Update (3 December): Muslim Family Booted from AirTran Plane

AirTran, after initially refusing any responsibility, apologised Friday afternoon to the nine Muslims removed from its Washington to Orlando flight:

We regret that the issue escalated to the heightened security level it did. But we trust everyone understands that the security and the safety of our passengers is paramount.

Members and friends of the Irfan family were reportedly divided over whether to accept the apology. One of them, Khalif Irfan, said he was "very appreciative and surprised....It's a very generous gesture." However, Irfan added, "We have not ruled out the possibility of legal action.”

Meanwhile, the Council on Islamic American Relations has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation over the incident: "We believe this disturbing incident would never have occurred had the Muslim passengers removed from the plane not been perceived by other travelers and airline personnel as members of the Islamic faith."

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From CNN:

A Muslim family removed from an airliner Thursday after passengers became concerned about their conversation say AirTran officials refused to rebook them, even after FBI investigators cleared them of wrongdoing.

Atif Irfan said federal authorities removed eight members of his extended family and a friend after passengers heard them discussing the safest place to sit and misconstrued the nature of the conversation.

Irfan, a U.S. citizen and tax attorney, said he was "impressed with the professionalism" of the FBI agents who questioned him, but said he felt mistreated when the airline refused to book the family for a later flight.