From the Boston Globe, via Blackfive:
Shortly before landing, Bob Hayden and a flight attendant had agreed on a signal: When she waved the plastic handcuffs, he would discreetly leave his seat and restrain an unruly passenger who had frightened some of the 150 people on board a Minneapolis-to-Boston flight Saturday night with erratic behavior.Hayden, a 65-year-old former police commander, had enlisted a gray-haired gentleman sitting next to him to assist. The man turned out to be a former US Marine.
"I had looked around the plane for help, and all the younger guys had averted their eyes. When I asked the guy next to me if he was up to it, all he said was, 'Retired captain. USMC.' I said, 'You'll do,' " Hayden recalled. "So, basically, a couple of grandfathers took care of the situation."
I'm with Blackfive on this, Hayden's wife's comments at the end of the piece are perfect.
This would not happen in Canada.
Kudos to the senior citizens on taking action.
Of course they're not so removed from an age where self-reliance was more the norm than depending on the socialist nanny state. A time when misbehaviour wasn't likely to culminate in some ridiculous award being conferred by the courts to the miscreant for "damages" suffered in controlling him, while punishing the innocent parties for taking action.
It really appears that that plane of sheep were really lucky they had two old sheepdogs aboard.
“Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident.”
The full story here:
http://colecoop.blogspot.com/2007/06/sheepdog-on-plane.html
Some people just deal with things!
The older generation will be sadly missed.
76 year old Buzz Aldrin gives this guy exactly what he deserves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQKxAqpjroo
This would not happen in Canada.
You obviously don't know some of the CF vets that I do.
Kevin ...
It could also be that they were raised in a time where there wasn't the risk of getting stabbed or shot if you got in a grade school fight; or if you're lucky enough not to be fighting someone with a knife if you fall down you'll be lucky enough to have someone jump on your head until you passout/die.
I know how to fight and I know how to defend myself but there is absolutely no way that I'm going to get into a fight unless my life is at risk.
Wife's comment is indeed perfect!!!
Air Canada likely has rules that, in the event of a terrorist takeover of a plane, that the passengers should be instructed to fasten seatbelts, bend at the waist, clasp their knees and kiss their ass so long.
NoOne: "I know how to fight and I know how to defend myself but there is absolutely no way that I'm going to get into a fight unless my life is at risk."
Perhaps, NoThing, He perceived that someone's life was in danger, and that was enough for him, which I would submit is the difference between he and thee.
'Seems that even those of us who resist the brainwashing of the sheeple in Canada end up with collateral damage.
I couldn't get the thought out of my head, "What happens when they land? What officials are going to be on their case because they jumped a deranged man on the plane? Are they going to be the guys in jail and not the looney-tune?"
'See what I mean?
'Seems that even those of us who resist the brainwashing of the sheeple in Canada end up with collateral damage.
I couldn't get the thought out of my head, "What happens when they land? What officials are going to be on their case because they jumped a deranged man on the plane? Are they going to be the guys in jail and not the looney-tune?"
'See what I mean?
True, the chance of someone using a weapon is probably greater today, but there were others at risk including no doubt women & children.
Guys like this are ready to put their own welfare on the line for others, with the selfishness that so often seems inherent in younger generations that kind selflessness is rarer today. A case of separating the true men from the ... whatever.
Oh, and last time I checked it was pretty difficult to board a flight while packing a firearm or knife.
I was a paratrooper for ten years and now I am a flight service director . I profile passengers upon boarding,I will not let anyone else board the aircraft . The airline does not know I do this nor would I tell them for I would be canned. But I will be sure that I make it home to see my kids after every flight. For what it is worth I never fly wide bodied aircraft, it is impossible to monitor every body who is on the flight and on those aircraft my duties take me away from the door during boarding thus leaving me blind as to who is on board.
I can't figure out why the guy was aloud to fly, seeing as he was acting in a very strange way before the flight left the ground.
I guess he could have sued if the airline didn't let him on. But what's better: an airline being sued or a possible cataclysm in the air because of this guy's erratic behaviour?
Common sense is taking flight these days...
