Plane Makes Emergency Landing, Fighter Jets Scrambled, Over Passenger Fistfight

WASHINGTON — Government and airline officials say a United Airlines plane with 144 people aboard returned to Washington-Dulles International Airport for an emergency landing escorted by two F-16 fighter jets after a fight broke out between passengers.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown says Flight 990 bound for Accra, Ghana, returned to Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, just after midnight Sunday after a fistfight in the cabin.

Government officials confirmed that fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

United spokesman Mike Trevino said Tuesday that the Boeing 767 dumped fuel as a safety precaution to lighten its weight on landing.

The Washington Post, which first reported the incident, reported that the fight began not long after takeoff when a passenger lowered his seat and a passenger behind him objected.

Comments

[ThisAlreadyHappened]

04:58 AM on 06/01/2011

I can understand how people can become enraged on planes. There are always inconsiderate people on flights. Scrambling jets without getting all of the facts seems like overkill. Especially with all of the security measures they have taken in regards to the cabin and the ridiculous grind they put us through before we even get on the plane. Its very unlikely anyone is getting on a plane with a bomb and getting into the cabin would be quite difficult. Kind of unnerving that a couple of guys get into a fist fight and everyone all of a sudden runs the risk of being blown out of the sky by our own military. Imagine being the pilot who has to receive that order. I don't know if I could pull the trigger.

[blindskeeter]

04:43 AM on 06/01/2011

Where were these jets on 911 again?

[surfdude24]

05:39 AM on 06/01/2011

Clinton cut the military (and our intelligence gathering capabilities) during his administration that so that we had less the 1 1/2 % of the airforce fighter planes in the continental USA that we had during the Reagan administration. Our Navy was also cut to less then half the ships and the Army--> very drastic cuts too. These type of cuts can be made rather quickly in comparison to how long it takes to build these same forces back up. Also the cost saving is small IN COMPARISON to how much it costs to bring force levels back to previous levels.
But entitlements are much more important to those trying to win votes then national security, especially after the Iron curtain came down.

[StrayLeo1]

06:09 AM on 06/01/2011

Try again, Look up Sec. of Defense channey, I believe it was feb 1991, reduced our military by 600,000 personel., and closed up army and naval stations all over america. Some of it went down under Clinton but he was following the law, set up by George HW Bush, w/ chenney as his sec of defense . This is why we have the same soldiers going back and forth 4, 5, and 6 times to a war soldiers, because of a five time draft deferment AH

[RadicalAmerica]

04:27 AM on 06/01/2011

Why doesn't more of this happen? Considering the cattle only attitude the airlines adopted with passengers, how is it that more fist fights aren't breaking out in airports and airplanes? The common ignorance of the typical passenger is enough to trigger a near physical conflict. Hell, the airline worker attitude usually is conflict enough.

[juandiggla]

04:01 AM on 06/01/2011

sorry for the poor spelling. attendants*

[nikkitytom]

05:02 AM on 06/01/2011

With the vulgarity of your previous comment, I doubt if anybody really cares about poor spelling ....

[peach1436]

06:05 AM on 06/01/2011

Some people just don't have any brains.

[juandiggla]

03:56 AM on 06/01/2011

i say the female fight attendents start giving complimentary hand jobs to ease the tention on flights over 4.5 hours. and the male attendents could also help the ladies relax with a flick of the tongue below the belt.. I'm all for it.

[openmindedma]

03:40 AM on 06/01/2011

AS we all know every inch counts. LOL

[what the hey]

03:15 AM on 06/01/2011

I HAVE FLOWN WHERE PEOPLE PUSH THEIR SEAT BACK AS FAR AS IT CAN GO. THEY THINK THEY ARE AT HOME AND DON'T THINK OF ANYONE ELSES COMFORT. ALL YOU CAN DO IS POLITELY ASK THEM TO PUT UP SEAT A LITTLE SO YOUR KNEES NOT IN YOUR FACE OR ASK FLIGHT ATTENDANT IF ANOTHER SEAT AVAILABLE. ALL FLIGHTS LIKE BEING IN CATTLE CAR AND THE AIRLINES CHARGE ENOUGH . OH WELL!!!!!!!!

[nikkitytom]

02:51 AM on 06/01/2011

Give me a break! Did either passenger have a gun???? TWO fighter jets scrambled to escort the plane to touchdown. Are we MAD .......

Surely two men could have been restrained by the passengers themselves. They weren't in the cockpit, for heavens sake ..... they were wrangling in the aisle.

Stories like this nauseate me. There's no action so let's make up some. Maybe if Americans had real problems like Libya and Syria ... with people dying in the streets ... then just maybe we'd develop a sense of proportion and stop making every small incident into an imaginary terrorist scenario.

