Air Canada plane diverted after man (not pilot) steals beer

[Sulako]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... le1322389/

Kelowna, B.C. — The Canadian Press Published on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 8:02PM EDT

Police took a man off an Air Canada Jazz flight in Kelowna, B.C., Tuesday after a disturbance on the flight from Vancouver to Fort McMurray, Alberta forced the pilot to make an unscheduled stop.

Police say the man stole some beer from the beverage cart on the plane and tried to hide the evidence by flushing the empty can down the toilet.

Airport Communications Officer Jenelle Turpin says the pilot made the decision to land in Kelowna and call in the Mounties.

When the plane landed the RCMP took one man away in handcuffs, while questioning two others before releasing them.

The plane then continued on its flight.

[golden hawk]

A good captain knows when trouble is brewing....

[Captain Slog]

Why divert? No RCMP in Fort McMurray or is stealing beer not illegal in Fort McMurray?

[MUSKEG]

Excellent choice captain. Being an asshole is grounds for a diversion to throw his ass off the airplane any time any where. Done that a time or two myself. I have zero tollerance for jerks.

[Tango01]

Wouldn't the diversion cost more than a $3.00 can of beer?

[natej]

Wouldn't the diversion cost more than a $3.00 can of beer?

Maybe the pilot was saving that beer to help with the YMM approach?

[Kilo-Kilo]

Guy's, there was more to the story than that little blurb. Saw them arresting the guy on the news last night, and what a couple of impressive friends he had with them. I'm sure their employer in Fort Mac was really impressed with the quality image these guys dished out for the oil patch industry on Global.

[Four1oh]

Isn't this normal for a Ft Mac flight?

[Sleeve of Wizard]

Excellent choice captain. Being an asshole is grounds for a diversion to throw his ass off the airplane any time any where. Done that a time or two myself. I have zero tollerance for jerks.

Unless this guy was a danger to the other people on board, wouldn't you say that the person who made the call to divert is the "jerk?"

[MUSKEG]

No I wouldn't. If you choose to be an asshole and you are in my environment you have two choices. Go some where I don't have to put up with you or, act civilized. Since acting decent is not in some peoples ability, you talk to them in a language they understand. Why do we think it's funny when people are rude, ignorant, beligerant and stupid. You can bet he's on the airlines no fly list. Boy he sure showed them huh. Oh and about that job he HAD.

[username:]

Wouldn't the diversion cost more than a $3.00 can of beer?

You mean a $6.00 can of beer

[Sleeve of Wizard]

I simply find it difficult to justify proving a point to one asshole and inconvenience the other 50 odd people board. Not to mention the people in YMM waiting for their return flight. I sure hope there was more to this than that blurb.

[teacher]

The story is brief on facts. What if the passenger become confrontational when he got caught, was the lav damaged when he tried to hide the evidence. This guy had 2 friends aboard so 3 pax against 1 FA, did he or she feel threatened by possibly intoxicated passengers? All of the listed situations are pure speculation. Nobody other than the FA and other pax know the exact details I commend the crew for taking the safest approach to dealing with this situation. ZERO TOLERANCE onboard aircraft is the way it should be.

BTW, aren't there laws now where an unruly passenger can be billed/sued for the cost of the diversion?

[just curious]

Presuming that he was being obnoxious as well as a thief, I would have done the same thing if I were working the back end. Sitting in the front end, I get wind of belligerent behavior, and it's "Nearest Suitable Airport" time.

Why would anyone tolerate a correctable in-flight hazard?

I'll just edit this to add, (after the Globe and Mail commentary, mostly sent in by the beer stealers redheaded step children) the one nice bit out of the findings- the new captain's brief that I may just start using as soon as I can polish up the french version:

Reading some of comments here I'm imagining the passenger briefing I'd never be allowed to give from the left seat.

Attention morons, this is your captain speaking. Here's how it works.
Rule # 1. I'm PIC. This is my plane and I'm responsible for all of your lives. So while I get us all from A to B at mach 0.82 today why don't you avoid letting stupid things escape from your stupid piehole when attempting to impress the cabin crew, sit your beer-soaked a** in your seat when the cabin crew request it, and just enjoy the ride.
Rule # 2. When in doubt, refer back to rule #1.
Thanks and have a nice flight.

thanks Mr My .02

[Bede]

Jazz has clear guidelines in the COM for when to divert and when to issue a warning. I can't comment on what it actually says or what the crew should have done because it's secure information. Sorry.

[viennatech]

THIS is why I fly Porter. The beer is cold, free and the ladies are happy to serve you another if you ask nicely.

No wallet or goons required.

[amraam]

Vienna,

Finding it hard to go from YVR-YMM on Porter these days?

amraam

[Flaps 1 Billion]

Just another flight to Ft Mac with a couple mooks onboard acting like a holes, same old.

[b1ngnx33]

Yup.

This is all the proof we need to make a beer drinker registry.

One man cannot handle beer, therefore no one can.

[AirFrame]

Good thing those three didn't try to take any peanuts... They might have been assaulted!

(sorry)

[Four1oh]

Maybe the article left out the part where he got violent, but I'm having a hard time understanding the reasoning for a diversion. I'm going to give the crew the benefit of the doubt and assume he was a safety risk to others on the plane, and not just an obnoxious asshat.

[Captain S itmagnet]

I was not there, but...

I am sure that a metal can churning around within the electric pump of the lav is not a good thing - ie jamming, overheating etc. That could be reason enough for a divert. FWIW AvHerald in its synoposis refers to the passengers/louts as "intoxicated". That is also reason enough for the divert from this viewpoint. The crew was also not subjecting the other folks on board any further anxiety (translation maintaining a safe environment for them) by not waiting around for whatever antics these yahoos may have considered next. It appears the problem was nipped in the bud.
BS behaviour is not funny aboard a plane, nor should it be tolerated.
CSM

[MUSKEG]

And just where do you think the water pump is? It certainly is NOT in the flush chamber. Why do people just verbalize their ignorance. A can will almost certainly not fit into the intake line even if it were in the grey water side. Hint.......The pump will be on the fresh water side in line. It will not be a submersible.

[Four1oh]

And, the pump may not even operate at altitude, since some designs use cabin pressure above a certain cabin diff.

[Raybanman]

Bottom line: The guy was a dumbass and disobeyed crew. He gets off. You listen to the crew or you don't ride. Thats how it works.

You can't let one incident slide, no matter how minor you may think the offense is. If you let one person get away with disobeying your crew, you allow the possibility of escalation. For what? A beer? Good on him for diverting. Don't mess with the crew.


PP