Quick-thinking passengers and crew members managed to subdue a deranged man who tried to open an airplane door thousands of feet in the air on a flight to New York yesterday.
"There was a lot of panic," said passenger Bobby Vigil, who sat next to the man for most of the flight and later helped restrain him with duct tape and seat belts. "He tried to open the back door of the plane. He really wanted out at 30,000 feet."
Port Authority police met Frontier Airlines Flight 514 from Denver when it landed safely at LaGuardia Airport shortly before 6 a.m. After determining the culprit was emotionally disturbed, they took him to Elmhurst Hospital Center, Port Authority spokesman Pasquale DiFulco said. He was not charged.
Airline spokesman Joe Hodas said there were 128 passengers and five crew members aboard the A319 Airbus.
Vigil said the crazed man was bouncing up and down in his seat for most of the flight, clutching several boarding passes and kicking the row in front of him.
"He was playing with his hair, picking at his face and counting his fingers," said Vigil, 45, of Estes Park, Colo. "I thought he was anxious to get home or something."
Vigil said his rowmate left his seat to go to the bathroom in the front of the plane and briefly tried to open the cockpit door. The man, whom he described as Asian and about 20, then returned to his seat, only to get up 15 seconds later, go to the back of the plane and attempt to open the cabin door.
"I heard the flight attendant say, 'Help me!'" Vigil said. A struggle broke out, and Vigil and two other male passengers rushed over to help the attendant restrain the passenger.
"We taped him up in an 'X' pattern," said Vigil. "He wouldn't stay still or cooperate."
The man, whose name was not released, attempted to bite the tape off his hands and feet. Extension belts were used to keep him in place as the plane prepared to land, Vigil said.
Hodas said the man could not have opened the door even if he had not been subdued. "You need special training to open the door," he said.
Vigil, who works at a medical clinic, said he hopes his flight home to Colorado isn't as memorable. "It's my first trip to New York," said Vigil. "What a way to be welcomed."
#3
You can't open an airplane cabin door at that altitude. Commercial aircraft are designed such that the doors are held closed by the force of the internal cabin pressure.
#5
After reading this, I can't help but wonder, was this guy just some "psycho" or did he have an alterior motive? Despite what little they say of his age and background, it made my antennae twitch.
Perhaps something that was supposed to happen (i.e. an explosion or detonation of some kind), did not happen, driving this guy to act out in an "insane" manner by rushing the cockpit and then attempting to open the cabin door at 30k feet.
#7
Come to think of it, the Taser was originally invented specifically for use in airplanes against hijackers. Yet for some reason, they are a rarity in airplanes. If they are worried about it falling into the wrong hands, just put a six button keypad on it as a security feature. Take it out of its holder and press a few buttons, then bam.
#8
Screw the X-pattern, just put about four turns around his neck, elbows, ankles and wrists and that'll keep him out of trouble. If that doesn't do it, then stick a piece over his nose and mouth.
They had to tie him up with extension belts? Why should they have to struggle to find things to restrain him with? They should have provisions for that ready to go. Maybe just an extra roll of duct tape, but it should be figured out by now.
#9
Definitely, there should be emergency restraints easily available to the flight crew, but then, for years Congress has allowed flight crew to carry firearms & the TSA has made that virtually impossible, it has probably done the same thing with restraints. I have had the experience of applying restraints to maniacs & it is a difficult process. Get the maniac's feet off the floor & disconnect his hands from anything he could use either to brace himself with or as a weapon. Forget about using pain as a means of control, It. Does. Not. Work. Especially in maniacs. Control would be even harder to establish in the aisle of an airliner, too many points of contact for your maniac to push against. Duct tape is very slow to deploy, it sticks to itself too much.
I wonder where the duct tape came from. Maybe I should carry a roll on my next flight.
#10
Amen, AH. I've been part of teams that had to subdue patients (psychotic, or drug-induced, or just plain nasty) in emergency rooms, and it's not easy at all to get someone down and restrained. Try doing it in close-quarters in an airplane with nothing but belts and duct tape.
And good point -- from where did the duct tape come?
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2007 16:30 Comments ||
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#11
Duct tape - I don't leave home without it. Good for luggage repairs after Abdominal's crew gets done with it.
#12
AH - just for starters in a FUBAR such as this, shouldn't you go for the ankles first? I mean two helpers take one each and elevate? Get him off his feet and his arms become useless. You're right about trying a half nelson or wrist lock - too close quarters. Blet his ankles to a tray table - about knee level off the ground and I suspect he couldn't get far.
