On Monday 11 February 2002 12:30, Eric Cordian wrote: > Some guy on a flight to SLC tries to go to the bathroom 5 minutes later > than allowed, and then pauses before following orders to return to his > seat. > > So of course, Armed Air Marshals immediately take over the cabin. > > The guy with the weak bladder faces 20 years in prison, for defying the > state in the form of a flight crew.
What was he supposed to do? Pee in his seat? The way the air marshal reacted reminded me of kindergarten. "Since one of you disobeyed, all of you have to put your heads on your desks until told otherwise." feh! I live in a state where the economy is being helped into the sewer because of the absurd travel restrictions. Oregon has a high percentage of high-tech companies that are owned by out of state entities. (For some weird reason, they think that they have to have a Silicon Valley address or they will not be thought of as "special".) Before this stupidity started, most business between such offices was done by hopping on a plane every couple of days. Now that is less than practical. I know at least one person who has lost her job due to the office being shut down because it was just too much hassle having a satelite office in Oregon. Intel got around the previous rules by having private jets. I have not heard if they have had to follow the same silly restrictions since the "Sept 11th excuse". (I have not been back to San Jose since last August, which is fine by me since it is one of the most BORING places I have ever been. It needs a large band that says "Sanitized for your protection" wrapped around the city.) I doubt if anyone in Washington will get a clue and change things any time soon. Not until businesses get a clue and beat on their various purchaced congress-critters. > > ----- > > SALT LAKE CITY -- An airline passenger who allegedly got up to go the > bathroom less than 30 minutes before landing became the first person > arrested under a new federal flight regulation adopted for the Olympics. > > Richard Bizarro, 59, could get up to 20 years in prison on charges of > interfering with a flight crew. > > Bizarro was on a Delta flight from Los Angeles on Saturday when he > allegedly left his seat 25 minutes before landing, despite two warnings > from the captain to the 90 passengers to stay put as required under the > 30-minute rule adopted for Salt Lake City by the Federal Aviation > Administration. > > Because of the incident, air marshals aboard the plane ordered all > passengers to put their hands on their heads for the rest of the flight. > > Bizarro was jailed overnight and released on his own recognizance > > Authorities said a flight attendant instructed Bizarro to return to his > seat immediately after he left the bathroom. She said Bizarro, who is > 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, ignored her orders and stared at her for about a > minute before returning to his seat, according to the FBI. > > The incident was seen by two of three undercover air marshals on board, > the FBI said. One of the agents said he saw Bizarro give what appeared to > be a "thumbs up" to another passenger as he returned to his seat, > prompting the marshals to take control of the cabin. > > The Salt Lake City rule requiring no passenger movement during the last 30 > minutes went into effect Feb. 5. It already had been in effect for flights > to Reagan International Airport in Washington.
