Sputty
2004-10-19, 06:23 PM
http://aftenposten.no/english/local/article892883.ece
Intoxicated Norwegian storms cockpit
A highly intoxicated man on board a charter flight from Trondheim to the Canary Islands forced an emergency landing in France late Sunday. He tried to break into the cockpit after flight attendants refused to give him any more drinks.
More than 200 others Norwegians were on board the Spanair flight, which took off from Trondheim's airport at V�rnes at 6:30pm.
One passenger told newspaper VG that the intoxicated man, believed to be in his 40s, first started harassing the cabin crew when they refused to serve him more alcohol.
Suddenly, the drunk jumped out of his seat and ran towards the aircraft's cockpit. He didn't manage to break in, but the incident prompted the captain to seek an emergency landing to get rid of the unruly passenger.
The plane gained permission to land at Nantes in France, where a large number of local police came into the aircraft and arrested the man.
An emergency landing can cost up to NOK 100,000 (about USD 14,000), and the man likely will be hit with a reimbursement claim when he sobers up. He also faces stiff fines or a prison term for threatening the security of a flight.
His fellow passengers faced major delays, as the Spanair captain was still being questioned by police around midnight.
Intoxicated Norwegian storms cockpit
A highly intoxicated man on board a charter flight from Trondheim to the Canary Islands forced an emergency landing in France late Sunday. He tried to break into the cockpit after flight attendants refused to give him any more drinks.
More than 200 others Norwegians were on board the Spanair flight, which took off from Trondheim's airport at V�rnes at 6:30pm.
One passenger told newspaper VG that the intoxicated man, believed to be in his 40s, first started harassing the cabin crew when they refused to serve him more alcohol.
Suddenly, the drunk jumped out of his seat and ran towards the aircraft's cockpit. He didn't manage to break in, but the incident prompted the captain to seek an emergency landing to get rid of the unruly passenger.
The plane gained permission to land at Nantes in France, where a large number of local police came into the aircraft and arrested the man.
An emergency landing can cost up to NOK 100,000 (about USD 14,000), and the man likely will be hit with a reimbursement claim when he sobers up. He also faces stiff fines or a prison term for threatening the security of a flight.
His fellow passengers faced major delays, as the Spanair captain was still being questioned by police around midnight.