VA flight squawks Hijack on the ground at DPS

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Let me see if I got it right. He said he wasn't drunk but still managed to confuse the coughpit door for the toilet...hmm...and then he tried to open, saw it's locked and started banging on it like a crazy person...something we all do when the toilet is occupied...all in all looks like a normal guy to me... Lucky he didn't confuse the emergency exit door for the toilet...
 
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So is his punishment....to be put on a refugee boat to get home to Australia....cause as a Tax payer I hope he does not get an escorted flight home.....otherwise half of the pop of QLD will be doing it!
 
PLANT said:
So is his punishment....to be put on a refugee boat to get home to Australia....cause as a Tax payer I hope he does not get an escorted flight home.....otherwise half of the pop of QLD will be doing it!
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The tax payer already funds consular assistance which is often derided but apparently we citizens are afforded the right to consult with the consulate. I'm sure hitherto there is legal assistance; whether that is provided by Australians or Indonesians is unclear, however IIRC it is a human right to be entitled to legal representation.

Like I said, I don't see him getting the big stick. He'll be back before we know it, and apart from being bruised in the media, none the wiser. Not even sure if VA would bar him from future flights (or even the near future only). I'd be surprised if they consider litigating to potentially recover the costs of the return to DPS and inconvenience.

They say that most legal systems are gravely ill conceived and unprepared to be able to adequately deal with crimes which occur in the air / in flight. That's pretty much right, and that's not even without resolving the problems associated with jurisdiction. The only real crime you can commit and the law will really come down hard on you is terrorism.
 
Melburnian1 said:
Latest & Breaking News Melbourne, Victoria | The Age can often be accused of political bias, but much of the time it gets facts in these sorts of stories correct.

However it refers to 'Virgin Blue' in this just posted article:

Hijack alert puts scrutiny on airline

Could someone please inform these journalists about the name change to 'Virgin Australia?' Perhaps they all fly QF.
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This sort of article, aside from being totally factually incorrect (FYI, there's no "hijack" and "cancel hijack" button), is heading down a very slippery slope of the captain being trialled by media for making a good decision. If we get to the point where the uneducated can dictate what should be done by highly trained and experienced flight crew, then there's every chance we'll get to the point where crew start factoring in such repercussions into the decision making process.

The alert code was probably the best course of action. I'm not sure if any of you have been in an incident like this before, but an erratic, screaming passenger in a confined space is very frightening and the true motive is difficult to assess. Add the fact that he was making an attack on the flight deck (which is the highest security threat and requires immediate crew action) and it would have been a horrific situation for the passengers and crew.
 
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I'm assuming the "painkillers' were prescription drugs rather than the contents of a boogie bag, so is there a requirement that people on medication which can cause confusion and erratic behaviour, not fly?

Drunk I can understand, however prescription drugs suggest to me that these side effects should have/were discussed with him by his prescribing doctor. Is it conceivable that painkillers can cause this over-reaction?

Has there been any indication as to whether this guy was travelling alone?
 
One report I saw that he washed down 2 Brufen and 4 Panadol with 2 cans of coke before boarding.It also said he slept for the first 3 hours of the flight.
No way did the medication reportedly taken cause this behaviour.
 
amaroo said:
LOL VA management might not agree with you...

"He said a drunk passenger was arrested about once a month travelling from Australia to Bali, mostly on Virgin flights, so this situation should not have caused such alarm."

Read more: Hijack alert puts scrutiny on airline
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Maybe not all drunk¹ PAX take to screaming and bashing on the coughpit door?

¹ or otherwise under the influence of some mind changing chemicals(s).
 
N860CR said:
...there's every chance we'll get to the point where crew start factoring in such repercussions into the decision making process.
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I hope so! I would encourage the Indonesians arrest the flight deck crew, and charge VA directly for the costs associated with closing the airport and deploying the military. And add on top of it all, a whopping huge fine to boot!
 
swanning_it said:
I'm assuming the "painkillers' were prescription drugs rather than the contents of a boogie bag, so is there a requirement that people on medication which can cause confusion and erratic behaviour, not fly?
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Which means I cannot fly?

Why do we always try to apply the lowest common denominator? Blood alcohol content is a perfect example. I am 120kg+. There is no way 2 beers are going to have the same effect on me as they are on a lady weighing 50kgs. Are they?
 
Re: Virgin flight Brisbane to Bali hijacked.

I think he will be getting a boat back from Bali.
 
I heard that he has been released but then other reports are he is still in custody.

I wonder if VA will have anything to answer for?
 
"There is no way 2 beers are going to have the same effect on me as they are on a lady weighing 50kgs"
Had to re-read this twice as I can tell you I initially agreed that two beers compared to a 50kg chick has a different effect on me too! ;)
 
JohnK said:
Which means I cannot fly?
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I don't know, hence the question mark at the end of my question!

........but, if you are suggesting that you take painkillers that entice you to jump up in flight and bash on the flight deck door and cause all kind of angst amongst the rest of the pax and crew, then I'd be saying a definite, YES.

I'd assume though JohnK, that due to the amount of your travel and the fact you don't appear to make the headline news very often (at least I assume not), that's probably not the case so I must say I don't understand your question.
 
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