Brazil mid-air drama: Pilot, crew attacked
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Brazil mid-air drama: Pilot, crew attacked
From the NZ Herald - (report from AP) -
A Brazilian airliner made a forced landing after a passenger reportedly attacked a pilot and crew members.
The TAM Airlines jet was en route from Montevideo, Uruguay, to Sao Paulo when a man entered the cockpit an hour into the flight.
The plane veered right as the man apparently attacked the pilot, who yelled for help.
Uruguay's Industry Minister Roberto Kreimerman was aboard and told the El Observador newspaper everybody screamed as the plane sharply veered.
The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper quoted a passenger who said it took several people to subdue the suspect.
The suspect was arrested after the plane safely landed in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Police say he suffered a "psychotic attack."
TAM says an "uproar" on board caused the forced landing. It offered no details.
Thought they kept the cockpit doors locked??
A Brazilian airliner made a forced landing after a passenger reportedly attacked a pilot and crew members.
The TAM Airlines jet was en route from Montevideo, Uruguay, to Sao Paulo when a man entered the cockpit an hour into the flight.
The plane veered right as the man apparently attacked the pilot, who yelled for help.
Uruguay's Industry Minister Roberto Kreimerman was aboard and told the El Observador newspaper everybody screamed as the plane sharply veered.
The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper quoted a passenger who said it took several people to subdue the suspect.
The suspect was arrested after the plane safely landed in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Police say he suffered a "psychotic attack."
TAM says an "uproar" on board caused the forced landing. It offered no details.
Thought they kept the cockpit doors locked??
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Join Date: May 2007
Location: On the western edge of The Moor
Age: 67
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interestingly The Aviation Herald gives a slightly different story with no mention of access being gained to the Flight Deck!
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: 30W
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
“All of a sudden shouts were heard from inside the cabin, and two stewardesses came out asking for help and grabbing a young man by his feet,” one unidentified passenger told Uruguay’s El Pais newspaper. “The people quickly jumped on top of him, the guy fought back furiously, biting and hurting a half dozen people.
“In a kind of collective action they were able to immobilize him, tying him to a seat.”
Uruguay’s Industry Minister Roberto Kreimerman was on board the Saturday afternoon flight, leading a trade delegation that was on its way to China. He told Uruguayan newspaper El Observador that when the plane veered sharply, passengers started screaming and fearing for their lives.
The jet safely landed at the Porto Alegre airport in southern Brazil about 20 minutes after the incident with the man subdued in the rear of the plane, a police spokesman said Sunday. The suspect was arrested by federal police and taken to a mental care facility.
“In a kind of collective action they were able to immobilize him, tying him to a seat.”
Uruguay’s Industry Minister Roberto Kreimerman was on board the Saturday afternoon flight, leading a trade delegation that was on its way to China. He told Uruguayan newspaper El Observador that when the plane veered sharply, passengers started screaming and fearing for their lives.
The jet safely landed at the Porto Alegre airport in southern Brazil about 20 minutes after the incident with the man subdued in the rear of the plane, a police spokesman said Sunday. The suspect was arrested by federal police and taken to a mental care facility.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
a bit more detail, accuracy unknown of course
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Playing Golf!
Age: 46
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Incident: TAM A320 near Porto Alegre on Feb 11th 2012, unruly passenger
By Simon Hradecky, created Sunday, Feb 12th 2012 14:54Z, last updated Sunday, Feb 12th 2012 14:54Z
A TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200, registration PR-MAR performing flight JJ-8047 from Montevideo (Uruguay) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil), was enroute near Porto Alegre,RS (Brazil) when a male passenger attempted to intrude the cockpit which resulted in a physical fight with two flight attendants supported by other passengers. Cabin crew and supporting passengers were bitten by the intruder during the fight until the combined forces were able to subdue the unruly passenger, who was handcuffed and tied to his seat. In the meantime the flight crew diverted to Porto Alegre for a safe landing where police arrested the unruly passenger and delivered him to the psychiatric ward of a local hospital.
Police reported the unruly passenger suffered a "psychotic episode".
The airline reported a riot on board prompted the crew to divert to Porto Alegre.
Passengers reported two flight attendants were trying to get the man down when he tried to intrude the cockpit in order to bring the airplane down. The unruly was fighting, biting, it needed about half a dozen people to finally overpower him and constrain him.
The aircraft reached Sao Paulo with a delay of 2:45 hours.
