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View Full Version : Latest Passenger Rage (Mk II, keep it clean)


FRQ Charlie Bravo
25th Apr 2011, 15:15
This was originally a great thread (http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-reporting-points/449662-latest-passenger-rage.html) with some good debate and discussion until a few rotten comments were made.

Keep up the debate but stop short of profiling the man in question based on irrelevant factors; the real story is already bad enough. (And PPRuNe doesn't need another racial/religious vilification lawsuit on its hands.

As Dog One initially posted:

From the NT News today

A MAN on a flight to Darwin threatened to "smash" the captain and blow the plane up after cabin crew refused to serve him more booze.

Sydney man Simon Wilson Menzies, 31, was drunk and angry when he told the female cabin crew manager on a flight this week that he could"bring the plane down if he wanted."

Menzies said: "I'm half muslim, half Aboriginal and everyone else is a white a*******. I could f******blow up the plane."

He then began to sing a song about the plane crashing and everyone dying.

Last week in Darwin Magistrates Court the child counsellor became the first person in Australia to be charged and convicted under new Commonwealth laws relating to threatening and assaulting plane crew members. The amended laws came into effect on March 30.

Magistrate Elizabeth Morris gave him a one month suspended sentence for the offence.

The court heard Menzies was on Jetstar flight JQ81 from Brisbane to Darwin on Tuesday com when he became abusive after being refused a fourth beer.

The court heard he was refused service because he continued to be rowdy despite repeated warnings.

After he was refused service Menzies, who is 190cm and solidly built, stood over the cabin crew manager and told her to get the captain.

"Send the captain I will f****** smash him I'm the biggest guy on the plane," he said.

Later, in the galley, Menzies confronted the captain, who feared that the drunk man was going to assault him.

When a female passenger approached the pair and told Menzies that he was causing her friend to have a panic attack he said: "I don't give a f*** about your friend."

Menzies eventually returned to his seat and when the plane landed in Darwin he was arrested by police and held in custody overnight.

The court heard he had been taking strong anti-depressant for three months and it was the first time he had mixed them with alcohol.

Menzies was travelling to Bali for a family holiday via Darwin when he was arrested.

Ms Morris fined him $400 and released him on the suspended sentence in time for his flight to Bali the following morning. (my highlighting)
Under the new laws the maximum summary penalty for threatening or assaulting a flight crew member is two years prison or a $13,500 fine.

I am surprised that the carrier allowed the passenger to board the Bali sector, the next day.

FRQ CB

PS Mods, I'm not trying to skirt around the fact that you closed the last thread, I think that most of you'd agree that there is merit in keeping this story up for a while longer but without the stupid redneck comments.

Stationair8
26th Apr 2011, 09:55
In the interests of airline safety, why wasn't he banned from travelling on any flights for five years?

I certainly wouldn't want to be passenger on any aircraft with this drug crazed alcoholic idiot as self loading freight, would anyone else? You would be minding your own business, and he suddenly decides that he will use your head as a punching bag, or decide to bury a wine bottle into your skull, or break your neck in a fit of rage, or grab the food cart and start using as a battering ram?

Shame on Ms Morris and the $400 fine, no wet tram ticket to hit him over the wrist with dear?

How about a $10,000 fine and a bus ride home to wherever, and that way he could have some thinking time!

Capt Claret
26th Apr 2011, 10:09
Pose a problem to 10 pilots and you'll probably get 10 opinions on how to relosve it.

To 10 lawyers, and you'll get 10 legal opinions.

Same with magistrates, Bloggs was lucky that he got Morris.

I'm not saying I agree but also, I wasn't there & didn't hear the evidence. Just because the paper says he was released to fly to Bali for his holiday, doesn't make it so.

4dogs
26th Apr 2011, 10:40
Clarrie,

I was more worried about this (unsubstantiated) quote:

Later, in the galley, Menzies confronted the captain, who feared that the drunk man was going to assault him.

I would be very interested about what really happened?

Stay Alive,

Centaurus
26th Apr 2011, 13:50
In the 1980's, Air Nauru operated services to Tarawa (Republic of Kiribati - formerly the Gilbert Islands and in November 1943 the scene of a savage battle between Japanese forces entrenched on Tarawa and US marines).

One day, the Air Nauru 737-200 landed and after the door was opened, waiting customs officials were about to board when from among their group a crazed local ran up the stairs, back-handed the hostie, burst into the cockpit where the crew were doing checks and launched himself at both pilots with flailing fists.

Both pilots were still strapped in and unable to defend themselves. The captain wore a bunch of knuckles. Fortunately a passenger saw what was happening up front and grabbed the local from behind which allowed the two pilots to get into the fray.

Between them they threw the offender down the stairs. A couple of security locals watched with interest but did nothing. Eventually they stepped forward and gently escorted the nutter to the terminal building. As I recall the captain sporting a bruised eye then made a PA to the passengers apologising for the incident saying that this was not the normal in flight entertainment the company usually provided and that the flight was grounded until the Police Commissioner turned up to sort things out.

After talking in his own language to the crazed local, the Police Commissioner explained to the captain that the offender was well known to the police and was considered harmless and occasionally seen wandering around the tarmac - security at Tarawa being slack. Also he had attacked a local pilot months earlier but was let off.

It turned out he lived in one of many dongas under the palm trees bordering the flight strip at the departure end of the runway. Twice, departing 737's had blown the roof off his donga as they did a 180 to line up for take off. This was simply too much for a man to bear and so he decided to sort out the crew of the next 737 to arrive at Tarawa. As you would, of course..

Air Nauru crews were later told to change the direction of the 180 degree turns before opening up. In addition the handcuffs and baton usually kept in the cabin were moved to the flight deck on the captain's side. Seemed a logical place.:ok:

FRQ Charlie Bravo
27th Apr 2011, 14:17
How about a $10,000 fine and a bus ride home...

Nah, the bus companies would never accept such a passenger; too dangerous for their valued employees/comrades. Pilots on the other hand are sub-human and as such do not deserve such consideration.:yuk:

FRQ CB

Servo
27th Apr 2011, 23:00
A few months ago when checking in for an international departure in Asia, I was approached by checkin staff and asked politely if a certain individual would be allowed to fly.

This man had just been abusive to the checkin staff, and it was discovered that he had been very abusive on the flight there. He was pointed out to me in clear site.

I had already made my mind up, but asked the senior cabin member their thoughts.

Lets just say that it was going to be a VERY long walk home.

The checkin staff advised him of my refusal to fly, accompanied by 2 armed security guards.

Mstr Caution
28th Apr 2011, 00:50
It keeps getting better! Not.

I mate of mine was passing thru Melbourne Domestic a few nights ago & observed a verbal altercation at the baggage carousel end up in a punch up curb side.

Got off the 971 from Perth.

Cactusjack
1st May 2011, 10:41
What classification does 'a couple of queers high on amyl nitrate and bitch slapping a staff member' constitute ?
Saw it with my own eyes in DRW a few years ago while I was on duty. As much as it is classed as assault, it was funny watching the 'staff member' respond by flooring both of them with 3 hits !
Excellent work indeed.