Okay, this one’s getting some harsh play out there, but I’m not all that certain that it’s yet another example of airline security run amok.
The Feds have adopted a “no getting out of your seat for 30 minutes before the plan lands” rule for Salt Lake City flights, modeled after one recently put in place for National Airport in Washington. The idea makes a certain measure of sense. With sky marshalls on board, trying to hijack a flight at the beginning has gotten dicier, but some nut somehow forcing his way into the cockpit for a few crucial moments as a plane approaches the Olympics (or all of Washington, DC) might be easier to pull off.
So the pilot lets everyone know about this, twice. And as they enter the final 30 minutes, a large gent (unfortunately named Bizarro), gets up out of his seat anyway, and uses the head.
A flight attendant exhorted him to return to his seat immediately. He acted in a hostile fashion, and was observed by two undercover sky marshalls, one of whom thought he saw the gent flash a thumbs-up signal to another passenger.
Taking no risks (that’s what they’re paid for, after all), the sky marshalls took control of the cabin, and forced all passengers to keep their hands on their heads for the rest of the flight.
Now, to read some accounts, this was just plane stupid. I’m not so sure. I think it falls into the “better safe than sorry” category, especially since the guy was breaking a twice-announced rule, and was behaving in a less than apologetic fashion.
Bottom line, this is not a time to be rude or disobedient to flight crews. If you really have to go to the head in that thirty minutes, you damned well run to it with your legs crossed, and be damned apologetic when you exit. Better yet, go before the announced deadline.
Yeah, even I, cursed with a teeny tiny bladder, can manage for an hour… although they may need a zone for others who may not be able to wait … what a world.
Bizarro’s behaviour sounds totally unacceptable in today’s climate of fear. Maybe his first name should be Dork.
After all, the entire passenger list of that plane might have risen up against him and bashed his head in with a hatchet… Not like that is so implausible, hhhmmmm?
I have no great fondness for mob violence. But the idea that the public might actually do violence to a threat rather than, sheeplike, acquiesce and wait for someone else to step up to the plate, is kind of neat.
And, heck, as an old reader of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, the idea that they might do it to someone who is being rude isn’t an altogether unhappy thought, either.