"aloud to fly"
Hmm...perfect Fredian slip. He was being loud and erratic, after all...
..."Fredian slip"????
Who's Fred? Was the guy's name Fred?
Freudian slip is what I meant to write.
"This would not happen in Canada"
Darn right, not with the pitbulls Air Canada hires.
Wonder if there was some latte-type guy on board who was glad the crew, with help, we're able to control the situation and land the plane safley.
Cause then he could get to his protest march;
Raw Raw !! Down with Police brutality !! Burn the Marines in effigy !! Thanks for joining us, Taliban Jack !! Those of 'free-spirit' will rule the Earth !! Make love, not war !!
The day of the vigilante is coming - or returning - thanks to the restrictions put on the average Joe that doesn't allow him (us) to protect ourselves.
Stand back bad guys - the good guys are on the way.
Kudos to these gentlemen!
One of the better articles that I've read. The Cop's wife's comments were priceless.
What I like to think wouldn't happen in Canada is that we wouldn't have a shortage of folks to help.
Pat
Please forgive me, the young men in that aircraft were pussies.
I frequently fly Air Canada on business. About half my flights are code-shares with United. Air Canada deserves kudos for trying to make air travel a little more civilized again -- I've been pretty impressed with the service most of the time, the planes are clean and modern (unlike, sayt, Delta), and I have no doubt that the flight attendants could kick some ass if they had to. Especially the female francophone attendants who all seem to have a chip on their shoulder. I would not want to mess with them. Well... actually... I would, but under controlled conditions. But not too controlled.
Anyway. The United flights are interesting, and you can really tell that United is carrying scars from 2001. The safety and security instructions make it pretty clear that they do not want you wandering around the plane -- while Air Canada says you should remain seated for safety, United's preflight script just tells you to stay seated. The tone of voice makes it clear why. They are also pretty firm about the lavatories -- federal law requires you to use the can in your section of the plane. Cattle cannot use the first class pisser, and first class passengers cannot wander to the public trough at the back of the cattle section. And no gathering in the aisles -- don't even think about that.
But what I find most interesting about United flights is what the crew does when someone from the cockpit needs to go to the bathroom: a flight attendant will barricade the aisle leading to the cockpit with a service cart while the flight deck crew member goes in and out of the lavatory and cockpit. The first time I noticed this, I thought they were just serving drinks in first class. After seeing this on several flights, it's clear what they are doing: they block the aisles and the flight attedants seem to be on heightened alert while the flight deck crews are moving in and out of the cockpit.
I dunno. While it's amusing to poke fun at Air Canada for being the national airline of a terror-supporting state, I don't think the crews on an AC flight would let it happen. I certainly hope that they won't let it happen, especially on the flight I need to take tomorrow evening.
What will this earth be like when there are no common sense brave old farts left to defend the right?
Maybe the teachers union can take over.
h.ryan ... thank you!! and please, keep doing what you're doing.
"What will this earth be like when there are no common sense brave old farts left to defend the right?"
Oh come on. Antonia Zebra-fat-chick will protect us.
Once a marine alway a marine SEMPTER FI
I think that after us old fart are gone we are going to be replaced with some pretty tough young fellows who are currently doing a fine job for us in Afganastan.
Actually, it has happened on Air Canada
"He was holding the gun in his right hand and the grenade in the other hand," says a crew member about the man who hijacked Air Canada Flight 932 on Dec. 26, 1971. She describes how the plane from Thunder Bay was only 20 minutes from Toronto International Airport when an armed hijacker aboard passed a note that read: "Think. We have fragmentary grenades, and a .38 calibre revolver. Take me to the captain. We're going to Havana. This is no joke."
From what I recall the hijacker was overcome by a pilot (?) using a fire axe. That was back in the days when there was no security.
I don't know what the official cuttoff for "younger generations" is but my friends and I are mid-thirthies and we've taken care of business more than once - although never on an airplane.
Of course several of my friends are former CF and there's more than a few rugby players amongst our lot...
...i long for the days when Dirty Harry/Clint Eastwood films will become popular again and not History channel or Turner archive specials...