Wed, Jan 25, 2006
Jumps Off Plane While On The Tarmac
Aero-News has reported on several
incidents recently where passenger has attempted to deplane the
aircraft they were on while it was in the air. Of course, that's
not possible on a pressurized airliner... but it's different
when the airliner is on the ground.
Such was the case Monday of a man who decided he'd had enough of
the Continental Airlines 737 he was on for a flight from Fort
Lauderdale to Newark.
Flight 408 had been holding on the ground at FLL for a half-hour
-- which was long enough for 28-year-old Troy Rigby. Authorities
say Rigby got out of his seat and ran to the front of the plane --
biting another passenger on the way -- before trying to kick in the
cockpit door.
Police told the Associated Press the man then somehow managed to
open one of the cabin doors -- it is unclear if the airliner was
sufficiently pressurized at that point to make it much of a
challenge -- and Rigby then jumped from the cabin of the 737-300 to
the ground, ten feet below.
He then took off running, with sheriff's deputies in hot
pursuit. Rigby was eventually tasered by law officers and finally
subdued after deputies say he claimed to have a bomb in his
backpack.
Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne calls the whole thing bizarre,
adding no one is certain yet what caused Rigby to take such action.
(Perhaps he suffered an anxiety attack... or just decided he didn't
REALLY want to go to New Jersey.)
Jenne boarded the plane after it was all over to check on the
condition of the passenger who was bitten, as well as to thank both
passengers and crew for their heroic efforts to keep Rigby in
check.
The bitten passenger, Paul Sigler, said he also suffered a
broken hand in the incident. But he has no regrets.
He added that in this day and age... you just can't sit by and
watch someone go nuts on a commercial aircraft.
More News
Runway Lead-in Light System Runway Lead-in Light System Consists of one or more series of flashing lights installed at or near ground level that provides positive visual guidance a>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Without Borders Aviation Without Borders uses its aviation expertise, contacts and partnerships to enable support for children and their families – at hom>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
From 2010 (YouTube Version): Yeah.... This IS A Really Cool Job When ANN's Nathan Cremisino took over the lead of our Aero-TV teams, he knew he was in for some extra work and a lot>[...]
Also: Junkers A50 Heritage, Montaer Grows, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Vans' Latest Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase'>[...]