Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Stupid passenger of the week - impersonates a federal air marshal
When we travel, we all do something stupid at one point. It could be forgetting an important item of clothing, or something as simple as forgetting where you parked your car when you get back to long term parking.But a passenger at Miami airport took stupid to a whole new level when he arrived at his gate past the departure time.
Yeah, many of us have probably been through this routine - you get to the gate, but the boarding door is closed and even though you can see the plane, the agents won't let you on board.
Normal people will be upset, some others might even go berserk, but this guy decided it would be a fun idea to pull a fake police badge and claim he's with the federal air marshal program.
Those magic words got the doors opened for him, and he was allowed on the plane. His plan would have been perfect, if it were not for 2 real marshals on the flight who kicked him off when they inspected his badge.
At that point, this idiot could have/should have simply left the airport, but he decided to vent at the airport bar, where he started to complain loudly about missing his flight. Which of course made it really easy for cops to arrest him.
He's being charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, and I'm sure they'll find some other nice terror related charges to throw at him. I sure hope he enjoys riding the bus, because I doubt he'll be flying the friendly skies any time soon.
(thanks Emily!)
Check out these stories from the airport checkpoint!
Filed under: News
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
allleloo Feb 28th 2009 12:15PM
Terry:
I've always wondered why airplane crew feels so , um, entitled.
News flash- the authority is not there to protect you- make that just to protect you; they are there to protect everybody, as incredulous as it sounds.
It's interesting that you'd like everyone who insults you to end up in jail. Have you ever thought that they are people too, with lives and families just like you?
Sure this guy - this particular guy should be punished, that is legitimate, but there are several other incidents where flight attendants complain and make a big stink that are really just egos being bruised.
They and the pilots make such a big deal as if an argument is going to cause the plane to go down, and they land as soon as possible and they ask police officers to meet the plane. When the police get there, and they are the voice of reason apparently, they do indeed see the claims as being quite foolish indeed, and let these normal people get on with their lives.
If you think you have the presence of mind to jail everybody then join the police force- clearly you wouldn't last long.
Let's face it honey, you are in a service job and you are there to serve...drinks etc.
There was a time you had to be pretty to be an in the air waitress, but these days the standard has dropped considerably?
All you are required to do is to be able to balance juice cups, and not be afraid of flying...the rest (training in case of emergencies) anybody can do anyday, heck even I have been trained.
It does not take a rocket scientist to do your job. If you don't like the 'service' industry, then get out.
In the meantime, people will continue to voice their opinions about flight delays, the satellite being down, and no water being on the plane.
I sure hope the golden rule hits you in the behind one day as someone does to you what you would have liked done to them.
Again, flight attendants are not special! They are waitresses in the air, and they deserve as much attention as everybody else no matter their profession, from the garbage collector to the doctor, the the business man.
'911' seems to have given flight attendants and other airport personnel a certain air of importance; remember this, it's all in your head, most of us still see you the same way we did before--people put on the planes to serve us, and these days it aint even much.
The way I see it your job should be obsolete.
Afterall, we can get our own blankets, we can read our own inflight manual regarding safety and we already bring our own snacks on board, and noone tells us where to sit anymore, most of us can read our own boarding passes, and the people at the exits already have that job covered, so remind me why you are there again???
newmoonlmt Feb 28th 2009 12:33PM
Um, first of all, "honey"? Are you kidding me? Is this 1972? Second of all, I don't know any "waitresses" whose official job description includes being certified in CPR as flight attendants are. Pilots are ensconced in the cockpit behind a locked door--somebody has to maintain order among the masses of passengers.
allleloo Mar 1st 2009 11:37AM
...and which broom did you fly in on 'honey' ??
Keep order, what a hoot. alrighty then, what are they , policemen?
Last I checked you didn't even have to get any kind of higher learning to become a flight attendant
...and CPR??? who does not know CPR???
If that is their biggest qualification then you have helped me prove my point- even baby sitters know CPR. It's not that hard to get really, even you could get it, lol.
JustinOpinion Feb 28th 2009 12:14PM
Dumb a**. *LOL* I just LOVE "stupid criminals". :)
BD Feb 28th 2009 12:21PM
adqjdlq said...
"Isn't it a federal offense to impersonate a federal agent of any department? I hope this idiot is fined and put in jail for a minimum of two years. "
If convicted of impersonating a federal agent, he faces a maximum of three years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three year of supervised release. This is not inclusive of any state charges, ie: impersonating a law enforcement officer, false swearing and/or false statements, etc, which are convictable in state court, and must be served in a state prison, and may not be served in Federal Prison concurrently with any federal convictions.
Todd Feb 28th 2009 12:29PM
Terry,
You hit it right on. perfect post.
And for the flight attendants, we do see you as high priced servants, pretty much useless and unnecessary. If the airline want to cut costs, get rid of all but one per plane, and they will.
Frank Feb 28th 2009 12:33PM
I'm a commercial pilot and I take the side of the flight attendants. I've seen some passengers who should have been simply hit in the head with a club. A great many passengers seem to think they're hurtling through the air at 550 mph in a five star deluxe hotel and complain about EVERYTHING. This problem was exacerbated by the advent of lost cost flying. Now anyone can pile aboard an airliner regardless of intellect, upbringing and the possession of good manners. These people, if even allowed to board, should be put in a specific section and segregated from the normal people. Thank God that I'm an aerial applicator and don't have to put up with passengers.
bd Feb 28th 2009 12:35PM
"allleloo said...
