Mississipi couple arrested for attempting to join ISIS. Per this CNN report they were taken into custody in Columbus, MS before boarding a flight to Turkey.
Are there any direct flights from Columbus to Turkey or anywhere in Europe?
Pretty sure they would only be boarding a flight to Atlanta out of Columbus, MS.
Columbus appears to only be served by Delta Connection regional flights to Atlanta.
From there, however, there’s a Turkish Airways non-stop to Istanbul (not Constantinople).
Yeah, I live in Columbus, MS. No direct flights to anywhere except Atlanta. But, of course, you can get a connecting flight from Atlanta to virtually anywhere.
So I can board a flight to Turkey that has 6 different connections before I reach Turkish soil. The statement isn’t technically wrong, but could be construed incorrectly if you took the meaning literally.
The news summarized the events to simplify and to emphasize the intent of the people (as reported by the authorities).
“Arrested in Columbus, MS, en route to Atlanta, GA” is not very interesting, and Atlanta’s probably not where you travel to join up with ISIS. And “Arrested in Columbus, MS, en route to Atlanta, GA, en route to Damascus” is just wordy and pointlessly long.
The relevant facts are what the headlines state (as far as the press is concerned). The fact that you have to transit through another airport, or another 15, is irrelevant to the story.
Isn’t it just like Laozi said?
If they bought a ticket for a two-segment trip from Columbia to Istanbul or Constantinople they’ve sure demonstrated what their intent was. They boarded a flight. Which was (part of) a journey to Turkey.
Confucius said the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. None of the steps are more or less optional, or more or less important, than any of the others. Multi-segment airline itineraries work the same way.
I get into my car in Los Angeles and start driving. I have hotel reservations en route in Phoenix, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and New York.
I get arrested before I ever get to Phoenix. To where was I driving?
Albuquerque, obviously.
In any case, they must have bought a ticket from Columbus to Turkey – their luggage would not be returned to them in Atlanta (if it made it to Turkey and not, say, Paraguay, would be a different story).
No no, that’s where he was supposed to make a left turn.
What’s up, Doc?
Down South the line I’ve heard is:“When Jesus returns to Earth, he’s going to have to connect in Atlanta.”