BREAKING: SW Airlines Flight 1966 from Chicago to Seattle "diverted" to South Dakota

SW Airlines @ SeaTac Airport | 6/13/02 | ppaul

[ppaul]

Southwest Airlines Flight #1966 from Chicago/Midway to Seattle was "diverted" to Rapid City, South Dakota this evening. It was scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 8:35 pm. When I arrived at the airport to pick up my mother, the flight monitor said the flight was "delayed." When I asked the SW ticket agent why, he was not real open about his answers. He said that there was a "passenger problem" and that the plane was "diverted". He said he did not know when it would ever get to Seattle. The 800 number operator at SW said that the plane was on the ground and that the pilot used his discretion to divert the plane and land in RC, SD - a city Southwest does have service to. She said that it must have been pretty serious, but that her monitor just said that there were "rude passengers" on board. I contacted the local news stations to find out if they had any details. They didn't even know about it. This really is "breaking news" - first on FR.

No other details for now.

[areafiftyone]

I don't see anything on the news stations so it must not be too bad. Probably someone got sick or maybe was unruly.

[flamefront]

Thats why we need FreeRepublic.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Rude passenger? That's my cue.

I herewith submit my popular post from a year or two ago, which was prompted by a story about folks who had objected to flying next to a passenger who was sick when he boarded--IVs and all--and then died in-flight (now that's rude!).

Your mom'll be okay. Meanwhile, hope this helps lighten the mood. (Coming up someday soon: Security Guards I Have Known)

----------

Gotta say, I've sat next to worse. Like:

o Chatty Lady, who was a poster-child for The Paralytic Halitosis Society, or

o The 400 Pound Man, whose butt draped over both armrests and probably didn't even touch the seat cushion, or

o Statistics Guy, who regaled all around with gruesome in-depth details of dozens of major air crashes while we were awaiting take-off, or

o Thirsty Guy, who had consumed most of a flask of whisky prior to boarding the plane, then plopped down next to me, rested his head on my shoulder, and passed out, stirring only to belch every once in a while, or

o The Lady of The Hands, a social-worker in L.A. who tried to drape a blanket over herself and me (I was 16!) and do the nasty, or

o Bean Guy, whose aromatic flatulence commenced immediately after takeoff and recurred every 7 minutes like clockwork (I timed it) throughout a five-hour flight, or

o Barf Lady, who ralphed into a sickie bag shortly after takeoff from Hong Kong, and went through about a dozen more before we landed at SFO, or

o Depends Lady, a grouchy nursing-home candidate, approximately 80 years old, being shepherded by her middle-aged daughter; first the airline decided to board them at the head of the line rather than pre-boarding them, so we all had to inch along behind her and her walker for like hours; then she audibly loaded her diaper immediately after takeoff and spent the remainder of a blessedly-short hourlong flight sort of scooting around in her seat.

There are more (I'm a frequent flyer), but you get the drift. In each case these folks were immediately adjacent to me, but the plane was packed and there was nothing that could be done. Believe me, having a corpse as a seatmate sounds awfully good compared to these neighbors.

[tdadams]

If it was my mother on that flight and I'd heard it was diverted because of a rude and belligerent passenger, my first call would probably be to a bail bondsman.

Just kidding, mom.

[WFTR]

You know, this is hardly the time for passengers to be rude on airliners.

Unfortunately, it has become the time for flight attendants and anyone else with an airline uniform to be as rude as they possibly can with no fear of repercussions. It's one more reason why I don't fly anymore if I can at all help it.

WFTR
Bill

[LouD]

Thanks - I need one of those. Oh, and the shower is nice too.

[StockAyatollah]

Great little airline!

So I guess you enjoy being herded like cattle? No thanks. Southwest is my airline of last resort. I'd rather have an assigned seat. Delta is the best. You can print out your boarding pass from their web site.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I agree. I will never fly SW again. My last flight had a 93 year old man in the window seat of the emergency exit. I asked the stewardess why he was sitting there since he was so feeble ( he had Parkinsons or some other disorder ). She said " That's the seat he wanted."

No thanks, I would rather be safe. I also like assigned seats.

[tdadams]

I will never fly SW again... I would rather be safe.

Southwest isn't for everyone, but for safety, there's none better. Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier that's never had a fatality. Consider that they've been in business for 30 years and probably operate more flights than most other airlines and that's a pretty impressive boast.