I'm not a doctor of any kind, much less a psychiatrist, but I've been around paranoid schizophrenics, people suffering a psychotic break and people on the verge of one suffering from overwhelming anxiety attacks. If odds were being taken, I'd bet this guy was actually deranged and having a very severe anxiety attack or a psychotic break rather than being a failed jihadi. But others of our readers might be more qualified to make a good guess than I.
#16
And yes, if that were the case, kicking him in the balls really wouldn't necessarily do much to stop him.
Even less if he was drugged to the gills. Saw a scrawny guy on PCP once ... nearly tore off a car door in his frenzy, put his hand through the glass, was bleeding, ran & tried to climb over a fence, falling on the pointy metal spikes at the top with no obvious impact at all. Pretty scary.
#18
AH there is a certain set of pain and holds that can be used to subdue even the maniacs.
A lot of joint lock pressures cut through even the looniest. And if they push hard, THEY snap their own bones and tear the muscles from them. Turns them into rag doll appendages, so either way they are not a threat. Once the tendons come away from the bone or the bone snaps, they arent moving much. Trust me on that one.
#19
Good point about getting the perp off his feet first, but if he's holding on to something substantial or his body's braced, most people would have trouble retaining their hold on his ankles.
Old Spook, could you provide a link to places that illustrate how to do as you suggest in the aisle of an airliner?
#20
Delta Airlines has been providing training in airplane aisle martial arts for a number of years at their Cincinnati airport hub (which is naturally across the river in Covington, KY). One of the black belts at our Tae Kwan Do school is a senior stewardess, and she and Master Sun Park developed the techniques together after 9/11.
#21
Not sure of a web site. I got my training in close-in grappling and joint locks fromt he US Government. Its akin to aikido but without the concern for the opponent.
FORT WORTH -- A woman eluded an attempted kidnapping Friday by grabbing the would-be abductor's crotch. The 18-year-old woman was walking in the 3800 block of Maurice Avenue at about noon when a man in a car offered her a ride. After she refused repeatedly, the man got out, grabbed her by the hair and ordered her to get in, said Lt. Paul Henderson, a police spokesman.
When the woman fought back, the man threw her to the ground and kicked her in the ribs, Henderson said.
When the man pulled the woman back to her feet, she grabbed his crotch, Henderson said. The man fell to the ground, and the woman punched him in the face and ran away, Henderson said. She told police that when she looked back, he was lying on the ground. She contacted police from Harris Methodist Hospital.
Police describe the suspect as a 20- to 30-year-old black man, about 6-1, 200 pounds. He was wearing a gray muscle shirt and bluejeans and has grilles on his upper and lower teeth. His black, two-door Pontiac Sunbird has blue lights inside and underneath, police said.
#5
This guy is going to be the laughingstock of his 'hood, beaten up by a little girl. What is scary is that to regain his 'pride' he is going to have to do something serious - like murder the girl or at least some other girl. He needs to be caught, fast.
#9
From the time she was two years old, I've taught my daughter 'thumb in the eye' of any attacker. I've guaranteed her that if she does that, the attacker WILL let her go.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2007 16:32 Comments ||
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#10
how about a screwdriver, Dr. Steve. That'll do even better
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2007 16:53 Comments ||
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#11
"His black, two-door Pontiac Sunbird has blue lights inside and underneath"
They must be pretty bright to be seen at noon.
As always, doing a search like this is its own reward. Here is another incredible image that may be from Hokusai's "Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji" or his "Fifty Three Stages of the Tokaido". Either way, if they can do this one in rice paddy art it would be another verdant masterpiece.
#3
Oops, I left out a link to Hokusai's Gaifu Kaisei from "Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji", which appears to the right of "Under the Wave of Kanagawa" in the article's photos.
#4
thanks Zen - my son (and friends) climbed Mt Fuji last month - said it was beautiful...
the rice art is wayyyy better than crop circles
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2007 16:50 Comments ||
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#5
Frank, you are most welcome. Please accept my congratulations for encouraging your children to see this incredible world that surrounds us. Never in my entire life have I ever doubted that travel is the single finest investment of personal funds.
As America's Bard once said:
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness ... Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah.
The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag which features the Koranic declaration of faith. The US military said the idea had been to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and they did not realise it would cause offence.
The footballs were dropped from a helicopter in Khost province.
Some displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which features the shahada, one of the five pillars of Islam - the declaration of faith. The words, which include the name of Allah, are revered, and Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used. Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs. Mullahs in Afghanistan criticised the US forces for their insensitivity, and around 100 people held a demonstration in Khost.
Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said: "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world."
A spokeswoman for the US forces in Afghanistan said they made "significant efforts to work with local leaders, mullahs and elders to respect their culture" and distributing the footballs was an effort to give a gift the Afghan children would enjoy. "Unfortunately," she added, "there was something on those footballs we didn't immediately understand to be offensive and we regret that as we do not want to offend."
Posted by: john frum ||
08/26/2007 08:06 ||
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Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2007 11:08 Comments ||
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#8
Of course, the fact that said inscription cannot be read without the aid of an electron microscope does not in the least way assuage their anger. Yet another splendid example of just how badly these moron assholes want love to be offended.
Eggshell egos in a dirt track world. This shit has got to end.
Isn't there a way we could devise some truly offensive depiction of Allah and Mohammed in a compromising position that would incite these bastards to begin slicing open their own heads with swords in grief and rage? Maybe we could get them all to bleed themselves to death.
#9
I'll add, does anyone think these same fuckwits wouldn't have been equally offended if we had given out soccer balls without the Saudi flag on them? It isn't what we do or don't do that insults them. A Muslim's day simply isn't complete unless they have taken grievous offense at a totally innocuous gesture made by an Infidel somewhere on the face of this green earth.
#10
This reminds me of the time in the late 80's or early 90's when McDonald's printed up flags of many countries on the wrappers of one of their burgers. Of course they included the flag of Saudi Arabia. Muslims were upset because people were throwing the name of Allan in the trash.
My comment at the time was that Muslims needed to lighten up.
Posted by: bruce ||
08/26/2007 17:12 Comments ||
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#13
"A Muslim's day simply isn't complete unless they have taken grievous offense at a totally innocuous gesture made by an Infidel..."
Oh no, Zen, it doesn't have to be an Infidel. Another Muslim will do just fine. They're killing each other faster than the Infidels are killing them. Seething knows no bounds.
#14
Oh no, Zen, it doesn't have to be an Infidel. Another Muslim will do just fine. They're killing each other faster than the Infidels are killing them. Seething knows no bounds.
Please trust just how difficult this is for me, Darrell. But not so difficult that I cannot respond to you who has been such brat to me on previous occasions.
You've hit the nailhead and I am obliged to admit it. Everywhere, have I extolled Muslims for their unwonted proclivity in killing each other well above and beyond their own lust for Infidel blood. Indeed, "Seething knows no bounds." If it did, there might be hope for Islam's ultimate survival. Instead, there is nought not.
Loudoun Supervisor Draws Disapproval by Asking Whether Those in Crowd 'Come in Peace'
Close to 1,000 members of Northern Virginia's Muslim community packed a corner of a Fairfax County park in the wilting heat yesterday for emotional, and sometimes tense, encounters with a procession of public officials and political candidates eager to court their votes. Cheers, applause and a few boos greeted more than 70 candidates at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston as they touted their records and issued campaign promises to the sweating crowd. It was one of the first organized events of a campaign season in which the seats of all members of the Virginia General Assembly and several county offices are up for election Nov. 6.
The afternoon's most dramatic moment came when Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling), who has led efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants, took the microphone to make a rambling appeal to the Muslim voters in his eastern Loudoun district. Sterling is the home of one of the region's largest mosques. "I stand with you," he shouted. But he drew scattered boos when he demanded to know whether those in the crowd "come in peace" and whether they pledge allegiance to the United States.
Moments later, Maryland Del. Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery), the first Muslim elected to a state or districtwide office in the Washington area, answered Delgaudio with a sharp rebuke that brought a roar of approval from the crowd. "Our values are the values of tolerance and inclusion," Ali said. "Mr. Delgaudio . . . you do not reflect our values, even if you say you do."
The event was the seventh annual "civic picnic," organized by a group of Northern Virginia mosques to encourage members of the fast-growing Muslim community to get more involved in local politics. With their concern about the burgeoning anti-illegal immigrant legislation across parts of Northern Virginia, as well as such bread-and-butter issues as traffic, taxes and schools, Muslim voters represent a small but potent voting force in the state, Muslim leaders say.
More than 56,000 Muslims are registered to vote in Northern Virginia, and last year, more than eight in 10 turned out to vote, compared with about five in 10 for the general population, said Mukit Hossain, a board member of the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee, which tracks trends and candidates in local elections. Nationally, about two-thirds of Muslims are immigrants. And anti-illegal immigrant legislation, local Muslim leaders say, is a major focus for Muslim voters.
