Passenger Who Wanted to Land Hawaii-Bound Plane Appears in Court, Charged With Felony

AP ^ | Jan 2, 2004 | Jaymes Song

[Kaslin]

HONOLULU (AP) - 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.

[boris]

Some interesting substance(s) in his blood, I suppose.

[Mr. Mojo]

"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."

Rubber room resident.

[Moonman62]

A fast growing brain tumor perhaps.

[Mr. Mojo]

Lysergic acid diethylamide, most likely.

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[Catspaw]

Gee, it's not often one gets to see a psychotic break.

[KantianBurke]

ROTFLMAO!!!! What a fruitcake

[Luis Cyphier]

No LSD required I think it was the NEA.

[ikka]

"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."

Isn't this from the lyrics of a 70's song?

[PJ-Comix]

"My sole purpose on this mission was to see the beach," the 31-year-old Tennessee man said.

Leonardo DeCrapio already did that flick and it SUCKED.

[CindyDawg]

It would be interesting to know what grade he teaches and if he has taken these trips before.

[Servant of the 9]

I wonder just what kind of Science they teach in Tenn. these days?

So9

[Revolting cat!]

Yep, I think the dude had listened to too much Carole King and Jackson Browne!

[PAR35]

If he just wanted to see the beach, why didn't he just go to the Redneck Rivera - it would have been a lot cheaper, and he would have gotten there before his medications wore off.

[witnesstothefall]

"Where's Geragos? Where's Geragos

I see another liberal has short-circuited. Still no word whether the defect is in Production or Design?

[VOA]

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.

I don't know the full details.
But at first blush, I find this EXTREMELY disturbing.

ANYONE rushing a cockpit door should be lucky to leave the plane alive.
And probably be unable to speak to the judge until extensive dental work is done.


Not even three years after 9-11...and we've returned to being sheep.

OK, maybe a some passsengers tried to help, but maybe this science teacher is a pencil-necked
geek...and the crew was telling the passengers..."He's cuffed...please don't
beat him because we ALL could get sued."

[sarasmom]

Initial symptoms of onset nvCJD-Mad Cow disease?