The Post updates with word that all the negative press from this morning’s stories about the nine Muslim passengers who were booted off of an AirTran flight on Thursday has provoked an apology from the airline. The passengers were removed from a flight heading from National Airport to Orlando.

“We regret that the issue escalated to the heightened security level it did on New Year’s Day, but we trust everyone understands that the security and the safety of our passengers is paramount and cannot be compromised,” read a company statement. “We apologize to all of the passengers — to the nine who had to undergo extensive interviews from the authorities and to the 95 who ultimately made the flight. Nobody on Flight 175 reached their destination on time on New Year’s Day, and we regret it.”

AirTran has also agreed to provide free return airfare and refund the travelers the cost of their tickets on another carrier after AirTran refused to rebook them. The group, made up mostly of a couple of young Muslim professionals from Alexandria and their families, told the Post they still haven’t decided if they’ll accept the free tickets, since it would mean flying on AirTran again. Can’t say we hardly blame them.