Sant

Sunwing Flight 656: Disruptive passengers force return to Pearson Airport

stimpy

The pilot of the 737 aircraft described the two female passengers as disruptive "in a serious manner," and reported to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) while the plane was in U.S. airspace that the aircraft was "under threat."

What I wonder is when do we reach the critical mass of US citizens who shout out "why the heck are they spending millions on fighter jets to escort drunks!" for it to reach the ears of our retarded politicians? Or when will a reporter have the courage to ask Obama (or the next President) "why are you so stupid?"

Ditto for Canada and their politicians.

RandomBaritone

Kudos for somehow making this about Obama. Silly me: I'd have thought it was on the shoulders of the military officer required to make a quick judgment on a possible threat.

And please, especially since you're a long-timer here, avoid using the word "retarded" as a slur.

http://www.r-word.org/

wrp96

If the threat wasn't credible, then why send jets?

stimpy

The Commander in Chief is in charge. And you obviously missed the part where I said the "next President" too. This isn't about democrats versus republicans. And I stand by my retarded comment. These are not clear thinking people in charge.

Sant

Did anyone read the part that these were CF-18 fighters based out of CFB Bagotville in Quebec?

craigsnyc

Maybe one day, I doubt it though, grown adults are going to be able to know when they've had enough to drink. It's ridiculous!

(Sorry if it's a little off topic but I get so tired of hearing about these things where alcohol is the issue.)

telabadmanwot

Why did a couple of crack whores going on holiday need a fighter jet escort?

RandomBaritone

For God's sake, they were Canadian jets.

stimpy

Again you didn't read my post. Especially where I acknowledged Canada. But Norad is both the US and Canada and the same thing has happened countless times in the US. Doesn't everyone know this? Which was the point of my post.

PLeblond

The jets are there, the pilots are there. They regularly fly training missions. I am sure this is simply an extension of the regular training that involved real world factors.

It probably cost nothing more and gave the system a twist on their training, which is good for everybody involved.

FYI, this is the second time in about a month a Sunwing plane is escorted by fighter jets due to unruly passengers.

stimpy

Nothing more than $30,000 worth of fuel and extra "combat" pay for the crew. And knowing how the military extract money I'm sure there are a LOT more extras that I've missed.

PLeblond

They will spend that fuel in training flights anyways. Like in the search for MH370, the boats aren't sitting in port with crews twiddling their thumbs. Armed forces costs money regardless of incidents like these so the actual cost was not as much as many people estimated.

I'm sure the pilots actually enjoyed the change of pace.

FLgrr

At the risk of this being an Omni post soon, this is what I meant elsewhere when the question came up about the TSA process. If we make it less of a process, and something happens, one side will blame the guy in charge for letting the terrorists win. So the terrorists have won since day one!!

Lots of stuff makes ya wonder what works, people getting on planes and traveling where they should not, people sleeping in jet bridges, jets for drunks.

There is no way to know what the trouble is doing until,the plane is on the ground. If they want to do something, a fighter jet is not going to stop them. The pilots need to stay in the cockpit, not come out to intercede.

Trailer trash, whether in CA or the US, will be trailer trash, and do this stuff. We must decide what is the proper level of protection without blaming the other side for lowering or raising efforts to meet our expectations. Both CA and the US are a free nation. Treat us like we are free and innocent until we do something wrong. Then those on the other side, don't blame the guy (or gal) in charge for meeting the level you wanted, just because they are on the other side of the aisle.

cruisr

So what fines/punishments will these two stupid jerks face? Throw the book at them, make an example PLEASE...how many more of these stories do we need?