Raging Airplane Passenger Duct Taped to Seat

The pitfalls of apparently mixing alcohol and air travel were taken to a new level when an evidently intoxicated man was constrained to his seat with duct tape on an international flight.

Iceland Air said the man went on a rampage on a New Year's Eve flight from Reykjavik to New York, hitting, screaming at and spitting on other passengers.

Passengers took matter into their own hands, taping the man to his seat.

Andy Ellwood, who was on board the flight, snapped a picture of the disruptive passenger and wrote on his blog that the man became unruly after drinking all of the duty-free liquor on board.

"He was restrained by passengers and crew and was monitored for his own safety for the duration of the flight," Iceland Air said in a statement to ABC News.

The man, who has not been identified, was taken by police to an area hospital where he was treated for alcohol poisoning. Port Authority police wouldn't confirm that the man in the picture was the person they took into custody, but said he had not been charged.

via gma.yahoo.com

Comments

[The Last Archimedean]

How the heck do you drink so much on a plane flight that you get alcohol poisoning? That's crazy.

Next time bring a good long book. That's what I do. "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" keeps me busy for at least 40 hours of flying... not that I have the money to fly but occasionally my family uses their frequent flyer miles to invite me to a reunion.

[Queer Geek]

Hey I'm all for it! I've ridden public transporting where these dumbass drunkyards were causing trouble for myself and the other passengers. If they can't control their own behavior, they need to be restrained.

Sadly this dumbass is now going to sue the airline! I hope the company has a good lawyer.

[Vantalbar]

So it was the passengers who restrained him. I don't think he'll have much of a case against the airline.

[MahiMahi713]

So did he come ONTO the plane drunk or did he drink it all on the plane? Because no one should be allowed to buy THAT much alcohol in Duty free. Just so dick holes like this won't pull stunts like this. But who's to say you aren't buying it as a gift or will be a responsible drinker?

[Techdeath]

@MahiMahi he may have come on tipsy and then topped up to beligerent drunk on the plane. Most airlines won't let you fly hammered for safety reasons. Then again he may have been a cheap drunk.

[Chicajojobe]

I'll be honest, I've done the whole get loaded at the airport bar when I'm stressed out by travel.
However, I've never been an angry drunk.
If he was being so disruptive that the other passengers felt they needed to physically restrain him, I'm guessing he deserved it.

[v]

There's no law enforcement of any kind on these flights? How did passengers get away with this?

[mrs.sheep]

In an international flight the flight crew is responsible for the safety of passengers and for maintaining order. The flight attendants were unable to restrain the passenger so they requested the passengers on the flight assist them. The crew provided the duct tape and zip ties, which are stocked on their flights for situations such as this. The crew did exactly what they were supposed to do.

[Kristina]

the only ONLY problem I have with this(and its for liability reasons only) is the duct tape on the mouth. Had boozy there vomited and aspirated said vomit because of his mouth being covered there would have been heck to pay.

That said good on them. No one resorts to something like that without a good reason and being belligerently drunk qualifies.

[Spritzy]

I agree with Kristina that taping his mouth could have been dangerous if he had barfed.
I get that they were trying to shut him up, though they could have gagged him, that would have at least allowed some passage through his mouth for air and whatnot

[Book Baby]

I hereby bestow the Retail wings Silver cluster with sold gold balls attached to the passengers and crew of Iceland Air!

[Skittles]

They did check on him regularly according to the article so I'm not so sure aspirating is that much of a concern. That must have been one of the most fun flights ever for some folks. I'm sure some people who fly often have had wet dreams about binding and gagging ass hole passengers that just wont stop irritating everyone. I don't like that they blame the alcohol, that had nothing to do with it the dude was a douche plain and simple. I know myself and others who have drunk copious amounts of booze and never turned into douche bags. Heck the worst I ever did was declare my love for everyone and try to lick poeple on the arms. Which was pretty darn funny all around. Oh and occasionally throw articles of clothing before running off giggling like a lunatic.

[Skittles]

After thinking it over for a few...maybe I would be better of just not drinking on planes.

[The Last Archimedean]

Perhaps you would be, Skittles. A good book, or a nap, makes the time go by fast.

[AmigaTech]

I'm wondering where they found the duct tape. Seems to me something the TSA (USA) would immediately confiscate.

After careful reading, the crew provided duct tape? Um, what kind of airline issues its crew with duct tape? I hope they're not supposed to patch the airplane with it...

--AT

PS - Archimedean: I've read Bill Shirer's TRAFOTTR too, and it's a doorstop, but worth it. I also suggest Milton Meyer's 'They Thought They Were Free, The Germans 1933-1945'. AT.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=511162740]

This guy was assaulting passengers and staff. He had to be restrained. It was a matter of safety.

[Obvious]

@AmigaTech the plane originated in Iceland and the crew was equipped with duct tape and the zip ties for this precise problem.

GO passengers!

[derrr]

You can bring duct tape on planes. It's not restricted, although it may now become so.

[Book Baby]

Don't you know? Duct tape is used for repairing ANYTHING. Sooo, this was in the airplane's repair kit! ROFLMAO

[Skittles]

Sexy airline workers have ducttape with them on the plain, that's what kind.

[ptooie]

Lol when you work for the airline it's actually called "passenger restraint tape" and yes it is for this exact reason. If someone is rampaging on the plane you need them to stay in one place/seat so they are not a danger to themselves, other passengers, or the crew.
They don't fix the planes with it- we have aluminum tape for that.
-Why yes, I have worked in an airline maintenance hangar for over 11 years now.

[bitterbookaddickt]

He was gagged because he spat at, tried to bite staff and yelled obscenities at everyone surrounding him. He was racist, drunk, belligerent and probably off his meds if you can believe what he was saying to police, staff and other passengers during and after the flight.

This man apparently started drinking in Keflavik airport, bought as much alcohol as is permitted in the Duty free store (I believe that is 2 bottles of hard Liquor and one bottle wine or a 12 pack of beer) He then began his flight by purchasing alcohol from the flight attendants, when he was cut off he began drinking from his stash.

[Jami]

I wonder if Red Green would approve of this use of duct tape.

They say a person's true personality shows when they're drunk. Apparently my true personality is that of a woman who wants to kiss everyone. Male, female, and anything inbetween.

Oh dear God, I just realized, when I'm drunk I become Captain Jack Harkness.

[Nocturnesthesia]

Why can't everybody be the harmless "tell hilarious war stories of dubious veracity and pass out" kind of drunk like the guy I sat next to on the bus this morning?