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29 July 19: BA112 [JFK-LHR] incident in F cabin

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Old Jul 30, 2019, 9:52 am
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At least 3 FlyerTalkers were onboard and have posted eyewitness reports. Excerpts and direct links follow

All reports implicate a musical artist/rapper named Busta Rhymes.

Originally Posted by 87CTA
  • Artist boards and his handler begins packing away his bags in the overheads. To note … the artist brought 4 carryon bags … which meant regardless of the situation that he would have struggled to easily find space (especially as the cabin was full). It was apparent that the handler was having trouble finding space and the artist began getting irate … asking “whose stuff is this” … my wife replied, “mine” … artist responds “move your stuff”.
  • I could tell immediately that this would only end in an argument so I suggested to my wife that she just move her bags to avoid confrontation … my wife quite rightfully responded “why should I, we are supposed to share this bin” … this is when the artist flew off the handle: “move your stuff, now” … he was towering over my wife’s seat and she was terrified … I stood up and asked him to “not be so rude to my wife” and to “leave it” to which he responded with “then let’s go, homeboy … essentially offering me to fight him!!!!
Originally Posted by 81romeo
A woman started to cry and the situation escalated very quickly. I then jumped in as I can't tolerate any case of abusive behaviour. He threatened me personally because I jumped in. The CSD got involved. The Captain decided to not offload him (don't ask me why because we really don't know, we were all shocked at his judgment call). Instead, the crew asked if any of us would feel safer by taking the next flight.
Originally Posted by Realitycheck
The cabin staff did an excellent job at controlling the situation. Albeit they admitted being fearful as we all were. BR was traveling with his handler and 6 members of his entourage.
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29 July 19: BA112 [JFK-LHR] incident in F cabin

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Old Jul 30, 2019, 4:56 am
  #31  
 
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Without wishing to make light of the situation it sounds as though the flight was a total dog(g).
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 4:59 am
  #32  
 
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Surely anybody who has been abusive prior to takeoff should be offloaded out of an abundance of caution?

Passengers crying, other passenegers getting threatened - what a pleasant flight it must have been.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:02 am
  #33  
 
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Daily Mail journos currently desperately trying to find out who this talented young man was so they can run a story.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:04 am
  #34  
 
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Thought he was banned from BA?
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:06 am
  #35  
 
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Originally Posted by SW7London
Surely anybody who has been abusive prior to takeoff should be offloaded out of an abundance of caution?

Passengers crying, other passenegers getting threatened - what a pleasant flight it must have been.
It was my most unpleasant flight so far, because I was not feeling safe.

Other passengers and I were literary shocked when the Captain decided to take-off with him onboard. He had at least one PA sitting in the back too, his PA sorted out his luggage in the overhead compartment once it was made empty for him. His PA really looked quite embarrassed.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:09 am
  #36  
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Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE
get in the way of a good little chat about nothing of great consequence.
Poor Mr PG being referred to as that!
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:15 am
  #37  
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As far as I know, no prominent USA singer is banned from the UK, though there is often an ongoing issue about working and performance visas versus private stays. In the past the following have been denied entry to the UK for either visa infringment, public order reasons or criminal convictions.
- Chris Brown.
- Snoop Dogg (who was also temporarily banned by BA, now lifted)
- Busta Rhymes
- Tyler the Creator (ban was or is about to be lifted).

The subject of this thread may or may not be one of the above, I have no information at the time of posting.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:17 am
  #38  
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Originally Posted by 81romeo
Hello,

I was travelling in 1A.

The incident started when the rapper got excited about no overhead space in his locker and started to become aggressive, abusive and rude. I know his name however as Police is now involved I prefer not to share.
A woman started to cry and the situation escalated very quickly. I then jumped in as I can't tolerate any case of abusive behaviour. He threatened me personally because I jumped in. The CSD got involved. The Captain decided to not offload him (don't ask me why because we really don't know, we were all shocked at his judgment call). Instead, the crew asked if any of us would feel safer by taking the next flight.

I personally asked for the Police to meet us at the gate as I felt not safe after his direct threats. I disembarked first escorted by Police and was asked to give a statement.

Police currently investigating. BA currently investigating.

Bottom line - based on Wikipedia this person has multiple convictions for assaults and other stuff...and has been banned from the UK twice already (I only found out on my way home).
thanks for the info.....sounds like an awful flight and my sympathies go to you and the rest of the F cabin having to endure this

what was the captain thinking taking this character on a transatlantic flight when he had demonstrated such aggression before even take off?
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:18 am
  #39  
 
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I would (normally) always feel confident as to a BA Captain making the right call. Perhaps we will get to hear more about the incident in due course ; but, for now, based purely on the first-hand report given here (and which I have no reason to doubt), and with uncivilised / dangerous behaviour onboard aircraft becoming more and more of a concern, I’d have to agree that the skipper’s decision on this occasion seems very strange indeed.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:20 am
  #40  
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Originally Posted by 81romeo
Hello,

I was travelling in 1A.

The incident started when the rapper got excited about no overhead space in his locker and started to become aggressive, abusive and rude. I know his name however as Police is now involved I prefer not to share.
A woman started to cry and the situation escalated very quickly. I then jumped in as I can't tolerate any case of abusive behaviour. He threatened me personally because I jumped in. The CSD got involved. The Captain decided to not offload him (don't ask me why because we really don't know, we were all shocked at his judgment call). Instead, the crew asked if any of us would feel safer by taking the next flight.

I personally asked for the Police to meet us at the gate as I felt not safe after his direct threats. I disembarked first escorted by Police and was asked to give a statement.

Police currently investigating. BA currently investigating.

Bottom line - based on Wikipedia this person has multiple convictions for assaults and other stuff...and has been banned from the UK twice already (I only found out on my way home).
It sounds like a thoroughly unpleasant experience for all in the cabin, given what you say it appears a little strange not to offload this chap. If I had been on that flight I think I would likely have accepted the offer to take a later flight.

As far as naming this unpleasant individual, as you were personally involved (and assuming what you have said is fact) there is no legal reason why you cannot name and shame him.

Shameful behaviour.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:22 am
  #41  
 
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Why has nobody mentioned this idiots name?

Seems very strange...
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:22 am
  #42  
 
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There is something on Twitter now folks. (NB it would suggest that some of the information above is inaccurate).

Think about where you might go to explore the Champagne region, and the kind of transport you would take to get there.

Last edited by Cymro; Jul 30, 2019 at 5:40 am
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:30 am
  #43  
 
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Originally Posted by Cymro
There is something on Twitter now folks. (NB it would suggest that some of the information above is inaccurate).

Think about where you might go to epxlore the Champagne region, and the kind of transport you would take to get there.
Could you please post the link to Twitter? Just curious to read the different version.

I have genuinely no problems in naming him however I don't know if this is the right thing to do as the Police is involved.
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:30 am
  #44  
 
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Originally Posted by drpabs
Without wishing to make light of the situation it sounds as though the flight was a total dog(g).
No doubt the daily mail will be "snooping" further into the story...
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Old Jul 30, 2019, 5:31 am
  #45  
 
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Originally Posted by sunshinebob
No doubt the daily mail will be "snooping" further into the story...
In that case they'd be barking up the wrong tree.
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