Posted on 04/22/2006 3:38:50 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
April 22, 2006 (by Lieven Dewitte) - A passenger who claimed to have a bomb aboard a United Airlines flight was subdued by passengers as the California-bound plane was diverted to Denver International Airport. Two F-16 fighter jets from Buckley Air Force Base scrambled to escort the plane.
The A-320 Airbus heading to Sacramento, Calif., from Chicago flew into Denver Friday. The F-16s followed to make sure nothing untoward was going to happen.
Jose Manuel Pelayo-Ortega tried to open an door on the Airbus A-320 en route from Chicago to Sacramento, Calif., and then claimed to have a bomb forcing the emergency landing in Denver.
The guy was arrested after the plane landed around 16.30h.
Fellow passengers on the plane subdued the man and three Secret Service agents on board heading between assignments helped detain him.
After the airliner landed, it taxied to a remote part of the airport where the passengers got off and were taken to the terminal.
None of the 138 passengers or six crew members was injured.
Authorities searched the aircraft for explosives and re-screened luggage and passengers before they reboarded the plane, which took off for its original destination around 19.30h.
The apparatus that could ultimately have lead to the plane with 138 passengers and six crew members being shot down - put in place after 911 - was fully operational Friday, with agencies that included the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Homeland Security on an open phone line monitoring the flight.
Had the plane "been judged as a threat by the highest levels of our government, they could make the decision to have the plane shot down," said Lt. Commander Sean Kelly, a spokesman for NORAD, a U.S.-Canadian military command based outside Colorado Springs that monitors missiles, aircraft and space objects and warns of threats.
President Bush would ultimately make the decision.
A "shoot-don't shoot" scenario didn't develop because the plane was following all FAA instructions. One of the last resorts would have included the fighter pilots either talking to or attempting to talk to the pilot of the airliner, which didn't happen Friday, Kelly said
Since Sept. 11, fighters have been scrambled or if already airborne diverted 2,300. The Transportation Security Administration said it did not have numbers on how many flights have been diverted.
Think this moron is in some trouble?
Just making threats that Americans are no longer willing to make?
Too bad an air marshal didn't shoot him.
Subdued by passengers. "LET"S ROLL". I love it.
Take the border trolling to the thousands of threads already devoted to it.
If I'm ever on an airplane and someone makes a threatening move, I'll probably kill the bastard. I'm neverous enough flying as it is.
No kidding. I'm flying from NY to Seattle next summer with the family and if anyone even looks funny I'll be ready to snap their necks.
He's better off just hanging himself in his cell
Whats with the blood lust to see a kooknut smashed to pieces? Sheesh, bunch of fraidy cats on this thing!
Save your rage for a real terrorist. Ride the NYC subway for a year, you'll learn to sort who's who.
After you associate with airline pilots, you'll reconsider.
I do not enjoy the censors around here. I will also say that this kiond of compartmentalized thinking is what has brought us to the point where people don't know their neighbors and think immigration is not their affair. It is something to be handled by Washington.
I have no reason to ever fly again and won't. If I ever hear a loud noise coming down towards me I'll take as much evasive action as I can. ;-)
His actions absolutely terrorized the passengers on the flight. He is a terrorist.
To anyone and particularly moslems and nutjobs: Let it be known that we passengers will hurt you real bad and possibly kill you if you terrorize a flight.
Jesus Christ, lighten up!
LOL!!!
Winner!LOL!
Lame.
He should have been stomped to death rather than detained. That would send a clear message to the next moron who thinks about trying it.
He's lucky he didn't have to be taken to the hospital to remove the size 11 boot from his butt.
Ortega may not be a citizen. The again, he may be. I assume that you have some reason for your post? Some reason other than just showing your ignorance, of course.
Open borders is exactly why we have crap like this and a brand spanking new Department of Homeland Security. Go troll for the new world order internationalists somewhere else. Internationalists are slowly putting a straight-jacket on America.
I bet it's a pointy boot, too :-0
Her (?) reason was so I could get a good laugh. Sheesh, it's just wasted when you have to explain it.
At that price! ha ha ha ha Great post!
Sounds like the perp forgot his meds.
Sorry I ruined it for you...wait a minute...texican? That seems a lot like Mexican...you're not one of "them" are you? :)
It was a joke, and a good one at that, leave him alone.
Yeah, cuz it's so damned original.
I'll comment on anything I like.
Troll
No I don't know of any link. I would appreciate it though, ig you would just disregard what you don't like, instead of appointing yourself thread monitor.
Yes, I'm an ignorant, single-minded troll.
I was spoofing the fact that that phraseology is patois.
Sorry that wasn't obvious.
Walking the plank ..... Walk the Wing.
Yeah, that would have been the right thing to do.[/s]
I'm amazed at the things that are passed of as funny here these days.
Someone lost their sense of humor.
I hope you are NOT referring to me.
haha ok, I'll just say if you go threw life and allow yourself to last you'll have a better time.
last = laugh
It is not eeven a matter of reasoning. Just manners.
Considering that the name has a rather Old Mexico flavor to it, I would say that the post is indeed appropriate. (Jose Manuel Pelayo-Ortega) Also, considering that there are millions of illegals here, there is a very real possibility that Jose could be one.
Oh, and by the way, who made you the overlord of all speech on Free Republic? Most of us like to read more that just your opinion.
Regardless of his intentions, this idiot risked the lives of every man, woman and child on that plane. It was diverted and chased by two F-16s with live ammo, ready to shoot. That is a lot of changes from routine and accidents can happen. Nut job or not, if my loved ones were on that plane, I would want him prosecuted at least to the full limit of the law. Think of the fear, the uncertainty, waiting for loved ones to arrive safely. What about the money spent for fuel for all three jets and wasted man hours? We are not talking about a tiny little thing here.
rageaholic, I'd hope you can do better than an effete "lame". Please explain how this nut job did not terriorize the innocent passengers and crew by his overt intentions and actions.
Americans are fed up with assholes disrupting flights and ARE going to take actions to stop them, including the use of injurious and deadly force.
Please excuse our inability to determine a "nutjobs"'s intentions. Most of us do not have the "privilege" of riding your subway which is apparently overflowing with them.
Most of us still take a persons words and actions at face value, be he a "nutjob" or otherwise.
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