Passenger plane escorted by F15s due to unruly passenger
 

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Portland, Oregon (CNN) -- Two F-15 fighter jets escorted a passenger jet that had been headed for Hawaii back to Portland International Airport in Oregon after a passenger in coach became "uncooperative," an airline official said Wednesday.

Hawaiian Airlines Flight 39 took off from Portland at 10:10 a.m. with 231 passengers and a crew of 10 when -- 90 minutes into the flight -- its captain decided to turn around the Boeing 767, said Keoni Wagner, the airline's vice president of public affairs.

The fighter jets intercepted the plane at 1 p.m., North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a written statement.

It landed at 1:16 p.m. without further incident, the TSA said.

Upon the plane's return, the passenger -- a 56-year-old Salem, Oregon, man -- was escorted from the plane with his female companion without incident, the FBI and the Port of Portland said in a joint statement.

The FBI said it was not releasing his name because he had not been charged.

FBI agents and Port officers interviewed the passenger and his companion, the flight crew and others, then released the two and referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review.

Local and federal officers searched the plane, then allowed it to depart again for Hawaii, absent the pair.

Too much alcohol?

I know what happened on Christmas was serious, but I think this is getting a bit overboard.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty and there may be details that come out in this that show the airline crew overreacted. These days, if I'm on a plane I'd rather they be safe than sorry. I can be late for my trip to Hawaii.

The local stations here in Portland have said that the crew asked him to stow a bag, he refused, and then got threatening. Again, maybe it will turn out the crew was rude and he tried to explain, words were exchanged ...whatever.

Right now, from my point of view if I'm a passenger on a plane less than a month after a flight had a bomber on board I know a couple of things: a) When airline personnel make a request you comply. If you don't think it's fair or you don't like their tone you right a letter to the company AFTER you have landed. You don't get into an argument with them on the plane while it's up. b) If you've got a bag you refuse to let go of - even to stow, it has to occur to you someone is going to worry and get suspicious. c) Even before 9/11 it isn't safe to keep a bag on your lap while the plane's ascending (I assume it was). For everyone's safety bags should be stowed throughout a trip but particularly when you are going up and coming down.

Again, details may come out that will show this guy was entirely within his rights and the crew completely overreacted, but given the circumstances they face everyday and the fact they have thousands of lives in their hands daily I think they have that right. If the guy did refuse to stow a bag when they asked him to and he got threatening - I hope they charge him with everything they can. There's no place for that on a plane in this day and age.

The thing that I think went overboard was the escort of Eagles. What good would they have done?

this thread is perfect for this hot mess.

wow.damn

welcome to obama's america

Shoot the plane out of the sky and kill everyone? I guess you've gotta do what you've gotta do. :eek:

I believe USAF shootdown policy (this coming from a recruiter I knew in HS, don't know how accurate it is) is to have the fighter switch to guns and buzz the flaps and/or wings, damaging the plane enough to force it to put down. There's no way a civilian airliner is going to get a Sidewinder in the tailpipe.

I'm pretty sure we had airplanes escorted by fighter jets in W's day....let me search for a story.

After the Christmas incident (but moreso I would probably add, the plane that went down mysteriously over the Atlantic), what did you expect?

And thsi is probably a result of policy made after 9/11.

How's this:

Less than 1 month after 9/11


So actually I would think this is SOP if problems arise from any unruly passenger making threats against a plane's safety.

Thanks....I knew I remembered something!

This is SOP for the Air Force. They don't ever WANT to shoot down a civilian airliner, but if they must sacrifice 200 to save thousands, they may. I wouldn't want to make that call, and I don't know of any command pilot anywhere who does.

When golfer Payne Stewart's plane crashed in October 2009, it was being escorted by USAF fighters who were prepared to shoot it down if necessary. It's not only airliners they are prepared for.