NORAD Launches F-16 for Unruly Passenger

Warrior-Mentor · 01-08-2010, 15:25

FOX reporting now...

Surf n Turf · 01-08-2010, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warrior-Mentor

FOX reporting now...

The Latest
SnT

Unruly passenger forces plane to land in Colorado Springs

An airliner with 132 passengers and crew aboard was diverted to Colorado Springs Airport today after an intoxicated passenger became unruly and locked himself in a bathroom, officials said.

AirTran Airways Flight 39 was en route from Atlanta to San Francisco when it made an unscheduled landing in Colorado Springs at 11:30 a.m., said John McGinley, the airport's assistant director of operations.

Two F-16 fighter planes were deployed by NORAD to escort the plane to landing in the Springs, NORAD officials said in a release.

The passenger, whose identity was not immediately released, was taken off the plane by Colorado Springs Police officers. He was being detained, but had not been arrested, McGinley said.
http://www.gazette.com/articles/plan...passenger.html

lindy · 01-08-2010, 15:34

Jerks like this are going to screw it up for everyone who travels. Ultimately we'll end up being strapped into our seats, cuffed, and have hoods placed over our heads for the duration of the flight.

Maybe they should try new screening questions:

Who packed your bags?
Have your bags been with you the entire time?
Did anyone give you anything to carry onboard?
Does your family, friends, or coworkers consider you an a-hole?

**Kyobanim** · 01-08-2010, 15:36

Quote:

Does your family, friends, or coworkers consider you an a-hole?

I wouldn't be allowed to ride in the family car if this was asked.

Sigaba · 01-08-2010, 15:53

Folks who disrupt flights because of their attention-whoring asshatery should receive the special attention mentioned here and also get sued by other travelers who had their journeys disrupted and their nerves rattled, billed by airliners and airports whose operations are impacted, and fined by the government for the costs of the extra security measures.

**The Reaper** · 01-08-2010, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Folks who disrupt flights because of their attention-whoring asshatery should receive the special attention mentioned here and also get sued by other travelers who had their journeys disrupted and their nerves rattled, billed by airliners and airports whose operations are impacted, and fined by the government for the costs of the extra security measures.

Now that is something we can agree upon.

TR

Warrior-Mentor · 01-08-2010, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Folks who disrupt flights because of their attention-whoring asshatery should receive the special attention mentioned here and also get sued by other travelers who had their journeys disrupted and their nerves rattled, billed by airliners and airports whose operations are impacted, and fined by the government for the costs of the extra security measures.

That makes 3 of us.

And now FOX is reporting Jack-Assery at Heathrow Airport on a flight that was scheduled to be enroute to the Middle East...

XJWoody · 01-08-2010, 18:49

Instead of the generic boarding passes, howcome not a simple little neckband with a snooze or lose function. (Midazolam & PETN?) Act up & get shut down.

I dunno if I want some TSA hired goon attaching & retrieving such a device upon me, and muy unclaro on who gets the remote, sets the parameters etc...

EX-Gold Falcon · 01-08-2010, 21:03

I once dated a SkyWest stewardess, and in her opinion (Which was shared AT LENGTH on NUMEROUS occasions!)

Quote:

No more Freakin' booze on board! Three Freakin' drinks at 10,000 feet will turn your Freakin' grandma into a Freakin' ASSCLOWN!

Nonetheless, "the base" has scored another point via sheer paranoia considering the twin F-16 induced response ...

Interesting read concerning the Air Marshals program.
Sources: Air marshals missing from almost all flights
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/03/25...als/index.html

Travis

Richard · 01-08-2010, 21:17

Quote:

Nonetheless, "the base" has scored another point via sheer paranoia considering the twin F-16 induced response ...

I don't think so - seems like its more a combination of a slow news day for the AI ffolkes at NORAD combined with a need for the DHS ringmasters to show they still have control of the clowns.

Here's what NORAD said:

Quote:

Jan. 8, 2010

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The fighters arrived overhead of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport as the pilot of the commercial airliner landed the Boeing 737 there safely at approximately noon MST, where the plane was met by law enforcement.

NORAD's mission - in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners - is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. NORAD may be required to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and/or destroy platforms deemed a potential threat to North America.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that is responsible for the air defense of North America and maritime warning. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation's capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada.

http://www.norad.mil/News/2010/010810.html

And so it goes...

Richard's jaded $.02

EX-Gold Falcon · 01-08-2010, 22:10

Quote:

Here's what NORAD said:Jan. 8, 2010

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The fighters arrived overhead of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport as the pilot of the commercial airliner landed the Boeing 737 there safely at approximately noon MST, where the plane was met by law enforcement.
NORAD's mission - in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners - is to prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America. NORAD may be required to monitor, shadow, divert from flight path, direct to land and/or destroy platforms deemed a potential threat to North America......

blah, blah, blah, etc.... is norad done yet?

Quote:

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that is responsible for the air defense of North America and maritime warning. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation's capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada.

"Make them stop daddy, I'm so tired!"

"I'ts alright pumpkin, they're done with their CYA."

"what's CYA mean daddy?"

"You'll findout soon enough pumpkin..."

Cheers

Travis

Utah Bob · 01-08-2010, 23:34

Maybe after the full body scanner, they can have passengers blow in a breathalyzer.
And raise the price of drinks on board to $57.31. Exact change only. No credit cards.

**Razor** · 01-09-2010, 00:13

Lots of wide open, unpopulated ground in eastern Colorado. Much less chance of collatteral damage should the fighter escort be directed to execute why they're really there. Once the other passengers start to recognize this, tolerance for jackassery should narrow considerably.

FYI, paras. 2 and 3 of the NORAD statement are pretty much boilerplate.

Gypsy · 01-09-2010, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Folks who disrupt flights because of their attention-whoring asshatery should receive the special attention mentioned here and also get sued by other travelers who had their journeys disrupted and their nerves rattled, billed by airliners and airports whose operations are impacted, and fined by the government for the costs of the extra security measures.

Originally I was thinking of a public release of his name on every news station and a bill from NORAD. I like this idea better.

csquare · 01-09-2010, 09:20

SA Express News has the gentleman's name as Muhammad Abu Tahir, 46, of Virginia. He is acused of refusing to follow flight crew instructions to take his seat before locking himself in a lavatory.
So having 2 F-16s deploy, for this individual, be considered racial profiling? You know someone somewhere is already thinking of or playing that card.