Worst Passenger of the Week: Drunk Man Attempts to Bite Passengers and Crew on Air India Flight

Every Friday, FlyerTalk looks back at the week’s most charming individuals. While there are always plenty of contenders for our Worst Passenger of the Week award, only one lucky flyer can take home the glory.

Third Place — The Honeymoaners

Newlyweds Liz and David Garratt claim that their honeymoon was ruined by Jet2.com, a low-cost British airline. The self-identified “regular flyers” were returning from Rome on an Airbus A380 when the “frightening” incident occurred. The aircraft, according to Liz, was roughly 200 feet from landing at Manchester Airport (MAN) when “there was a loud shudder and the plane took off again at full power.” Allegedly, the crew blamed the maneuver on an Emirates A380 that was crossing the runway.

MAN told the Manchester Evening News that it was a “common procedure” and a non-emergency precaution used daily to maintain distance. They also said that the plane was not on or near their runway.

The Garratts said they have since called MAN and were told that the incident was common place. “If this is common place, I will never fly again,” Liz said.

Her husband, David, said they want a “proper explanation” and apology for the incident that left his wife in tears. “It has affected the perception of our honeymoon — we came back and went straight to bed and just hugged each other.”

A Jet2.com spokeswoman has since apologized for “any inconvenience caused by this routine procedure.”

Second Place — Angry Bird

While it’s fine to use your cell phone inflight these days as long as you keep it in flight mode, there are still a few areas in the airport where cell phone use is prohibited. Rosalia Matos, arriving from the Dominican Republic and awaiting baggage inspection at Miami International Airport (MIA), ignored multiple warnings from members of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and continued talking on her cell phone.

After Matos repeatedly refused to put her phone away, CPB officers escorted her to a private room reserved for questioning passengers suspected of violating customs or immigration laws. She was again instructed to put her phone away, but continued using it until an officer took it from her.

According to a complaint filed, Matos then became verbally abusive toward the officers. Her tantrum escalated and she refused to calm down. When one officer attempted to handcuff Matos to her chair, she became violent and punched the officer in the face. The officer backed off, but Matos struck him again.

It took multiple officers to finally subdue Matos. A criminal complaint has been filed against her by a senior federal air marshal of the Transportation Security Administration.

The Winner — Taking a Bite Out of… Well, Anything Really

A passenger on an Air India flight from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) decided to let his animal side loose after one too many drinks. The unnamed man allegedly tore the uniforms of two flight attendants, and tried to both beat up and bite fellow passengers.

The pilot of the aircraft messaged DEL to request permission to divert the plane to Singapore so they could offload the unruly passenger. Rather than approve the long diversion, which would have caused a delay of several hours for other passengers, Air India asked the crew to restrain the man. The airline gave the crew permission to tie him down with ropes, wire and whatever other materials were on board.

The crew tied the man to his seat and monitored him for the remainder of the flight. Upon arrival at DEL, he was handed over to security officials.

An unnamed Air India pilot said that crew members on international flights need to be “firm” when it comes to serving drinks and making sure passengers don’t consume too many. “Our hospitality, however, makes our crew more lenient,” the pilot added.

[Photo: iStock]