Fist fight over seat height invites dual F-16 flight

[RoryN]

Seriously. Ridiculous.

Plane returns after fistfight between passengers

By JOAN LOWY
The Associated Press
updated 26 minutes ago 2011-05-31T23:59:44

WASHINGTON — Government and airline officials say a United Airlines plane with 144 people aboard returned to Washington-Dulles International Airport for an emergency landing escorted by two F-16 fighter jets after a fight broke out between passengers.

Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says Flight 990 bound for Accra, Ghana, returned to Dulles in Chantilly, Va., just after midnight Sunday after a fistfight in the cabin.

Government officials confirmed that fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

United spokesman Mike Trevino said Tuesday that the Boeing 767 dumped fuel as a safety precaution to lighten its weight on landing.

The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, reported that the fight began not long after takeoff when a passenger lowered his seat and a passenger behind him objected.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43230992/ns/travel-news/

 

[KRCummings]

See, that doesn't happen in first class because the seats are farther apart and comfy. Coach is for people who fight over such things.

 

[stephen55]

And what, exactly, were the F-16s supposed to do?

 

[RoryN]

And what, exactly, were the F-16s supposed to do?

"Roger, two males on radar at 9 o' clock, deploying fists. Launching Sidewinder missiles on my mark..."

 

[JenAltArmy]

terminate the jack ass who objected to the seat height

Seriously. Ridiculous.



Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43230992/ns/travel-news/

 

[Xstatic]

Better to have & not need, than need & not have...

In this day & age, one can never be too careful. It's easy to say they over-reacted, now that everyone is safe & on the ground. But what if the fistfight had been a diversion for others intent on further mayhem? And what would be said if the plane had been hijacked & used as a missile - and the fighters hadn't been there?

 

[Loring2]

And what, exactly, were the F-16s supposed to do?

Have you ever seen what those air-to-air missiles can do?
There is no fighting after a brace of those.

Oh you mean; why were they there at all?

Yeah ... good question

 

[Frothydog]

Better to have & not need, than need & not have...

In this day & age, one can never be too careful. It's easy to say they over-reacted, now that everyone is safe & on the ground. But what if the fistfight had been a diversion for others intent on further mayhem? And what would be said if the plane had been hijacked & used as a missile - and the fighters hadn't been there?

Sadly, you are absolutely right.

 

[theseidlehands]

I wonder how much that cost.

 

[LJ_Reloaded]

How do you know the brawling passengers were white?

Police met the two passengers at the gate when Flight 990 landed back at Dulles early Monday morning, but neither passenger was injured and they were not arrested, said airport spokesman Rob Yingling.