Posted on 10/10/2001 6:08:34 PM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK
Jet Diverted After Cabin Incident
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A Delta airliner bound for California was diverted to Shreveport with an escort of two military planes Wednesday after a passenger passed a threatening note to a flight attendant, the FBI said. Flight 357, with 148 people aboard from Atlanta to Los Angeles, landed safely after what the airline described as a ``passenger incident.'' Edward A. Stephenson, 36, of Venice, Calif., was arrested and charged with interfering with a flight crew member and attendants, FBI spokeswoman Sheila Thorne said. The passenger's note was in response to an announcement by the pilot that they would be taking a different flight path because of bad weather, U.S. Attorney Bill Flanagan said. ``The passenger handed a note to the flight attendant that contained language that the pilot should not divert from the original flight path, and some other language which seemed bizarre,'' Flanagan said. ``It didn't make a lot of sense, but at the same time it was alarming.'' The man did not make any physical threats, Flanagan said. The Boeing 757 reported a problem at 2:43 p.m. and landed 26 minutes later. Stephenson appeared disoriented when he was taken off the plane, police said. Thorne said prosecutors planned to seek a mental evaluation of the suspect. Delta spokeswoman Cindi Kurczewski said there were 139 passengers and nine crew members aboard the jetliner. She said the plane was diverted ``due to a passenger incident,'' but referred questions to authorities. The flight was escorted by two military planes, an F-16 fighter and an A-10, airport director Roy Miller said. The flight continued on to Los Angeles less than two hours after landing in Shreveport. On Monday, two F-16s were sent to escort an American Airlines jetliner to Chicago after a deranged man burst into the cockpit. Passengers tackled him, and the flight landed without incident. One day later, a passenger on the same American flight from Los Angeles became intoxicated and unruly, striking a flight attendant. The FBI said the 31-year-old Australian was forced into his seat and several passengers helped guard him until the plane landed in Chicago. |
But if anything, my comment is even more apt
***An ass-kicking he’ll never forget from the rest of the passengers.***
Funniest thing I have read today. Thanks!
**On Monday, two F-16s were sent to escort an American Airlines jetliner to Chicago after a deranged man burst into the cockpit.**
How did that happen? I thought the doors were passenger proof.
“A-10? Must be running low on fighters”
It was most likley in the air at the right place at the right time.
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