Newsstand - Riot at 30,000 feet over reclining seat (BA)

A BRITISH Airways pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger reclined his seat, annoyed the man behind him - and sparked a mid-air riot.

Twenty people were caught up in the mass brawl at 30,000ft, and a stewardess suffered gashes to the head as she tried to intervene.

The fight broke out an hour before the plane was due to land in Heathrow after a man on the Boeing 747, carrying 290 passengers from Lagos in Nigeria, reclined his seat.

The man sitting behind him complained and when the other passenger refused to put it back up he got up and punched him.

Then friends of the two men waded in, attacking each other with fists, bottles and belts.

One even tried to get through to first class where they have metal cutlery to grab a knife as a terrified woman passenger knelt down and prayed in the aisle.

Members of the crew eventually managed to handcuff two Nigerian men while the pilot alerted air traffic control and jumped the queue to make an emergency landing at Heathrow.
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/06/24/riot-at-30-000-feet---over-reclining-seat---98487-19347336/

The only good thing Ryanair has ever done is to get rid of reclining seats on their 738's. I regard anyone who reclines their seat in Economy as being a tad ignorant. There just isn't room.

There just isn't room.There is on some airlines. RyanAir isn't one of them, though.

The only good thing Ryanair has ever done is to get rid of reclining seats on their 738's.

Is that the same airline that did away with window shades, too (or is that EasyJet)? Haven't flown either of them since I made the jump to One World.

I regard anyone who reclines their seat in Economy as being a tad ignorant.
:rolleyes:

Twenty people? :eek: Were they all drunk? :confused:

I regard anyone who reclines their seat in Economy as being a tad ignorant. There just isn't room.

You might appreciate these "classic" FT threads from one of our "great question" posters:


I bribed the passenger in front of me to not recline his seat (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631043)

If asked-- would you not recline your seat back? (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433707)

..and my favorite:

Passenger reclined the seat to my knees- so I grabbed and pulled the seat often (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=534005)

I regard anyone who reclines their seat in Economy as being a tad ignorant.

Funny -- I regard anyone who complains about a reclined seat as being a tad ignorant.

When I am flying 13 hours TLV-ATL, there is no way I am going to be in the same position all the time. I value my back too much for that.

Moreover, like most people, I like to get whatever sleep I can on long flights, and that means reclining my seat.

It would be less expensive for airlines to put in seats which don't recline -- there are very good reasons why they shell out the extra dollars.

Not so long ago I was in an exit row seat in Economy on an overnight transatlantic flight.. Everyone reclined and went to sleep, but the fat American guy behind me woke me up to tell me that I shouldn't be reclining because I have so much space in front of me. I pointed out that he was also reclined, and he said that I should swap seats with him and "see how it is".

I booked an exit row seat because I can as an AA plat, and the guy behind me wouldn't have been capable of helping people through the exit in case of an emergency (hell why not I'll be spiteful and say he probably wouldn't have fit through the emergency exit!). In the end I put the seat up a little just to shut him up (and reclined again when he was asleep). I wonder if there would have been a riot if I didn't.

Should I feel guilty about reclining (when everyone else is reclining) just because I'm in an exit row seat?

-simon

Not so long ago I was in an exit row seat in Economy on an overnight transatlantic flight.. Everyone reclined and went to sleep, but the fat american guy behind me woke me up .....

Should I feel guilty about reclining (when everyone else is reclining) just because I'm in an exit row seat?

No... but I question your choosing to indicate that he was an American, instead of "fat guy" or just "guy" or even "passenger."

No... but I question your choosing to indicate that he was an American, instead of "fat guy" or just "guy" or even "passenger."

He had a strong American accent (I couldn't say where from) and was extremely fat. Those are the two characteristics I recall, therefore they are the ones I mentioned. If you want to take offense, you're welcome to :-)

-simon

Given where I come from I can probably claim some impartiality here.. and I must say I too wondered at the relevance of the guys (assumed)nationality...

But I suppose I'm just a "damn colonial" anyway........:D (But I don't fit the stereotype... Sorry!.. Hate beer and can't stand any code of football!!!)

P.S. Given you couldn't place the accent it would be funny if he was actually Canadian!!!! ;)

Regardless of the length of the flight, if it is time for me to go to sleep, then I am going to recline my seat (since I can't sleep sitting upright), and if the other guy behind me has a problem with it, they will just have to suck it up and bear with it. After all, why should I sacrifice my sleep time and my health just for his convenience?

Let's face it, an aircraft cabin is a semi-public space, and a little bit of inconvenience should be expected by all. Get a seat in first or business class if they want the extra space, but don't expect someone else to sacrifice their rights for you. If you need to do something or go to the lavatory, gently request that they raise their seat back temporarily, but don't assume you are entitled to it as a right.

The only good thing Ryanair has ever done is to get rid of reclining seats on their 738's. I regard anyone who reclines their seat in Economy as being a tad ignorant. There just isn't room.

Then just fly Ryanair and be ignorant of being ignorant.

Should I feel guilty about reclining (when everyone else is reclining) just because I'm in an exit row seat?
No.

Given where I come from I can probably claim some impartiality here.. and I must say I too wondered at the relevance of the guys (assumed)nationality...

But I suppose I'm just a "damn colonial" anyway........:D (But I don't fit the stereotype... Sorry!.. Hate beer and can't stand any code of football!!!)

P.S. Given you couldn't place the accent it would be funny if he was actually Canadian!!!! ;)
Bah, you guys are *far* too sensitive.

-simon

Bah, you guys are *far* too sensitive.

-simon
Actually, I'm not... call me a fat American if you want (we have a whole holiday coming up for celebrating that fact).

As long as you're comfortable in your own skin...

Bah. I didn't call you anything! I referred to distinguishing characteristics of an anonymous individual on a flight!

I am an overweight half-Indian half-Polish bred-and-born-west-Londoner. I am the last person to try and insult anyone. It was merely a description, believe me :-)

-simon

I regard anyone who reclines their seat in Economy as being a tad ignorant. There just isn't room.
Obviously you know more than the airlines.

Reclining seats & overhead space are the two subjects that will start a near riot even right here on Flyertalk, even in the normally quiet Newsstand. :rolleyes:

Reclining seats & overhead space are the two subjects that will start a near riot even right here on Flyertalk, even in the normally quiet Newsstand. :rolleyes:

The third would be window shades.