So my crazy experience was in USA, post 9/11. I was a student in Indianapolis and for one of my many holidayd, i decided to fly into DC to spend a few days with a friend. Now my friend is a Pakistani, who has been in DC, working for a couple of years. So since I was a student, he was kind enough to book me the flight ticket.

So on the day of the flight, I arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, as I always do. I was flying on a now defunct Independence Air, which offered the best fares at that time. So i head straight to an empty counter and I am greeted with a smile. I hand in my ID and ticket and wait. I wait and wait and wait and easily few minutes have passed. The lady staff seemed a little nervous and confused and kept looking around. So i finally butt in and asked her if therr was a problem. So she said, "yes sir. I see that your name has been listed on the no-fly list"

Me: what? for what?

Staff: Oh, dont worry sir. Sometimes when two individuals with the exact same name are on the same flight, the system locks the reservation.

Now I was a 100% sure that this was a bullshit excuse because my name is Divyan George Varghese, a very unique Indian name, rare even in India and there was no chance another individual with the exact same name will board my same flight, that too from Indianapolis. So she asks me to hold on and so I wait for another few minutes. I am pretty sure that she was buying time and meanwhile had managed to press some panic button, because a while later, two gentlemen and a lady, in suits, with flashing badges, like the FBI approach me. Apparently they were from homeland security or some jazz. They come to me and ask me to remain calm and accompany them. They take me to a room behind the check in counter and ask for my ID. I showed them my seminary ID and they seemed a bit perplexed. They first quiz me about my name and also about my college. Then they asked me why I was going to DC. Then they asked me who booked the ticket for me. That was when I figured out what it was all about. My friend who booked the ticket, his name was Mohammed Atta Rehman and apparently he shared the name with one of the highjackers of 9/11. So obviously that was a name in the no fly list and I am guessing so would any other flyer booked by Mohammad Atta. So the next half an hour was spent exploring my links to Atta. They managed to get all details about him from me and ran all their checks. Suddenly my DOB on my ID caught their eye. It was 9/11. Yes, my birthday is on the 11th of September. They asked me if really that was my DOB or if it was some sick sarcastic joke from my end.

So after more than an hour with them, I was allowed to board the flight. They apologised and said they were only doing their duty. We smiled, Shook hands and I was on my way to DC to meet Mohammed Atta. I very politely refused any more offers of a free ticket from him.