Terry:
I've always wondered why airplane crew feels so , um, entitled..."
"Again, flight attendants are not special! They are waitresses in the air, and they deserve as much attention as everybody else no matter their profession, from the garbage collector to the doctor, the the business man.
'911' seems to have given flight attendants and other airport personnel a certain air of importance; remember this, it's all in your head, most of us still see you the same way we did before--people put on the planes to serve us, and these days it ain't even much..."
Interference With Flight Crew Members or Flight Attendants—49 U.S.C. 46504
One who assaults, threatens, or intimidates a flight crew member or attendant while aboard an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, and thereby interferes with the performance of that crew member's duties or lessens the ability of that crew member to perform his/her duties is punishable under this subsection. See United States v. Meeker, 527 F.2d 12 (9th Cir. 1975). A violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46504 is a general intent crime; it does not require any specific intent to intimidate or to interfere with the flight crew member or attendant...While attempted aircraft piracy and interference with flight crew can both be charged in the same indictment, if convicted on both charges, the defendant should be sentenced only under the attempted aircraft piracy conviction because, absent highly unusual circumstances, the interference with flight crew charge is the lesser included offense.
Still think flight attendants "aren't (or should I say ain't) special", allleloo? Argue with, refuse to follow directions from, push, hit, threaten, etc. a flight attendant on your next flight, and you could be facing charges like those described above.
bd Feb 28th 2009 12:45PM
For those who want to read the law as stated:
UNITED STATES CODE,TITLE 49, SUBTITLE VII, PART A, subpart iv, CHAPTER 465, § 46504
§ 46504. Interference with flight crew members and attendants
An individual on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States who, by assaulting or intimidating a flight crew member or flight attendant of the aircraft, interferes with the performance of the duties of the member or attendant or lessens the ability of the member or attendant to perform those duties, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. However, if a dangerous weapon is used in assaulting or intimidating the member or attendant, the individual shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.
DKK Mar 31st 2009 1:53AM
That guy is a first class moron.
Man, you can really tell from reading these posts who actually flies a lot and who doesn't. And how many of these geniuses will be saying the same crap when the next plot to kill US citizens is uncovered because our government really is trying to protect us all? No they are not taking this lightly.
And I will bet that the people criticizing the government for their actions weren't in downtown NYC on 9/11. If you were, you would know how that just stays with you. And you would be grateful that some people are NOT forgetting.
It is the complaisance that the terrorists use against us, just as they continue to use our freedoms against us. No thanks, I would rather be "harassed" at the airport and safe, than coddled at the airport and blown up in the skies.
JLX Feb 28th 2009 1:43PM
Anyone would be stupid to quarrel with a bitchy flight attendant (male or female) on the plane, but once they leave the plane their just another unprotected citizen.
basketpam Feb 28th 2009 1:51PM
I tell you, the stupidity of the American public is REALLY starting to scare me. It's bad enough that this guy pulled the trick of flashing a fake badge and got on a plane, but then when he was given a second chance by not getting arrested to cause another scene goes beyond belief. Let's face it, most normal people would have NEVER dared trying to pass themselves off as a cop of any sort but at least they would have the brains to get the hell out of there if they weren't arrested for it. The real marshalls probably let him off because they needed to do their jobs on that flight and didn't want to hold up the plane by booking this guy. Why he didn't have the sense to leave the airport and not push his luck is beyond what I can understand. Are people born this stupid or do they have to work at it?
Yon Feb 28th 2009 1:58PM
Aaaaahhhhhh, natural selection is always at work.
Susan Feb 28th 2009 2:46PM
So stupid passengers. Yeppers, see 'em every day. Had a flight last night that was so turbalant that our "service" consisted of handing out barf bags. That's when we could actually get out of our seatbealts and weave, bump and hang on as we made our way through the cabin. In the middle of it all, while the crew was strapped into their seats a customer all but crawls to the aft galley and demands to know when we're going to begin our snack service. Thanks bud, for caring about your's and our safety over you blind needs for your snack. And people wonder why we get a tad testy at times. Check bags...check brains.
allleloo Mar 3rd 2009 4:26PM
Frank
Who cares what you think...clearly you should not be allowed to fly anyone around, because you are a moron.
The airlines need the passengers that's why they lowered the price- idiot, and by the way, bad behavior is not relegated to a certain class- the poor as you seem to infer.
Last time I checked there are many types of affluent people. They can come from anywhere, and by the way, if all these people did not travel by air, you would be out of a job. By the way, you are nothing more than an 'in air' cab driver.
BD...I didn't read a word of that mumbo jumbo, except for the first line- not wasting my time on you for sure. What I say still stands. Flight attendants are largely unnecessary.
...and by the way, which genius let this man on the plane. Shouldn't they have had him checked out first?
That should never have happened.
As for people speaking their minds, that will never change. If you don't want to hear people gripe and complain, become a private pilot- the really rich have less to complain about, though I must say they will make you feel more like the servant that you really are.
Cheers!