[SpinyNorman]

LOL!!! Paralytic halitosis!!! Regarding the bean guy:

o Bean Guy, whose aromatic flatulence commenced immediately after takeoff and recurred every 7 minutes like clockwork (I timed it) throughout a five-hour flight.....

Unfortunately, the reduction in air pressure acts on all air spaces equally, so the same thing that gives some people earaches will drastically increase the incidence of flatulence, you know, lower the pressure, increase the volume. Too bad that the smell isn't diluted...

[Redbob]

"...Since nobody else has said it..."

Well, I'm certainly glad you did!

[demnomo]

Unfortunately, it has become the time for flight attendants and anyone else with an airline uniform to be as rude as they possibly can with no fear of repercussions. It's one more reason why I don't fly anymore if I can at all help it.

That's too bad. I have flown three times since 9/11. I usually fly United cross country. I use SW for trips to LA to visit my family. Aside from the long lines and security checks, my last three experiences with flight attendants were fine. I may have detected a bit of nervousness and more circumspect attitudes from the airline employees, but no rudeness.

Since 9/11, I always carry a roll of duct tape and a tupperware bowl filled with Spam in case of a terrorist emergency on a flight. I figure that the duct tape will help tie any jerk--be they terrorist or just plain nutty--down. As for the Spam, I would wield it as a no-72-virgins-or-entry-into-paradise threat because Muslims don't want to die covered with or near pig fat. It's an Islamic no, no. Ok, some people think that a lucky charm will help. I'm just being practical in regards to my safety. Short of a real weapon, that is. It can't hurt...

[SoDak]

Oh my God, you've had some bad luck. I'm a frequent flyer too, but I've only had the occasional bad one, and even then not as bad as you. The worst I had was a 3 hour flight next to a guy who insisted on taking his shoes and socks off. That was very nasty to see and to smell.

[Countyline]

Hey ... hello ...What happened?

We are still hanging here.

The "no news is good news" adage is valid, isn't it?

Please fill us in on the rest of the story.

A OK?

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

6+14 and 9 +11 both equal 20.

[Wright is right!]

"I agree. I will never fly SW again. My last flight had a 93 year old man in the window seat of the emergency exit. I asked the stewardess why he was sitting there since he was so feeble ( he had Parkinsons or some other disorder ). She said " That's the seat he wanted."

HLL, normally, I'd assign virtually everything you say a Veracity Rating of 100, but this SW incident sounds rather, uh, unbelievable. Southwest flat does NOT do that. I've been on a LOT of SW flights over the years, and my fave seats are exit-row seats or one row from them. I've been asked EVERY SINGLE TIME if I'm comfortable with the rules that go with the seat and am I able to assist? (I'm a healthy and healthy-appearing 58-year-old male). When seated nearby, there's been the same exit-row spiel done every single flight. I've seen FA's chase people out of exit rows that don't belong there - young teens, for example, and older Seasoned Citizens.

Not ONCE have I seen any FA on SW NOT do the exit-door drill with anyone seated on that row. It's just beyond my comprehension that this would happen, so far removed from my own experiences with this carrier as it is.

You ARE sure you were on Southwest, aren't you? This just really doesn't sound like them. As someone else pointed out, they are really rabid about safety - having never had a fatality.

Michael

[Aggie Mama]

You know, that's a really smart idea.

[tracer]

Prayers for your Mom. Life is a roulette wheel, but even if when a really big situation like this goes down, it is rare that many people are harmed.

Airliners are big and full of dozens of passengers who at this point in time are not in the mood for shenanigans pulled by cretins and no doubt will act as I would -- quickly and with extreme prejudice.

Rumbles outside of TV usually go to the floor in a hurry, so the danger to bystanders often is minimal.

Hoping that this rambling missive -- from an aging survivor, responder, and observer -- helps. All the best to you and yours, and don't forget to pray and appreciate your mom even more after this is over.....

[brianl703]

Make sure that SUV is equipped with airbags and an 85MPH speedometer too. Hell, make sure it's governed at 85MPH, won't go any faster. That'll keep people safe.

Oddly enough, I myself don't need an SUV to feel safe. I've also driven upwards of 120,000 miles since I got my license (I'm 25) and I've been in exactly two accidents, neither of which were my fault. I've AVOIDED countless accidents, however.

[ValerieUSA]

Why on earth were these inoffensive, light-hearted comments removed from this thread?

#6 of 79
I sure hope your mom isn't the troublemaker.

#9 of 79
I sure hope your mom isn't the troublemaker.
You said what I was thinking... LOL

It is absurd that anything so harmless could be censored at Free Republic.