A survey of Muslim registered voters last month by the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee found that 95 percent were concerned about anti-illegal immigrant legislation at the county and state levels. "We are definitely concerned as an immigrant community, not necessarily as a Muslim community, about any laws that might lead to profiling or to discrimination," said Adil Khan, a spokesman for the Muslim Association of Virginia, which has a 1,000-member mosque in Woodbridge.
Aside from politicians, the picnic featured a moon bounce for the children, a contingent of Muslim Boy Scouts ready to help anyone overcome by the heat and afternoon prayers under a stand of trees. Women in hijabs -- traditional head coverings -- fanned sweaty children on their laps and examined campaign literature while men fetched bottles of water and read the political pamphlets over the shoulders of their wives. Those who weren't registered to vote were asked to sign up.
Hossain Hahidian, president of the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee, said area Muslims are nervously eyeing laws aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants. Although the majority of Muslim immigrants are in the country legally, he said, the laws "vilify the illegal immigrant and, by extension, it vilifies all immigrants."
Organizers of the event said they were keeping track of which candidates showed up for the picnic and would e-mail members of the Muslim community to let them know who attended.
Posted by: ryuge ||
08/26/2007 01:24 ||
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#1
And exactly what has the majority of VA's religion-of-genocide done about exposing the "Red House" terror group? Nothing. Ergo: do absolutely nothing for those closet jihadis an unindicted co-conspirators. Grover Norquist started rolling the dhimmi ball; blame lobbyist whores like him, for the pimp politics that followed.
#2
the laws "vilify the illegal immigrant and, by extension, it vilifies all immigrants."
Sorry. The government should be of laws, rather than of men. Or even Allah.
Go ahead and vote. But try not to be too disappointed when you lose.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/26/2007 7:31 Comments ||
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#3
try not to be too disappointed when you lose.
They aren't losing, Bobby. They're winning. They've got the pols pandering to them. Then if the donk they support gets elected, they'll be sure to remind her what she owes them when the issues they cair about come up. Jihad by other means.
If we don't stop the multi-culti, diversity loving inclusivity and return to old fashioned assimilationist inclusivity, we're going to have home made jihad just like the Brits in another 20 years. I wonder if this rally began with the Star-Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance.
#4
"more than eight in 10 turned out to vote, compared with about five in 10 for the general population"
Sometimes down here we get more than 10 in 10 turnout. I understand parts of Chicago have too.
#5
Inclusion to the Muslim only means that others who do not believe in their "religion" can co-exist with them but on a lower level. That is Sharia baby!
And these uninformed, butt kissing (any butt will do) politicians are ripe for Muslim picking.
The rural town of Walkersville is considering a zoning ordinance that could block plans for annual gatherings by thousands of members of the persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslim sect.
The proposal, aired at a town meeting on Wednesday, would prohibit places of worship, educational facilities and private clubs on land zoned for agricultural use. Syed Ahmad, who is managing Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USAs pending purchase of 224 acres (90.65 hectares) of Walkersville farmland, said on Friday the group will not fight to go where it is not wanted.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
the persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslim sect
That's persecuted by other Muslims, which the article conveniently ommited. IMO the Ahmadis are the good guys.
The Muslim Peace Secretariat has shut down its office in Puttalam after Deputy Minister K. Abdul Baiz allegedly stormed the office demanding that representatives from the district be recruited as staff. Peace Secretariat Regional Director M. Sahadulla who was in the office was allegedly manhandled and the furniture and equipment thrown out by the deputy minister before the office was closed.
Mr. Baiz denied the allegations but said he wanted the office closed as no representatives from the district were recruited and the office was being run by displaced persons from the north. Mr. Baiz had earlier requested that representatives from the Puttalam district should be included in the staff as there were no persons to represent the interests of the district. The office was mainly handling work related to the Muslims displaced from the North.
The Sunday Times learns that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leadership had instructed the regional office not to lodge a complaint with the police as it would bring adverse publicity to the secretariat which is funded mainly by Norway. However the rift has prompted another SLMC dissident, Deputy Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to open another peace office in Puttalam on Friday. Mr. Bathiudeen said he felt the need for another office as the former office was not catering to the needs of the people.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The Muslim Peace Secretariat has shut down its office in Puttalam after Deputy Minister K. Abdul Baiz allegedly stormed the office demanding that representatives from the district be recruited as staff. Peace Secretariat Regional Director M. Sahadulla who was in the office was allegedly manhandled and the furniture and equipment thrown out by the deputy minister before the office was closed.
