Monarch Airlines in the news today

[ianess]

Much as I admire the initiative of the pilot on the flight from Manchester for chucking out a disruptive passenger, does anyone think that he may have over-reacted? The flight after all was almost at Tenerife [BBC News says only a 2 hour ferry trip away] so do you think the other passengers appreciated the 4 hour delay? Also, what was the financial cost to the airline in making an unscheduled stopover? I'm not sure how I would have felt in this situation...what say others?

[BillyNoMates]

Absolutely not - the Captain has primary responsibility for the safety of the aircraft, crew and passengers. This passenger was jeopardising that and therefore, the Captain took the necessary action - getting him off the aircraft.

If the matter is followed through correctly, the passenger will be sued for the cost of the diversion and additional fuel. He will also be charged for endangering an aircraft and any assult he may have carried out on fellow passengers and/or crew.

[gary baldy]

He got away lightly - i wouldnt have bothered landing before chucking him off (perhaps thats why i'm not a pilot though eh?).
This sends out a strong message to these scumbags and will hopefully deter people from acting in this way in future.

[tenerife]

Let me tell you...this morning there I was snuggled up in bed with snow and freeeeeeezing temps outside, feeling thoroughly miserable (as I have just returned from Tenerife!!!! ) ....picked up the Daily Mail and ran back up to bed....came across this story...and as I started to say...Let me tell you this MADE MY DAY!!!!! I am sick and tired of the riff raff of this country making the lives of "normal" people miserable with their disgusting behaviour. At long last someone has made a stand - Give the Pilot a medal and a fat rise say I!!! As for the four hour delay. This is totally honest...If I had been on that flight I would gladly have put up with the four hour delay to feel the utter satisfaction of seeing sanity reign at long last!!!!!!! WELL DONE MONARCH!!!!!!!!! Other airlines take note. Here endeth the lesson hahahahahaha... xxxx P.S. I also agree that to save the delay throwing him out in mid-air has a nice ring to it!!!!

[mash]

He was absolutley right to get him off the flight, lets see more airlines doing the same. Why is it so many people feel the need to get totally pi**ed the minute they reach the airport and then drink on a flight like its going out of fashion?

[Grunty]

I wish I had been the one to escort him off the plane.

[JoolsTwo]

No way were they over the top - He should be banned from all flights for life. There is no excuse for that sort of behaviour. He is endangering peoples lives. Also he must have been aware of the consequences of drunken behaviour on a plane - he deserves everything and more - if only as a deterrent. He should be made to pay the cost of the unscheduled stop. The pilot was backed 100% by the passengers, and I would have also have backed him if I had been on the flight. Well done that pilot.

[spudqueen]

I too totally agree with the pilot for chucking this lout off the plane. Maybe next time someone misbehaves on a plane they might be threatened with being chucked off like this, then maybe they'll behave.

[JuliaSix]

Just imagine yourself as a fellow passenger. Stuck up in the air with a lunatic. Would you be comfortable and relaxed? I think not, get real. Most of us would just want to throw him out with the contents of the toilet.

[stanleyman]

I wholeheartedly agree with all the above. There might also be a case for fitting an ejector seat!

[ianess]

My goodness, it makes a pleasant change for everyone to be in 100% agreement.
My only concern is that due to my many years with a penny-pinching transport company, the pilot may not be flavour of the month with the accountants of Monarch because of the costs involved in doing what he did, even though those costs may possibly be recoverable. Yes, even in the 21st Century, many such companies still exist.
Nevertheless the guy [or gal] deserves a medal.
Happy New Year to all.

[Paul22118]

This is just the type of action from a pilot that would make me change to his airline. As it happens we fly with Monarch shortly and it heartens me to think that such louts who spoil travel for others can be slung off. More power to his elbow and may his senior managers including accountants realise that most of the public ABers et al are with him.

[stevie21]

I think they should just train the air hostesses judo so that drunken fools can be subdued and locked in a cupboard. Either that or give them tazers!
Saves an expensive landing.

I really do hope that the airline takes this guy to court to recover costs. And then they tazer him.

[WendyS]

Heartily agree with all the above comments. I hate flying anyway and finding myself hemmed in by drunken louts makes it an even more unpleasant experience so full marks to the pilot. I sincerely hope he is 100% backed by his employers and that other airlines follow his example. The sooner the binge drinking brigade are taught a lesson and forced to face up to some public responsibility the better. Frankly I hope the culprit is sued for every penny of the extra costs involved and that Monach pass his name to every other airline so that he is totally blackballed. I see from the press he hasn't been named yet, but hopefully his identity will eventually be revealed.

[maggie01]

We have flown with Monach in the past but have never thought much of them. If all thier pilots are like that, then we may change our minds and switch back to Monach. Good for him. It's about time they got rid of the disruptive louts from aircrafts. It's scarey enough for some people to fly, let alone having to be faced with a disruptive passenger as well.

[copippin]

I agree with all answers.If I had been the pilot--and I believe there are female pilots---- I would have done exactly the same. There are far too many people these days who spoil it for everyone else by their thoroughly antisocial behaviour, and on an aircraft,it is even more hazardous.I applaud the pilot,he acted with sound initiative and thought for the safety of his passengers,who after all do pay his wages!

[stevie21]

I agree with everyone but let me ask this and pray for a not-hysterical reply.

Even at his most drunken and disorderly, what exactly can one man do to put the plane at risk? I think it's obvious that he can't grab the steering wheel so is his influence limited to scaring the life (literally!!!!) out of the other passengers?

[WendyS]

Steve 21- I think the point here is that the pilot has absolute responsibility for the care and safety of his aircraft and passengers. If there were a major safety scare on board, the crew have the right to expect the attention and co-operation of passengers. If one of them is drunk, incapable or distruptive, this would diflect the attention of the crew and prevent them from their task of ensuring the safety of everybody else. Even one disruptive passenger in such a situation is a major safety risk to everybody else. What if there happened to be the need for an emergency landing with safety shutes and one disruptive and drunken individual insisted of blocking the way for everybody else?

[KARL]

Without explaining exactly what to do, it is just possible for a single individual (drunk or not) to put its occupants into serious danger and even bring down an aircraft through sharply executed, pre-planned action - without any explosives or arms. All that is needed is the right idea, the necessary knowledge and, most crucially, the element of surprise. Unfortunately, we are never totally safe from lunatics, etc. although much is done to get as close to complete safety in this regard. I long for a return to the days before passenger aircraft became vehicles to reach political ends, infamy, etc.