PROBASCO
02-22-2012, 05:58 PM
The original story seen here and on the radio. (See what really happened below)
A Continental Airlines flight had to return to Portland, Ore., after a passenger "was not cooperative" when asked by the crew to stop smoking an electronic cigarette, The Oregonian newspaper reports.
The man was detained and questioned by federal authorities, who did not release his name. The Oregonian writes "Beth Anne Steele, an FBI spokeswoman in Portland, said he was held on a federal detainer pending formal charges, likely Wednesday morning."
NOT THE FIRST TIME: Denied e-cigarette, unruly flier pelts attendant with peanuts (July 7, 2011)
ALSO ONLINE: Final day of Continental Airlines' name is near
The incident occurred Tuesday on (United) Continental Flight 1118, which was bound for Houston Bush Intercontinental. The man began smoking the "e-cigarette" sometime after takeoff.
"He was asked to not do that and was not cooperative," Port of Portland spokesman Steve Johnson says to the Oregonian.
The flight, which departed at 12:17 p.m. local time, returned to Portland at 1:17 p.m., where it was met by authorities. The man and a traveling companion were taken into custody.
E-cigarettes are currently not prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration, though the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a formal ban on them that could take effect as early as this spring, according to the oregonian.
http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2012/02/continental-airlines-unruly-flier-e-cigarette/632950/1
what really happened
PORTLAND – A flight out of the Portland International Airport returned to the terminal Tuesday, after the flight crew had a problem with a belligerent passenger who was yelling about terrorism, according to authorities.
Yazeed Mohammed Abunayyan was “yelling profanities and swinging his fist at the flight attendant, hitting or attempting to hit several passengers, and speaking or singing about Usama [Osama] bin Laden and his hatred of women,” according to court documents obtained by KGW.
Witnesses said Abunayyan refused to turn off an electronic cigarette when asked by airline staff, according to Port of Portland spokesman Steve Johnson. Then, the pilot decided to return to PDX, where Abunayyan and his companion were escorted off the plane.
Wednesday he was charged with interfering with the operation of the aircraft in federal court.
Abunayyan, of Saudi Arabia, was arrested Sunday in Ashland for DUI and several other charges after police said he hit two patrol cars and nearly ran over a pedestrianduring a police chase, according to the Ashland Daily Tidings paper.
Cell phone video shared with KGW by a passenger on the flight showed the man getting escorted off the plane. Passengers said he disobeyed the flight crew and started yelling. Then, other passengers tackled him.
More: Watch cell phone video of unruly passenger
"Every guy who was in my area was ready to go. It was not even a thought. You could tell buckles were off. People were already leaning toward the aisles," one passenger recalled.
"It almost made me cry to see the way everybody responded. Because the gentlemen that could help got up and helped the stewardess. She was just a little bitty thing," another passenger explained.
Continental Airlines also issued this official statement: "Continental flight 1118, Portland to Houston, returned to Portland when a passenger refused to obey the 'No Smoking' sign. The flight landed safely, without incident at approximately 1:15 p.m. local and was met by local law enforcement. The passenger and traveling companion were taken off the plane. The flight resumed and departed Portland at approximately 2:05 p.m. local"
Continental flight #1118 was headed to Houston.
E-cigarettes, which heat a liquid nicotine solution, are not specifically prohibited by the Transportation Safety Administration, like tobacco cigarettes, but they are banned by Continental Airlines.
http://www.kgw.com/video/featured-videos/Cell-phone-video-shows-disturbance-on-PDX-plane-140001363.html
A Continental Airlines flight had to return to Portland, Ore., after a passenger "was not cooperative" when asked by the crew to stop smoking an electronic cigarette, The Oregonian newspaper reports.
The man was detained and questioned by federal authorities, who did not release his name. The Oregonian writes "Beth Anne Steele, an FBI spokeswoman in Portland, said he was held on a federal detainer pending formal charges, likely Wednesday morning."
NOT THE FIRST TIME: Denied e-cigarette, unruly flier pelts attendant with peanuts (July 7, 2011)
ALSO ONLINE: Final day of Continental Airlines' name is near
The incident occurred Tuesday on (United) Continental Flight 1118, which was bound for Houston Bush Intercontinental. The man began smoking the "e-cigarette" sometime after takeoff.
"He was asked to not do that and was not cooperative," Port of Portland spokesman Steve Johnson says to the Oregonian.
The flight, which departed at 12:17 p.m. local time, returned to Portland at 1:17 p.m., where it was met by authorities. The man and a traveling companion were taken into custody.
E-cigarettes are currently not prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration, though the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a formal ban on them that could take effect as early as this spring, according to the oregonian.
http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2012/02/continental-airlines-unruly-flier-e-cigarette/632950/1
what really happened
PORTLAND – A flight out of the Portland International Airport returned to the terminal Tuesday, after the flight crew had a problem with a belligerent passenger who was yelling about terrorism, according to authorities.
Yazeed Mohammed Abunayyan was “yelling profanities and swinging his fist at the flight attendant, hitting or attempting to hit several passengers, and speaking or singing about Usama [Osama] bin Laden and his hatred of women,” according to court documents obtained by KGW.
Witnesses said Abunayyan refused to turn off an electronic cigarette when asked by airline staff, according to Port of Portland spokesman Steve Johnson. Then, the pilot decided to return to PDX, where Abunayyan and his companion were escorted off the plane.
Wednesday he was charged with interfering with the operation of the aircraft in federal court.
Abunayyan, of Saudi Arabia, was arrested Sunday in Ashland for DUI and several other charges after police said he hit two patrol cars and nearly ran over a pedestrianduring a police chase, according to the Ashland Daily Tidings paper.
Cell phone video shared with KGW by a passenger on the flight showed the man getting escorted off the plane. Passengers said he disobeyed the flight crew and started yelling. Then, other passengers tackled him.
More: Watch cell phone video of unruly passenger
"Every guy who was in my area was ready to go. It was not even a thought. You could tell buckles were off. People were already leaning toward the aisles," one passenger recalled.
"It almost made me cry to see the way everybody responded. Because the gentlemen that could help got up and helped the stewardess. She was just a little bitty thing," another passenger explained.
Continental Airlines also issued this official statement: "Continental flight 1118, Portland to Houston, returned to Portland when a passenger refused to obey the 'No Smoking' sign. The flight landed safely, without incident at approximately 1:15 p.m. local and was met by local law enforcement. The passenger and traveling companion were taken off the plane. The flight resumed and departed Portland at approximately 2:05 p.m. local"
Continental flight #1118 was headed to Houston.
E-cigarettes, which heat a liquid nicotine solution, are not specifically prohibited by the Transportation Safety Administration, like tobacco cigarettes, but they are banned by Continental Airlines.
http://www.kgw.com/video/featured-videos/Cell-phone-video-shows-disturbance-on-PDX-plane-140001363.html