellin ... another GREAT trip to Colombia!

Of course I'll be back in a couple weeks.

Anyway ... Hector drove me to the airport yesterday morning.

I called him the day before, gave him a time to pick me up ... he showed 10 minutes early .... GREAT guy ... not bad english speaker ... even though we normally speak to eachother in Mandarin Chinese ... hahaha.

[VoodooMan]

Thanks guys,

I think I'll give Hector a try.

[Artisto Art]

He's very dependable with a good attitude. The guy was non-stop working 10-12 hours a day whilst we were there. If he said he'd be there at a certain time, he was. He's a good man.

Gotta get back to Medellin in '06.

Cheers!

[Surfer]

Although we speak in Spanish, his English is quite good (lived in New Jersey for a year) and he is really a very nice guy. I will pay a little more for him. Very trustworthy and drives safely. Knows all the hotspots, but seems quite devoted to his wife.