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Mid-air terror with death threat on Tiger flight between Coolangatta and Sydney
Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) ^ | 7th October 2012 | Jonathan Marshall

Posted on 10/06/2012 12:57:50 PM PDT by naturalman1975

TERRIFIED passengers thought they were going to die in a mid-air nightmare after a passenger aboard a Sydney-bound flight threatened: "I hope you have life insurance".

Fearing he would storm the cockpit, a group of passengers aboard told how they kept a constant watch as the man attempted on four separate occasions to enter the toilet at the front of the plane.

"It was the scariest thing ever," said traveller Daniel Schwerdtfeger.

"He eye-balled me from behind the curtain and ran his finger across his neck suggesting he was going to kill me."

A stewardess, taunted and abused during the flight from hell, was secretly told by the captain he was aware of the trouble and was flying at maximum speed to Sydney - and authorities were to intervene on touch-down.

Moments after the Tiger Flight from Coolangatta landed on Wednesday evening, armed federal police raided the plane and arrested 39-year-old Scott Norman Laughlin from Newport.

AFP officers took the man into custody as the plane landed. Charged with offensive and disorderly behaviour, he appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday and was bailed to reappear this Wednesday.

"When the police pulled him off the plane he was yelling out to them 'you f ... ... c ... .' and 'f ... ... pigs'," Mr Schwerdtfeger, from the Gold Coast, said. "It was terrifying."

Mr Schwerdtfeger said he and other male passengers kept watch on the passenger to ensure he did not attempt to enter the cockpit.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:
Mr Schwerdtfeger said he and other male passengers kept watch on the passenger to ensure he did not attempt to enter the cockpit.

I'm glad they did this - and not being there, maybe it was the best call to not risk inflaming the situation further, it's easy to judge from a distance in hindsight - but I would have wanted to actively restrain him.

1 posted on 10/06/2012 12:57:53 PM PDT by naturalman1975
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To: naturalman1975

Sounds like Romney should’a been there to defenestrate him.


2 posted on 10/06/2012 1:04:07 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: naturalman1975
"He eye-balled me from behind the curtain and ran his finger across his neck suggesting he was going to kill me."

That's when you give him the old "eyes watching you" hand gesture. Man up.

3 posted on 10/06/2012 1:04:32 PM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: naturalman1975

U R ALL RONG! Even the nuts out there understand that death is not an option so they only go so far.


4 posted on 10/06/2012 1:05:24 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: naturalman1975

“It was the scariest thing ever,” said traveller Daniel Schwerdtfeger.

“He eye-balled me from behind the curtain and ran his finger across his neck suggesting he was going to kill me.”

That’s when I would have went up and kicked the sh** out of him.


5 posted on 10/06/2012 1:09:02 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (What would Scooby do?)
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To: DIRTYSECRET
"U R ALL RONG! Even the nuts out there understand that death is not an option so they only go so far."

Oh really.....and how do you know that sir?

6 posted on 10/06/2012 1:09:53 PM PDT by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
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To: Paladin2

Loss of cabin air pressure!


7 posted on 10/06/2012 1:11:20 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: naturalman1975

The period of terror would have been shortened considerably had the passengers kicked the crap out of him and then tied him up. I suggest the airline stock zip ties.

I would have been more than happy to participate. Anyone attempting to interfere with the operation of an airliner is guilty of attempted mass murder and should be treated accordingly.


8 posted on 10/06/2012 1:16:18 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

yes....I have offend wondered, would the flight deck turn up the cabin elevation to say 12,000 feet that would slow down the aggression..after 8000 ft, people slow down quickly...


9 posted on 10/06/2012 1:32:54 PM PDT by B212
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To: B212

Some slow down dramatically at 5000 feet.

(Obscure presidential debate reference.)


10 posted on 10/06/2012 1:43:31 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: All

Is your name not Bruce then?


11 posted on 10/06/2012 2:01:03 PM PDT by Peter ODonnell (E pluribus biden)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

The guys body would act as a plug.


12 posted on 10/06/2012 2:25:47 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Sherman Logan
"I suggest the airline stock zip ties."

I agree -- and have advocated that for years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's that you say, mister terrorist?"

"The one around your neck is too tight?"

[YANK!]

"Ooops! Looks like these ties only go one direction..."

'-}

13 posted on 10/06/2012 2:43:24 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias...)
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To: B212

Standard cabin pressure is 8000 ft. 15000 will put you at a deficit in 20 minutes with minimum physical activity. Above 20000 you need oxygen fairly quickly to avoid passing out.


14 posted on 10/06/2012 2:44:39 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: naturalman1975
Fearing he would storm the cockpit, a group of passengers aboard told how they kept a constant watch as the man attempted on four separate occasions to enter the toilet at the front of the plane.

Why didn't the crew of the plane tie this guy up with the plastic ties I've heard have been used on other flights? And why didn't the passengers insist on it - or just jump him and restrain him themselves?
15 posted on 10/06/2012 2:49:50 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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16 posted on 10/06/2012 2:55:05 PM PDT by RedMDer (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=93destr)
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To: naturalman1975

Gotta love the Aussies. But if it had been an American flight, he would have been subdied, bound and secured in a seat facing backward, the seat belt cinched to keep him there, causing him great pain if necessary. We owe the passengers and crew on Flight 93 to follow their example.


17 posted on 10/06/2012 2:59:26 PM PDT by righttackle44 (I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine.)
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To: naturalman1975

Passengers were a bunch of wimps. A few years ago, a passenger tried a stunt on a Southwest plane. Authorities removed the body when the plane landed.


18 posted on 10/06/2012 6:07:31 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Last Dakotan

“That’s when you give him the old “eyes watching you” hand gesture. Man up. “

That’s when you give him the “I’m gonna cut your nuts off” gesture.


19 posted on 10/06/2012 6:18:08 PM PDT by PLMerite (Shut the Beyotch Down! Burn, baby, burn!)
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To: TXnMA; Sherman Logan
"Ooops! Looks like these ties only go one direction..."

'-}

And there aren't any knives in the cabin to cut them off:)

20 posted on 10/06/2012 10:33:05 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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