Flight Returns Because Of Fistfighting
05-31-2011, 05:55 PM
#1
Administrator
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: C-172
Posts: 8,024
Flight Returns Because Of Fistfighting
Dumped fuel, inconvenienced passengers, fighter escort .... all because of a reclining seat. What is this world coming to.
9:10 pm DST. Later updated article has just a wee bit more detail:
From Associated Press:
Government and airline officials say a United Airlines plane with 144 people aboard returned to Washington-Dulles International Airport for an emergency landing escorted by two F-16 fighter jets after a fight broke out between passengers.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says Flight 990 bound for Accra, Ghana, returned to Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, just after midnight Sunday after a fistfight in the cabin.
Government officials confirmed that fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
United spokesman Mike Trevino said Tuesday that the Boeing 767 dumped fuel as a safety precaution to lighten its weight on landing.
The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, reported that the fight began not long after takeoff when a passenger lowered his seat and a passenger behind him objected.
Government and airline officials say a United Airlines plane with 144 people aboard returned to Washington-Dulles International Airport for an emergency landing escorted by two F-16 fighter jets after a fight broke out between passengers.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says Flight 990 bound for Accra, Ghana, returned to Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, just after midnight Sunday after a fistfight in the cabin.
Government officials confirmed that fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
United spokesman Mike Trevino said Tuesday that the Boeing 767 dumped fuel as a safety precaution to lighten its weight on landing.
The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, reported that the fight began not long after takeoff when a passenger lowered his seat and a passenger behind him objected.
Government and airline officials say a United Airlines plane with 144 people aboard returned to Washington-Dulles International Airport for an emergency landing escorted by two F-16 fighter jets after a fight broke out between passengers.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says Flight 990 bound for Accra, Ghana, returned to Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, just after midnight Sunday after a fistfight in the cabin.
The two fighter jets were dispatched from Andrews Air Force Base after the pilot reported the disturbance, said U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander William Lewis, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
They shadowed the airline flight all the way back to Dulles, where it landed safely, Lewis said.
"They were just following typical procedures when you have disturbances," Lewis said.
"It's pretty commonplace whenever there's an airspace violation," he said.
Police met the two passengers at the gate when Flight 990 landed back at Dulles early Monday morning, but neither passenger was injured and they were not arrested, said airport spokesman Rob Yingling.
The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, reported that the fight began not long after takeoff when a passenger lowered his seat and a passenger behind him objected. The pilot, the Post reported, decided to return to the airport when he was unsure of the scope of the problem.
United spokesman Mike Trevino said Tuesday that the Boeing 767 dumped fuel as a safety precaution to lighten its weight on landing. The plane can take of with 16,700 gallons of fuel, The Washington Post report stated.
It was unclear what arrangements were made for the travelers to reach their destination.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says Flight 990 bound for Accra, Ghana, returned to Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, just after midnight Sunday after a fistfight in the cabin.
The two fighter jets were dispatched from Andrews Air Force Base after the pilot reported the disturbance, said U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander William Lewis, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
They shadowed the airline flight all the way back to Dulles, where it landed safely, Lewis said.
"They were just following typical procedures when you have disturbances," Lewis said.
"It's pretty commonplace whenever there's an airspace violation," he said.
Police met the two passengers at the gate when Flight 990 landed back at Dulles early Monday morning, but neither passenger was injured and they were not arrested, said airport spokesman Rob Yingling.
The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, reported that the fight began not long after takeoff when a passenger lowered his seat and a passenger behind him objected. The pilot, the Post reported, decided to return to the airport when he was unsure of the scope of the problem.
United spokesman Mike Trevino said Tuesday that the Boeing 767 dumped fuel as a safety precaution to lighten its weight on landing. The plane can take of with 16,700 gallons of fuel, The Washington Post report stated.
It was unclear what arrangements were made for the travelers to reach their destination.
Last edited by vagabond; 05-31-2011 at 08:42 PM.
05-31-2011, 06:10 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: seated beer curl
Posts: 406
The dumbest thing about this incident is that fighters were scrambled. TSA is security theater at airports. Scrambling F-16's for an incident such as this is security theater in the air.
This didn't happen because of a reclining seat. This happened because of bureaucracy.
This didn't happen because of a reclining seat. This happened because of bureaucracy.
06-01-2011, 01:26 PM
#7
What’s it doing now?
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 190CA
Posts: 726
LeftWing:
A fight breaks out in the cabin of a heavy jet loaded with fuel for a long flight right after takeoff near DC and the Captain declared an emergency and you don't think they should scramble fighters?
I would want the Vipers on my wing too.
A fight breaks out in the cabin of a heavy jet loaded with fuel for a long flight right after takeoff near DC and the Captain declared an emergency and you don't think they should scramble fighters?
I would want the Vipers on my wing too.
06-01-2011, 02:10 PM
#8
Keep Calm Chive ON
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: Boeing's Plastic Jet Button Pusher - 787
Posts: 2,086
Pax go "MMA" over reclined seat
After watching the video clip, let me get this straight.....
Two passengers 'scrap it out'.....crew has to intervene.....the aircraft bound to Africa performs an air-return.....F-16's are scrambled.....and the two clowns that caused this disruption are "free to go" w/o charges???.....Que Paso???
WOW - I hope the media misreported this. If in fact this is true, what an 'excellent precedence' this sets for 'acceptable' behavior concerning future Octagon Matches with our traveling public.
F-16s Escort United Airlines Flight After Fight Erupts Over Reclining Seat - FoxNews.com
Two passengers 'scrap it out'.....crew has to intervene.....the aircraft bound to Africa performs an air-return.....F-16's are scrambled.....and the two clowns that caused this disruption are "free to go" w/o charges???.....Que Paso???
WOW - I hope the media misreported this. If in fact this is true, what an 'excellent precedence' this sets for 'acceptable' behavior concerning future Octagon Matches with our traveling public.
F-16s Escort United Airlines Flight After Fight Erupts Over Reclining Seat - FoxNews.com
06-01-2011, 02:37 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Position: Downwind, headed straight for the rocks, shanghaied aboard the ship of fools.
Posts: 1,128
It is hard to believe the person who instigated the fight wasn't arrested. United should file a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for losses. Maybe the threat of financial penalties will provide incentive for Bozos to not be Bozos.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
