WKRZ Jock At Center Of Hooters Air Terrorist Scare

Keeping "Abreast" Of Airline Security

For the uninitiated, HOOTERS AIR is a new airline operating mostly East Coast routes that features quite a few interesting perks, including two HOOTERS girls on each flight. But the inaugural HOOTERS AIR flight from the WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, PA airport was marred by a terrorist scare following an ill-advised, off handed remark made by a passenger to WKRZ morning host ROCKY RHODES, who was on the flight.

According to WNEP-TV, ROCKY was doing a phoner back to the station from the plane when the guy in the seat in front of him, making an attempt at humor, turned and said, “You look something like a terrorist.” After ROCKY signed off, the jocks at the station talked about the remark on the air. That conversation was heard by employees at the LUZERNE COUNTY AIRPORT, who contacted the TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

After landing in ORLANDO, the plane was surrounded by emergency vehicles, the guy who made the comment was led off in handcuffs, and the passengers were put through further security screenings.

Passengers credited HOOTERS AIR with handling the situation professionally, and the airline’s President MARK PETERSON told WNEP-TV that, joke or not, the airline wanted to make sure the passengers and plane were safe. WKRZ management has denied that the incident was a stunt, making it clear that the guy who made the comment was not affiliated with the station in any way.

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