Airline safety has its price

Last week, passengers on United Airlines Flight 663 from Washington to Denver were detained after a diplomat from Qatar smoked a cigarette in the bathroom of the jetliner.

Worried that the smoke escaping from the bathroom was from a bomb, two U.S. air marshals aboard the flight restrained the man until the plane landed.

The diplomat, Mohammed Al-Madadi, did not have a bomb.

Upon arriving in Denver, FBI agents questioned the 157 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight to get a firm grasp of the incident.

While listening to National Public Radio's coverage of the event, we heard a few people complain about the extensive interviews done by authorities.

Some family members of passengers on the plane were angry that questioning from security officials interrupted their day.

In times of crisis, or in this case, the time of a perceived crisis, it is best to remain calm and understand that everyone is doing the best they can.

Although no explosives were found on the flight, authorities were simply following new protocol that was put into place after a Nigerian man tried to blow up a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day.

In response to that crisis, law enforcement, flight crews and airport staff have been on high-alert for suspicious activity on airplanes.

Even President Obama commented on the major holes in national security.

In an effort to repair their damaged reputation and keep Americans safe, authorities have revised their procedures.

Obviously, one of the downsides is questioning passengers after an incident.

The problem is that you can't have it both ways. You can't complain that security is not strong enough and that you don't feel safe flying if you are not willing to play your part.
Regardless of what your schedule entails, safety is the primary concern.

We understand that rearranging your schedule to deal with a crisis can be annoying, but it'll never compare to the amount of grief a future attack would cause if authorities didn't learn what they needed to from this situation.

Next time you are at the airport with fellow travelers, avoid the temptation to fall into the usual pattern of griping. Remember that these pesky procedures are really a small price to pay.  There are much more invasive ways to ensure security, so be aware of the lines that haven't been crossed.

More people should be able to recognize when security measures are actually inconvenient and inappropriate. Calling foul over measures that are merely annoying cheapens it when there is legitimate concern.

The long lines of shoeless people and the questioning after a bomb scare are essential in keeping Americans safe.