***Warning if you read the last paragraph of this article, you WILL spew all over your keyboards....so, don't take a sip! Remember you were warned. ROFL!****
Arrested Plane Passenger Appears in Court
JAYMES SONG
Associated Press
HONOLULU - A science teacher who tried to break into the cockpit of a Hawaii-bound Northwest Airlines flight - screaming the world was coming to an end - told a judge Friday he was on a mission to see the beach.
Brandon Gabriel Rines was charged Friday with interfering with a flight crew. During his court appearance, Rines was talkative, erratic and disruptive - arguing with his public defender and U.S. Magistrate Barry Kurren.
"My sole purpose on this mission was to see the beach," the 31-year-old Tennessee man said. "I have not seen the ocean. I have not tasted the rain."
Rines' journey began in Knoxville, Tenn., where he caught a plane to Detroit on Thursday morning and then connected on a flight to Hawaii.
According to court documents, he allegedly approached the DC-10's cockpit about 90 minutes outside of Honolulu, screaming "We need to land this plane now. We need to get on the ground."
He returned to his seat, but later rushed the cockpit again, yelling, "The world is coming to an end," and "I am going to land this plane," before being subdued and handcuffed by the flight crew.
U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. said Rines "violently" tried to gain access to the cockpit, getting within "touching distance" of the reinforced door.
"The passengers on that plane were very fearful for their safety and very concerned with his actions," Kubo said. No injuries were reported and no weapons were used, authorities said.
Kurren has ordered a mental competency evaluation for Rines, who faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the felony charge.
In court, Rines would not allow a public defender to speak on his behalf. He also interrupted Kurren several times, saying he didn't know what he was being charged with and that he wanted to represent himself, or hire his own attorney.
"I move to dismiss. I don't want to be represented," Rines said. "Where's Geragos? Where's Geragos," referring to Mark Geragos, the high-profile Los Angeles defense attorney representing pop star Michael Jackson and murder suspect Scott Peterson.
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/7622135.htm"....referring to Mark Geragos, the high-profile Los Angeles defense attorney representing pop star Michael Jackson and murder suspect Scott Peterson."
Oh goodness! Well, based on what I've seen so far, I don't think I'd want Geragos defending me. This shows that the guy really is out of his mind!