Passenger Behavior Prompts Northwest to Divert Flight

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | 9/12/02 | Liz Fedor

[Paul Ross]

A Northwest Airlines flight from Memphis, Tenn., to Las Vegas was diverted to Arkansas this morning after the flight crew raised concerns about the behavior of some passengers.

Northwest spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert said four of the passengers were detained by authorities.

[Paul Ross]

Film at 11. Well, well. Maybe they did try something today after all.

[finnman69]

The TSA said the three men had been acting strangely on the plane, but gave no specifics beyond saying the three locked themselves in a bathroom.

THREE men in an airline lavatory? That aint mile high club I bet. Plus how do you even get three people in that tiny space?

[ladtx]

..the three locked themselves in a bathroom.

Probably because of the reaction of passengers to any false moves they made.

[eno_]

Ah, our free press: No word on the ethnicity or religiosity of the individuals, no word on whether they exhibited any signs of ritual cleansing, where they came from, what passports (could it be SAUDI?) they were carrying. Just some "behavior." Now let's all sing Kumbaya.

[Robe]

Ft. Smith , Ark?...

Want 'em out, turn off the A/C
They'll be out in 30 mins

[paulklenk]

Plus how do you even get three people in that tiny space?

By chopping them into very small pieces.

[PoisedWoman]

THREE men in an airline lavatory? That aint mile high club I bet.

Could definitely be the mile high clubI once waited for about 10 minutes outside lavatory on long flight over the Pacific...two guys finally emerged, rumpled to the max....a third could easily have fit in if they were very close friends.

[Deguello]

The previous posting stated that these guys may have been Elvis impersonators? Any one verify or note this from the talking heads?

[finnman69]

Could definitely be the mile high clubI once waited for about 10 minutes outside lavatory on long flight over the Pacific...two guys finally emerged, rumpled to the max....a third could easily have fit in if they were very close friends.

ROFL. Members of the mile and 6 inches high club. Friends? LOL, more like rear-admirals. I suppose they could fit if they stood cheek to cheek.

I hope you used a different bathroom after that.

[CatoRenasci]

Mile High Club experiences -- your mileage may vary.....

In my youth I was fortunate enough to be on an almost empty flight from London to Los Angeles -- it had been long delayed and most of the passengers had been moved to other flights, but the plane was needed in LA so a dozen or so of us, mostly university students or recent graduates, and a young, energetic crew, had a wonderful flight of which I shall always retain fond memories of outstanding food (first class food was truly gourmet quality in the early '70s), drink (world class champanges and wines), cigars (this was the '70s) and companionship (anyone else remember the days of "Coffee, Tea or Me?" single stewardesses).

[FormerLurker]

THREE men in an airline lavatory?

I doubt they were in there practicing the Y-M-C-A song....

[KC_Conspirator]

Ah, our free press: No word on the ethnicity or religiosity of the individuals, no word on whether they exhibited any signs of ritual cleansing, where they came from, what passports (could it be SAUDI?) they were carrying. Just some "behavior." Now let's all sing Kumbaya.

Want to make a bet what ethnicity these people are? I can already tell you since they did not even mention it in the article. This is shameful reporting.

[kinghorse]

Let's just ruin September for the rest of eternity. Give me a break. I think some people in air security are going a little overboard and of course the CNN community is gleeful. No wonder the airlines never wanted air marshalls. Bad press.

[Shermy]

http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=930935&nav=2uEGBBaI

FT. SMITH - Five News was first on the air to tell you that a Northwest Airlines airbus flight number 979 had been diverted to the Fort Smith airport.

The flight, carrying about 95 people, took off from Memphis about 8:45 a.m. this morning and was headed to Las Vegas.

Police say four suspicious men, who appeared to be of middle eastern descent, were on board the flight. Officials tell us that the crew was negotiating with the suspects through the bathroom door after the flight landed.

All passengers were taken off the flight safely.

The four suspects were led away in handcuffs.

At this time, local police have taken over the investigation. Right now a portion of Phoenix Avenue is closed to traffic as a safety precaution.

Five News will have updates for you on this breaking story as more details become available.

[Shermy]

AP to the rescue! It's not terrorism! Keep moving....


FORT SMITH, Ark. -- A Northwest Airlines jet diverted to Fort Smith on Wednesday after four passengers behaved strangely on the flight, including at least three who locked themselves in a bathroom, officials said.

Flight 979, an Airbus A320 traveling from Memphis, Tenn., to Las Vegas with 94 passengers and a crew of five, landed at Fort Smith late Wednesday morning, Northwest spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert said. No one was reported hurt.





Federal officials said the diversion was not related to terrorism.

Sgt. Jarrard Copeland, of the Fort Smith Police Department, said members of the flight crew became concerned about the passengers' behavior and were unable to resolve the situation in the air.

"Some of the crew members because suspicious because of some of the actions taken by the four subjects," Copeland said.

Northwest Airlines said the pilots decided to land at Fort Smith's municipal airport as a precaution.

The FBI will question the four suspects (two of them are pictured, above), Copeland said.

The plane's passengers will be put on another flight to Las Vegas, he said.

The airport was closed for 30 minutes, and the military says no fighter jets were scrambled to escort the Airbus A-320.

[abner]

In Arkansas, the Associated Press reported that three passengers locked themselves in a bathroom, and the other passengers departed from the plane safely. Jim Harris, a spokesman for Gov. Mike Huckabee, said the three men appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent.

The Governor seems to think it is important enough to mention.

[LikeLight]

Maybe you can see the picture they mentioned? Swarthy or not?

[Shermy]

Local video link Here:

http://www.thehometownchannel.com/news/1661990/detail.html

[L,TOWM]

>>>>No wonder the airlines never wanted air marshalls. Bad press.<<<<<

F' em. If the airlines don't want air marshalls, than they should get a shield law passed so they don't get sued for inspecting the clymers of Achmeds with a microscope prior to allowing them on a plane, instead of giving body cavity searches to 70 year old grandmas. /rant

[Shermy]