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Man threatens to explode bomb at SFO, gets one-way ticket to jail
If you have a problem with your plane ticket, do not, I repeat, DO NOT do what Oregonian Mark Field did this past Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport: He threatened Philippine Airlines' staff by waving his cellphone and saying, "I'm going to press this and blow up the plane." Mention a bomb in an airport and you're in BIG trouble as Field quickly discovered. It doesn't matter how hopping-, spitting-, head-about-to-burst-mad you are. It also doesn't matter that you don't actually have a bomb.
Evidently, the problem started when Mr. Field tried to check in for an international flight and discovered he was being charged for a round-trip ticket even though he only wanted a one-way ticket. No matter how much he argued with staff, they weren't budging, and the situation heated up until ... Field finally snapped.
Once the word "bomb" spewed from his mouth, in rushed the bomb-sniffing dogs. After it was established that Field didn't have a bomb after all -- just a trigger mouth -- he was arrested for making a false bomb threat. Now, Field sits in jail with a hefty $50,000 bail and a one-way ticket to a court date on October 19.
If convicted, Field could remain in jail for up to one year.
As Sargent Sergeant Wesley Matsuura of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office explained, one-way tickets aren't normally sold for international flights due to security issues. That's why the airline staff wasn't giving in to Mr. Field's complaints. Too bad for him he didn't understand this.
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Filed under: Stories, United States, Airlines, Airports, News
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Jess Spectacular Oct 2nd 2009 9:44AM
isn't it spelled "sargeant"?
Jess Spectacular Oct 2nd 2009 9:49AM
nevermind lol
Jamie Rhein Oct 2nd 2009 9:50AM
Jess, one would think that's a possibility. According to Wikipedia it's "sergeant."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant.
Yet, another plug for "Sgt." By this afternoon, I'd flunk if asked how to spell the word. Whoever came up with the original spelling must have wanted to mess with us.
steve balogh Oct 2nd 2009 10:38AM
Loftier than the ability to use a spell checker, a sense of humility and good naturedness overshadows simple human shortcomings. Keep up the good work.
Telestrat61 Oct 2nd 2009 9:24AM
You simply don't say bomb ANYWHERE! It's the same as fire in a public place. You are endangering the safety of others if you cause a panic for no reason. A year in jail should give the person a chance to reevaluate what constitutes orderly conduct in a public place; enough of the selfishness. Give to the betterment of society not the denigration!
Andrea Oct 2nd 2009 10:27AM
you just said "bomb", hypocrite!
Dee Oct 2nd 2009 11:26AM
It does depend on which country you are going to as to whether you need a one-way or round trip ticket. There are some countries where immigration won't let you in if you don't have a return ticket. One can purchase an open return date ticket if the return date you need is unclear. Airlines who transport people to counties who require a return ticket (where they only have a one-way ticket) can be fined up to $10,000 (or perhaps more). I have no idea what country this person was trying to go to. The biggest problem in this case is it sounds like the telephone sales agent gave the guy wrong information.
Susie Oct 2nd 2009 9:29AM
In 2007 I was going to NY City by train (i know this article is plane related)for I new adventure after my hubby died I left Richmond, VA to meet my brother and his wife in Washington DC...(they were trying to cheer me up after losing the love of my life) the 1st part of the trip was fine, but as we got into DC, my brother and wife got on the train and behind them were 3 muslims with their entire muslamic clothing.... turbins on their heads...They had NO tickets and were trying to push the porter of the train down..my brother and another man shoved the 3 guys out of the train and the doors closed instantly...I know God is with us everyday, but I sure felt He was right inside that train with US
chudney Oct 2nd 2009 9:32AM
Airlines, car rentals...same thing: Alamo discriminates against Florida residents who want to rent a car without a ROUND TRIP airline ticket.
Apparently, if you are a local Floridian trying to rent a car in Florida,, it's a problem unless you show a round trip ticket to and from somewhere so that they dont think you are stealing their car. I say for a $150 round trip ticket to and from New York, you can then rent a car from Alamo in Florida and then steal the car. Any thief who wants a $150 car...that's still a doable bargain..who wouldnt do it if that was their sole intention...? Stupid policy- yes..
Mark D Oct 2nd 2009 9:35AM
BOTH SIDES WERE WRONG!!!
As emotional as someone gets, they must NEVER threaten to Bomb anything or threaten to cause harm to anyone at any airport. You just don't do this. Period. Jail time is very harsh on one hand. On the otherhand we all know this is a consequence for making any type of terroristic threat just about anywhere, much less an airport. I personally think the guy should have charges dropped and sent to a psychotherapist for help. He may very well need it.
