BOAC & Right Way Up. Common or garden nous isn't restricted only to 'professional pilots', although some here seem to think otherwise.

How about a small cyber bet. My particular nous tells me the aircraft was not on 'a southern NAT track using the Azores'. If it was, then my point in para one is redundant. :hmm:

What is more likely? The Daily Mail making inquiries as to the actual routing in order to draw an accurate map or The Daily Mail just drawing a map?

Outsider. Neither point is relevant. The fact is they diverted to Gander.

...and I'm sure you are right, Forget, but I thought I might just introduce a pause in the attack on the journos, since you don't know.

Since I assume you have no experience of conducting a non-emergency diversion I was merely trying to give you insight into what might happen.

In the comments on the article, Ali from KL suggests a "small holding cell" onboard.

I'll do one better: a trap door in said holding cell. :E

BOAC, Your assumption is correct; but does this mean I've won the bet. :)

(I'm surprised no one has produced a Flight Tracker log, or whatever they are called.)

ICAO/the relevant body need to revise the rules. A doctor on board should be allowed to administer a tranquiliser in the interest of safety for all on board. Trouble is you've still got to land ASAP because if anything happened to the f***** he's human rights would be called and both the doctor and airline would be sued.

Interesting that it only took 3 hours delay. Unless VA has representatives at the airport. I had to divert a BA 777 once (as a physician on board) to Shannon and we were delayed a good 5 hours into LHR (from BOS) as there were no BA agents apparently at Shannon (which seems odd but what do I know). BA was kind enough to put me in business after that so it wasn't that bad for me, they also did a very good job arranging for connecting flights for me.

I'm expecting Mr. O'Leary will be making some statements shortly informing that the cabin crew (preferably a different one from the one having the training to replace the copilot) will be allowed to use taser-guns against unruly passengers.

The stunned passenger will then be strapped to his/her seat since a proposal to lock him/her in the toilet was rejected as it would render a future revenue source unusable.

:E

A quote from the comments section.
great suggestion, but why limit its use to passengers though? :)

With slight modification small holding rooms are already on-board. Toilets, with a small mod to air flow. We know the perp (got it from the Bill) isn't carrying knives or screw-drivers to do any damage so, lock him in, squirt some appropriate non lethal sedative gas through a hole, and on you go. And don't say geting him in there is a problem. First of all he's pissed, and there are always a couple of ex squaddies, or similar, willing to help out.

Diverting a heavy aircraft because of one legless slob is ridiculous.

Thus incurring a £100 'handling' fee! :E

Do not most aircraft carry restraining ties? I know we had them on board our company air craft, and cutters to get them off when needed. I'm sure there had to be enough able bodied volunteers on board to help get the necessary done.

Lets just imagine that map in the mail is absolutely accurate. The aircraft seems equidistant from most eastern seaboard destinations. What with Gander/St Johns being the closest to the uk, it seems an eminently sensible place to go. Add to that the fact I have no idea of the TAFs for any of them, it hardly seems an unreasonable place to go for an immediate landing.

I've often flown a track similar to that from FL back to the uk. Wind is just as important as track miles over the pond.

With the extra track miles flown, 5 mins to arrest the man, 30 mins to gas up, 45 mins to get some paperwork/brief, and 30 mins faff time, 3 hrs sounds fair to me.

Nice map, now move the line north to Manchester where the flight was going, and it's even more of a reason to call into Gander

Sounds like a FAR violation to me, since the crew either served alcohol to the man until he was intoxicated or allowed him to board intoxicated. It seems hypocritical to board drunks and/or make passengers drunk and then complain when they cause a disruption.

And diverting the flight was obviously overreaction. Tie him up, sit him down, and continue the flight.

Of course AnthonyGA, pax have never, ever been known to have their own little stash of booze going on, say bought from duty free and to be quietly getting stuck into it. Easier to point and blame without all the facts. :hmm:

Aviation Herald suggests 200NM south of Gander when PAN declared. Landed on runway 03, 35 minutes later

Personally I go with the trusting of persons paid to fly the plane and look after the welfare of passengers in making the correct decision in the interests of all of the Passengers onboard. This is notwithstanding the fact that some of same passengers need Lobotomies which as of yet airlines can't provide.

Of course the crew will have considered their own personal safety and welfare as well ........selfish sods but least they landed missing the schools, hospitals and everything else they need to consider to keep Daily Mail readers happy.:ugh::ugh::ugh:

We ferried this 727 from MIA to Cape Verde with no extra tanks. Didn't divert to Gander though I wanted to.:}


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