B737 CREW HAS POLICE SEARCH ACFT AFTER REMOVING PAX WHO MADE TERRORIST REMARKS.

Narrative

I WAS RETURNING TO THE ACFT FROM THE RESTROOM WHEN AN AGENT AT THE PODIUM TOLD ME THAT WE HAD A SIT DEVELOPING. I TURNED TO GO DOWN THE JETWAY AND NOTICED A PAX AND A SUPVR BOTH COMING UP SAME AND EXITING. GENTLEMAN APPEARED STONE-FACED; ABOUT 45-50 YRS OF AGE; OLIVE COMPLECTED; WITH THICK WAVY BLACK HAIR. WHEN I GOT DOWN TO THE AIRPLANE; I WAS GREETED BY THE ENTIRE CABIN CREW. THE 'C' FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED ME THAT DURING THE BOARDING OF FLT SHE WAS TOLD BY A PAX; 'DO NOT BE AFRAID;' THAT HE WAS 'A TERRORIST; NOT ONE OF THE BAD ONES BUT A GOOD ONE.' THE FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED ME THAT THE PAX GOT AS FAR AS THE GALLEY BULKHEAD WHERE HE WAS ASKED TO WAIT ON THE JETWAY. SHE RELAYED THIS TO THE 'A' FLT ATTENDANT WHO WAS BUSY IN THE BOARDING PROCESS. THE FLT ATTENDANTS TOLD ME THAT THE MAN WHO PROCLAIMED TO BE A TERRORIST TO OUR 'C' FLT ATTENDANT HAD BEEN ESCORTED OFF THE AIRPLANE BY CUSTOMER SVC REP; AND THEY WERE NOW AWAITING FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. I WENT BACK UP TO TALK TO CUSTOMER SVC REP AND NOTICED THE MAN WAS STILL SITTING IN THE BOARDING LOUNGE; CALMLY SIPPING HIS WATER; AND OBLIVIOUS TO THE FRANTIC ACTIVITY GOING ON 10 FT TO HIS R. AS I SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER SVC REP; THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE ARRIVED. THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF WE WOULD NEED A BOMB SNIFFING DOG. I WAS TOLD BY THE COUNTY POLICE THAT IF WE CHOSE TO HAVE THE ACFT SEARCHED; IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF-GATE TO A SPECIAL AREA; PROBABLY RWY 14/32; AND IF THAT WAS TO BE THE CASE; THE PEOPLE WERE TO BE TAKEN OFF. I DECIDED THE SIT REQUIRED A CONSULTATION WITH THE DISPATCHER. AFTER I GAVE HIM THE DETAILS; HE ASKED TO GET A CONFERENCE CALL WITH HIS SUPVR AND WOULD I MIND AGAIN REPEATING THE STORY FOR HIM TOO. AFTER ABOUT A 5 MIN CONFERENCE CALL; THE 3 OF US AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO HAVE THE ACFT AND LUGGAGE SEARCHED BY ORDNANCE SNIFFING CANINES. THE FLT ATTENDANTS ALSO UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT THE ACFT BE SEARCHED BY THE DOGS; AND IT WAS THEN THAT I MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT INFORMING THE PAX OF THE NATURE OF THE DELAY. THE PAX WERE INSTRUCTED TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS AND BE PATIENT FOR THE TIME BEING. I CHOSE TO DELAY DEPLANING THE ACFT UNTIL I COULD CONFER WITH POLICE. THEY OK'ED THE DEPLANING AND THE CUSTOMER SVC REP THEN TOOK OVER.