Man Smokes, Urinates In Aisle; United Diverts Flight

ClickonDetroit ^ | November 26, 2005 | AP

[ShadowDancer]

Man Smokes, Urinates In Aisle; United Diverts Flight,

POSTED: 11:24 am EST November 26, 2005
UPDATED: 11:35 am EST November 26, 2005

CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Pilots diverted a United Airlines flight traveling from Orlando, Fla., to Washington, D.C., after a passenger lit a cigarette and urinated in the aisle.

The plane landed Friday night in Charlotte, N.C., where the man was taken into custody by federal authorities.

A United Airlines spokeswoman said flight attendants noticed the man appeared drunk not long after the plane left Orlando. She said the man later lit a cigarette and began to argue with a flight attendant who asked him to put it out.

The spokeswoman said that, after the exchange, the man stood up and urinated in the plane's aisle.

[r9etb]

Urinating and breastfeeding are the same, you know.

Yup. And they're both healthy drinks, too.

Well, Gandhi did recommend a glass of urine every day as the secret to health...

[RichInOC]

That's nothing. About ten years ago, on another United flight, Buenos Aires to JFK, one of their first-class passengers got drunk, got cut off by the stews, got in an argument with the stews after he got caught trying to sneak bottles off the galley cart, and finally took a dump on said cart. For what should be obvious reasons, that episode has stuck in my mind as the gold(en brown) standard for air rage.

[savedbygrace]

"Bailiff, whack his peepee."

[Cuttnhorse]

How about, rubbed his nose in it, swatted him with newspapers, and put him up in the bathroom?

LOL!! Somehow I just knew this thread would be full of laughs.

[bigsigh]

As a sugar addict, I understand.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Drunks and airplanes do not mix - either in the cockpit OR the passenger seats!!!!!!!!

[freedumb2003]

All in all, it was not a bad experience and I was impressed by the speed and courtesy of the process.

I fly twice a week and have nothing but praise for TSA. The few anecdotes you hear about bad TSA behavior from time to time are abberations.

They are unfailingly polite and helpful and many of them have a great sense of humor.

[ErnBatavia]

Bet you had to forfeit your lighter, though...

[rock58seg]

I think his defense will be that he is a "homeless person" taking a plane ride. Going somewhere by airplane is so much more stressful than hitchhiking. Also drinks are available when desired, instead of having to get to a store.

Everyone here is down on this poor disadvantaged individual for acting normally. You should all reflect on how shamefully you, yourselves, are acting instead. This man is the true embodiment of freedom. Defecating in public!!! Peeing in the streets!!! Sleeping on sidewalks!!! Drunk and disorderly at all hours!!! Smoking when you got em!!! All of you want this free blythe spirit to harm his own psyche. SHAME, SHAME.

WHERE IS YOUR HUMANITY??

sarc/

[ErnBatavia]

I was gonna post that same story, but decided I'd better scroll first. What a way to say "So there! I've just pinched off a loaf onto the seatback tray - whatcha gonna do about it?"

[CindyDawg]

Don't you just love it though when they get mad and decide they are leaving?

[reformedliberal]

Agree! It isn't an easy job, either. Those agents were also hauling and hefting bags at the top weight limit quickly and efficiently. They helped all of us who were new to etickets, and never lost their cool. The woman agent in Maui who found the problem with my bag zipper was so natural, helpful and matter-of-fact that this had to be her usual work persona.

We are now in process of planning another vacation as soon as we can save the money for it. Having a positive flying experience (American) was a huge part of it.

[RichInOC]

Never known somebody to try that on a flight I was on. At least not yet.

[reformedliberal]

Oh, yeah. But I had purchased it in Maui and knew I had to leave it behind. I actually thought I had left it in the hotel room and was amazed when they found it, until the agent described it and I knew I had forgotten to get rid of it. Since it cost me about $1 in a Long's Drug and they routinely gave book matches if you bought cigarettes, it was no big deal.

The agent did tell me that they have changed the rules again (I had checked at the TSA site before leaving, but this happened after that) and now, even pre-filled lighters are allowed in checked baggage. We had a large nail clipper in our checked luggage, as well. The small one in the carry-on was also allowed.

Some of it does seem so Mickey Mouse and laughable, but I think they are working at getting it right and as unobtrusive as possible. I actually think it all went faster than it did the last time we flew in 2000. We will find out what its like to come back into the country through Customs the next time, but I have done that a lot in the past and it was always fairly efficient, as we never had anything to declare. Even coming into Miami or LAX with planes from all over the world and agents with dogs was only chaos until you got through the dogs and out into the Residents line.

[TruthWillWin]

LOL

[WV Mountain Mama]

I think I will take a pass on Gandhi's advice.... :)

[Hardastarboard]

How is this different from any typical Northwest airlines flight?

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

When will the persecution of smokers stop?

[sit-rep]

LOL... this guy is a real class act... They should have threw his ass out the plane...

[BackInBlack]

LOL