By Simon Hradecky, created Sunday, Feb 12th 2012 14:54Z, last updated Sunday, Feb 12th 2012 14:54Z
A TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200, registration PR-MAR performing flight JJ-8047 from Montevideo (Uruguay) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil), was enroute near Porto Alegre,RS (Brazil) when a male passenger attempted to intrude the cockpit which resulted in a physical fight with two flight attendants supported by other passengers. Cabin crew and supporting passengers were bitten by the intruder during the fight until the combined forces were able to subdue the unruly passenger, who was handcuffed and tied to his seat. In the meantime the flight crew diverted to Porto Alegre for a safe landing where police arrested the unruly passenger and delivered him to the psychiatric ward of a local hospital.
Police reported the unruly passenger suffered a "psychotic episode".
The airline reported a riot on board prompted the crew to divert to Porto Alegre.
Passengers reported two flight attendants were trying to get the man down when he tried to intrude the cockpit in order to bring the airplane down. The unruly was fighting, biting, it needed about half a dozen people to finally overpower him and constrain him.
The aircraft reached Sao Paulo with a delay of 2:45 hours.
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: world
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rgsaero
Be aware that many airlines in many parts of the world DO NOT keep their cockpit doors locked, nor are they required to. Too many people confuse those American and British regulations as applying worldwide. They don't.
"A pilot requested help via the PA, flight attendants managed to drag the attacker out of the cocpit and he was subdued and restrained by pax."
I'd like to point out that the term "self loading freight" in this case was thankfully untrue, as it appears that some of the passengers pitched in to help sort this fellow out.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Al sur del norte
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As someone who has flown for this airline, I can assure you that like on any airliners of the States or Great Britain, the cockpit door has to remain locked during the whole flight on planes of this operator...
Join Date: May 2002
Location: MA
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Although the cockpit door may be locked, the concept of cockpit security varies greatly around the world. It is quite common for the cockpit door to be opened in flight and remain open while a flight crew member stands in the forward galley gathering food/beverages. I have personally observed this on TAM domestic, IB domestic, and AM international.
What I've read regarding this incident indicates the person was wearing a TAM ID tag and, on the basis of that, was admitted to the flight deck. All sorts of caveats apply.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ME
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Come on! Everyone knows that it's so easy to jump in the cockpit in the process of opening/closing of the door. Especially on the back of a FLight Attendant. Unless it is strictly prohibited for the passengers to line up by the toilet. I've never heard about such restrictions. And I never saw them observed, in case they exist somewhere
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: In the mountains of Switzerland
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In my former airline a announcement had to be made by the M/C and the Captain on all flights to the US requesting the cooperation of all passengers not to congregate in groups in any area of the aircraft cabin especially around lavatories.
On other flights it was handled similarly but without announcement - just with direct verbal intervention.
douglasflyer, now early retired
On other flights it was handled similarly but without announcement - just with direct verbal intervention.
douglasflyer, now early retired
Join Date: May 2001
Location: A few degrees South
Posts: 809
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am seriously interested on how many flights the access to the cockpit is not always properly done as per procedure. I have the impression the reinforced 100.000$ cockpit door serves in many cases just as a window dressing. After all, it can be a "just between us 1-enter and open" thing, serving more as a nuissance than a safety device.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: VHHH
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hotel Tango
“Be aware that many airlines in many parts of the world DO NOT keep their cockpit doors locked, nor are they required to. Too many people confuse those American and British regulations as applying worldwide. They don't”.
ICAO Annex 17: Security: Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference.
2.1.1 Primary objective of each contracting state is safe guarding its passengers, ground personnel, crew as well as the general public against any acts of unlawful interference.
4.3.3 During flight unauthorized persons must not enter the crew compartment.
5.3.1 States that experienced the act of unlawful interference shall notify ICAO of the security aspects of the interference once the act has been resolved.
13.2.3 In all aircraft that are equipped with a flight deck door (13.2.2 Reinforced Door):
(a) The door shall be kept closed and locked from the time all external doors are closed following embarkation until such time as the external doors are open for disembarkation, except where necessary to permit access to authorized persons and,
(b) Means shall be provided for monitoring from either pilots station the entire door area outside the flight deck to identify persons requesting entry and to detect suspicious behavior or potential threat.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Come on! Everyone knows that it's so easy to jump in the cockpit in the process of opening/closing of the door. Especially on the back of a FLight Attendant. Unless it is strictly prohibited for the passengers to line up by the toilet. I've never heard about such restrictions. And I never saw them observed, in case they exist somewhere
(On the unrelated matter of cockpit manning, I note that AA uses the best-practice of maintaining two folk up there at all times.)
And AA, for sure, is a front runner