A little 13 year old child was tortured to death in Syria .... that's something to howl about ... that's true horror and the utter degradation of the human spirits of those who perpetuated this crime. Two stupid passengers on a domestic flight had a hissy fit.

WHO CARES????????

[tb much]

03:53 AM on 06/01/2011

Evidently you fail to realize how what seems to be a minor thing can turn out to be a major event if it is not handled appropriately and quickly. Indeed, the fighter jets needed to be alerted, true, two irrational passengers had a "Hissy fit" as you call it, but again, this is the stuff that can bring destruction on many. I Care!!

[norskenr]

04:01 AM on 06/01/2011

Some truth to what you're saying.

However, this was not a domestic flight, it was international, to Accra in Ghana, involving a long flight over deep water. Very appealing for anyone wanting to maximize casualties and hinder forensic analysis. (True, they did bring up the Air France plane from very difficult conditions - with a lot of delay and expense. And many will still not get to bury their loved ones.)

Nor is a fistfight necessarily just a "hissy fit" - is it inconceivable that a team of terrorists would have two or three members stage a fight, trying to get the armed air marshals to reveal themselves, who could then be dealt with while distracted by the fight or later when they were off their guard.

These procedures may embody an abundance of caution, but they are not without reason.

[wvcorgi]

02:13 AM on 06/01/2011

I'm 6'4". I'd never start a fight, but sitting in coach is cramped enough. I've had my knees banged up more times than I can count. One time a woman complained to a flight attendant because she couldn't lean back with my knees already pressed against the back of her seat (Lufthansa). After she refused to exchange seats with me, the head attendant moved me to business class. Problem solved. I hope she was happy. I know I was.

[cqdeed]

01:54 AM on 06/01/2011

Unless things have changed since I last flew, (a number of years ago) the top of the seat only moves about 4 inches. Not enough to get concerned about. Now if that was 4 inches of leg room I could see why someone would be willing to go to the mattresses.

[sealourborderusa]

01:38 AM on 06/01/2011

Nice article .... Not....

[StevenRussell1]

01:11 AM on 06/01/2011

As a Christian private pilot, with 2 Honorable Discharges from the Air Force, who Scrambled F-4 Phantoms, and then F-15 Eagles, up in Alaska in 1982, when Ronald Reagan was our President, and Commander-in-Chief, during the Cold War, I'd just like to congratulate the Officials involved, the FAA, the United Airlines Aircrew, the F-16 Fighter pilots, the Controllers who Scrambled them, and ground Maintenance Personnel, for a job well done. Fear not.

[RadicalAmerica]

04:32 AM on 06/01/2011

What the hell does christian have to do with any of this?

[shyguy151]

12:48 AM on 06/01/2011

Bad timing, and boy are they going to pay betweeen fines and the cost of diverting the flight, I hope it was worth it. I was on a flight when the guy behind me could not get another drink because he was smashed, and got into with the fight atendant (United too) 3 passengers and 2 air marshalls later this guy was flex cuffed to a seat, and we had to land and taxi to a restricted area where everybody was interviewed, rescreened, and the guy in question was lead off well carried off in what looked like a full body straight jacket. If you are going to get into on a plane prepare to pay big bucks and do time, as they are not going to deal with it anymore.

[RadicalAmerica]

04:38 AM on 06/01/2011

I'd pay the fine for a civil disobedience but the hell with the cost of diverting a flight. These airlines bring the tensions on themselves. I used to do 125,000 miles a year in the air and I am so glad I don't have to fly anymore. The common courtesy and good business sense has completely disappeared from the airlines. If I ran my business like the airlines, I would quickly be OUT of business. No, lock me up, but I am not paying for diverting a flight. Neither should these guys.

[drralc]

12:46 AM on 06/01/2011

What the ????

This happens on every international flight I've ever been on !!!!

[Florence LaneSmith]

12:54 AM on 06/01/2011

thats right cause their already stressed from hell and beyond and to have someone not respecting is a mood for melodies!

[Bob Moody]

01:36 AM on 06/01/2011

Try sitting in the front row and nobody can lean back into you, and try to stay calm.

[wvcorgi]

02:07 AM on 06/01/2011

Try to get a bulkhead (front row) seat!

[tlute52]

12:32 AM on 06/01/2011

I wonder why these two people thought it a good idea to trade blows knowing the lack of tolerance for shenanigans on an airplane. "hey, I have a good idea, why dont we get beat down by an air marshall and half of the passengers for acting like a couple of kids." Good idea.

[Eric B Hutchison]

02:12 AM on 06/01/2011

Exactly... and two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from Andrews Air Force base in Maryland. Why?

[BigBri1978]

02:34 AM on 06/01/2011

the F-16 jets were scrambled in case it was a hijacking and attack on the capital