Future king of Spain, fiancee searched at Miami airport

USAQ Today ^ | 4/10/2004

[traumer]

MIAMI (AP) — A routine security check at Miami International Airport turned into a diplomatic flap when the unhappy subjects of the search turned out to be the future king of Spain and his fiancee.

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and fiancee Letizia Ortiz, shown here in 2003, may file a complaint.

The couple and four bodyguards were connecting onto a commercial airliner in Miami after arriving from the Bahamas in a chartered jet, The Miami Herald reported for Saturday's editions.

But before boarding their Iberia Airlines flight to Madrid on Thursday, Crown Prince Felipe, Spanish television anchorwoman Letizia Ortiz and their entourage had to pass through a security check.

"The prince and his bodyguard felt they should not be subjected to the screening, but if they do not have an escort from the State Department or the Secret Service, it is required," said Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lauren Stover. "It's the law."

[traumer]

TOUGH !!

[ClearCase_guy]

Why'd they get upset? Don't they realize that we are engaged in a War Against Terrorism? Oh, that's right! These are Spaniards ... guess they hope the war has no impact on them.

Guess again.

[xrp]

Well, just goes to show you, the TSA employees are complete morons.

I wonder if Saudi officials are searched upon entry to the USA?

[traumer]

"I wonder if Saudi officials are searched upon entry to the USA? "

I bet not the ROYALS....

[theFIRMbss]

>Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and fiancee Letizia Ortiz, shown here in 2003

[Gunrunner2]

If they get a pass then the aircrew should too, as well as me. No exceptions. Either we profile and do it right or EVERYONE is subject to this insanity.

[mylife]

get over it filipe you elitist snot

[Swanks]

Members of the luck sperm club do not like being treated like mere mortals...

[TheSpottedOwl]

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and fiancee Letizia Ortiz, shown here in 2003, may file a complaint.

"Do you know who I am"???

[El Gato]

I guess if you are a Crown Prince, you can be an ugly galoot and still get a great looking babe. Prince of Wales and Dianne would be another example, even more so in the case of the un-hansom nature of the Prince.

[kdot]

The couple, who had only given six hours notice instead of the standard 72

Enough said. Rules are rules. How about THEM having a little respect for OURS? k.

[Henrietta]

""The prince and his bodyguard felt they should not be subjected to the screening..."

Well, lah-dee-dah. They don't have to be subject to the screening. They can stay home!

[freedumb2003]

Prince of Wales and Dianne would be another example

Near as I can tell Prince William didn't come from either of them. Harry OTOH...

[El Gato]

Well, lah-dee-dah. They don't have to be subject to the screening. They can stay home!

The only thing is, what is the chance the Crown Prince of an allied county is a terrorist? Who didn't get screened as thoroughly as they should have because of the time spent on the Spanish royalty? Probably 3 Moroccans, a Tunisian, a couple from Yemen and who knows how many Saudis? TSA has a problem with priorities, IMHO.

[theFIRMbss]

>I guess if you are a Crown Prince, you can be an ugly galoot and still get a great looking babe

The propaganda hit the girls from fairy tales and from Hollywood.

[jwalsh07]

Two words and they ain't your majesty.

[Henrietta]

"The only thing is, what is the chance the Crown Prince of an allied county is a terrorist? "

Probably very little, but that's not the point. He needs to be screened just like everybody else because we don't know who his entourage is, and stuff can always be snuck into people's bags without them knowing it.

And if he doesn't like it, he can stay home.

[Delta 21]

..since when is doing somethig by the book a newsworthy event?

[mewzilla]

So much for noblesse oblige.