2 UK air-rage diversions to Bangor..

[Cyclic Hotline]

Getting a lot like travelling on British Rail...

Three British Men Arrested in Air Rage Incidents

BOSTON (Reuters) - In a span of a few hours, two British flights headed for Mexico landed at a Maine airport to unload three men in separate air rage incidents that involved drugs, alcohol and brawling, police said on Saturday.

The first incident Friday involved a Britannia Airways flight from Manchester, England, to Cancun that was diverted to Bangor International Airport after a man and his girlfriend got into a fistfight, Bangor police said.

"He smacked her and she hit him,'' Sgt. James Owens told Reuters. "He got overly aggressive when other passengers intervened. He had the misfortune of misbehaving with off-duty police officers on board.''

Police arrested Kevin Sibley, 34, of Northampton, England, on suspicion of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and possession of the drugs hashish and Ecstasy, Owens said. Police also suspect he smuggled a bottle of vodka on board to make his drinks stronger.

After being treated for a bloody nose and a split lip, Sibley spent the night in jail. Authorities released him on Saturday after he wired home for money to post a $1,500 cash bail.

A few hours later Friday, a British Airways flight from London's Heathrow Airport touched down in Bangor to unload two British men accused of being unruly on their way to Mexico City, police said.

John Ward, 55, and Robert Doherty, 38, both of England, also spent the night in jail after being arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. They were released on Saturday after posting cash bails. No other details were available.

It is not uncommon for international flights to divert to Bangor International Airport to unload rowdy passengers, police said. Pilots take advantage of a 2-mile runway, formerly part of a U.S. Air Force base. Located near the northeastern tip of the United States, the airport also is close to the Atlantic Ocean and provides a quicker turnaround than busier airports in major cities such as Boston.

[Joaquín]

My only hope is that despite having paid the bail, their passports won't be released so easyly and that all of them can be properly prosecuted.

[ExSimGuy]

This is getting to epidemic proportions :mad:

Is it because air travel is so cheap now that every "lager lout" can afford it?

Is it connected with the smoking ban now in force on just about every airline?

Two incidents in one day - both involving Brits? Have the Yanks had a smoking ban for almost 10 years now and got used to it whereas it's still relatively new to Brit airlines?

Is there any serious investigation being carried out on the "syndrome" before it turns into a disaster?

Drinks/smoking? We've had drunks on planes for many a year but I'm suspicious that the heavily-addicted smoker has had a choice in finding a "smoking airline" until recently. I wonder if the perps of these 2 recent incidents were smokers?

------------------
What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!

[Flap 5]

There are many reasons why someone would feel bad on a commercial flight, not being able to have a smoke is only one of many. Most of the other reasons are of no fault to the passenger. Smoking is a self inflicted problem. I have no sympathy for smokers, especially as they inflict discomfort on people around them.

[newswatcher]

This morning's reports have the Britannia flight overnighting with 277 passengers at Bangor. That should be a nice bill for Mr(?) Sibley. Let's hope they pass it on. Guess there is also a case for the pax to take civil action against him for spoiling their holiday.

[IcePack]

The other reason for diversion to Bangor is the fantastic airport staff and local police.
You know the incident will be taken seriously with min delay.

[Mowgli]

Look at the thread "No cruise booze makes me happy" where the discussion goes to the smoking debate.

Flap 5

I don't disagree with your sentiment, however, it doesn't make the problem go away. How about selling nicotine replacement products, or, in extreme cases, (and I've had 2 in the past week - see the other thread), giving a patch to a problem passenger.

[Willie Eckerslike]

As a line Captain Air rage is my greatest worry. Aircraft tend to be predictable & there are checklists for most technical problems. Passengers on the otherhand ree not quite so straight forward.

My company has a policy of supporting it's crews following any drunken or disruptive passenger incidents. However they offer no training to crews on how to diffuse or control such situations. Surely crew training can play a huge part in preventing incidents escalating to the point where a flight has to divert & offload pax.

What training do other arlines offer for these situations?

[1 of many]

Just seen newsreel of the two ex-BA pax returning to LHR and being escorted away by two bobbies.

They seem to think its a huge joke. I sincerely hope that when the bill is presented to them its still that funny.

Come on BA contact the 'if there's blame there's a claim' crowd and screw the b*st*rds into the ground.

Likewise Wheelchair Airways pax at BGR who was released on bail and then re-arrested pissed having broken a condition of bail.

Question (sincere).

Are passengers ever sued for the costs or do the rest of us pay - without choice - without a voice?

[feetnkneestogether]

Cheaper airfares means the pikeys get to go flying........

..and that means scum bags incapable of behaving themselves, with zero consideration for the rest of the passengers.

[radeng]

It always makes me very sad when I see the air rage people getting sent to jail - they never get sent for long enough. Afterwards, they get flown home, instead of deported in irons on a small ship (preferably one that sinks).

Possibly one can get some understanding, though after my trip as slf on Sunday - connecting flight cancelled, put on later flight from ORD to LHR, different carrier to ORD, landed at ORD at the boarding time of international flight. Terminal 1 at ORD to terminal 3 is a long way, especially when you walk with a stick. Promised special meal not delivered to international flight. And I had to use my 'phone card to make the international calls to let people know my new arrival time.

No point in taking it out on the cabin crew - they did their best - but I will enjoy writing nasty but polite letters to the business prevention department demanding recompense! If I hadn't been able to get a glass (or two) of champagne, I'd be even nastier. Would even spend my money at another carrier.

Incidentally, considering the genrally c**p pay and conditions for cabin crew, how do they always manage to be so courteous with the slf anyway?