Now the airport personel are not by any means a nice bunch of people. Security should be tough in order to keep us safe. But Airline ticket clerks should stay out of issues. I was in a situation where I flew a triangular flight from New York to New Orleans then to Dallas and then back to New York. The first and third flights were on Continental and those were fine. It was the second flight with American that was a horrible experience.
I arrived an hour before my flight and was faced with a line as long as you would find in Germany, which means VERY VERY LONG. There was one clerk handling this line and 15 minutes later a woman in front of me spent another 15 minutes having a "press conference" with the ticket clerk. I was naturally getting impatient. The clerk saw I was annoyed. She used this as an excuse to be rude to me. I paid 15 dollars to check a first bag. She then saw the bag I was planning to bring on the plane. She began bitching about how big the bag was and how she wanted me to check it in. She should learn to mind her own f___ing business. But she was a real b____. I even fit the bag in their lowsy mold and she still complained.
She then told me eithe check it, abandon it and still fly, or not fly at all. I told her to check the bag. I then said I would call for a refund of 25 dollars later. Then she refused to let me on the plane. I kept trying to comply but she treated me like she was a Rebublican that hates our President. Nothing I tried to do to cooperate was good enough. Hey if moderate Sotomayer was not good enough for Republicans, nothing I could do was good enough for her. This woman just tried to discriminate against me because I was a minority. I threatened to get the NAACP over and she called a cop. The cop was civilized and spoke to a supervisor and got him to let me on the plane. I was still forced to check my bag and pay the 25 dollars. The cops then walked me through security quickly and onto the plane. It was very embarrassing.
I did arrive in Dallas and actually got my checked bags first as they were down the conveyer belt in front of the others. HOW BIG OF THEM. I did call the credit card and got my 25 dollars back. I am continuing to harrass American Airlines trying to get to the highest authority. I even got a vice president at his home phone and his wife answered. She put her hubby on and he hung up on me three times. Finally I threatened a lawsuit and he then listened to me vent my frusterations and apologized for my experience. A week later I got a 200 dollar cashier's check and a box of candy and an apology for my bad experience.
In conclusion, while that guy was wrong, I still can see why he did it. As mad as I was I never thought about making any such threats. I stayed fairly calm and at least I got what I needed. I complained and fought later.
So in such bad situations unfortunately you have to obey first and ask questions, yell, scream, complain and harrass later after you are back home.
catelynnw3 Oct 2nd 2009 9:50AM
I don't think it was wise to say what he did at all, BUT I can understand his frustration. I have become so fed up with the airlines and banks to name just a few. Many companies like these decide to change the rules as they see fit. They also make up stupid rules that force people to pay more money. Circumstances often don't allow people any other choice but to pay it. I am going to assume that he somehow originally purchased a one-way ticket. He was going to check-in (not buy a ticket) when he realized that he was being charged for a round-trip ticket. There is no logical reasoning behind this policy - it is simply to make more money, not to protect anyone!
sitofit Oct 2nd 2009 10:32AM
there getting dumber and nutty ever year !
blade Oct 2nd 2009 10:03AM
I wonder if he knew one-way is actually more costly than a round-trip ticket.
Kim Oct 2nd 2009 10:14AM
Shame on the arirline staff?????? Whats wrong with you? There are no one way tickets on international flights. The airline was not trying to make more money, they were trying to save the man from grief when he got to his destionation! Customs would have sent him back....he would have had to pay anyway. Its not the airlines its the countries that state you have to have a ROUND TRIP TICKET!
1
Oscar Oct 2nd 2009 11:25AM
Isn't it obvious that airlines are just using this as an excuse to gouge customers. There are plenty of weenies in America who will suffer any indignity and relinquish any right if it makes them feel safer, giving the airlines and many other businesses the rationale to charge exorbitant and ridiculous fees and perform outrageous actions against consumers by merely attaching the term "enhanced security" in the description. It doesn't make me feel any safer. It makes me feel like a victim of corporate fascism.
Brax1966 Oct 2nd 2009 11:35AM
same BS !!!!!!!! you just cannot sum up whole picture can you son? lol
Brax1966 Oct 2nd 2009 11:34AM
ripping off people and lying to them sure as hell does not stop terrorism LOL!!!!!!!!! wow you must be a christian lol
Fred Roberts Oct 2nd 2009 5:04PM
So much for free speach in this country. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Let"s see......No right to bear arms, no free speach, guilty until proven innocent, no freedom of religeon, taxation without representation, forced medical insurance, all business requires a government license, permits required for assembly, ...........government is the real enemy.......not bomb threats......the only way it will change is to limit terms to 2 years, and eliminate re-election of reps and senators