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Airline passenger stupidity ends with indictment, not bang

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Jul 19th 2010 at 1:30PM

Would you like to be featured on Gadling? It's not as hard as you think. It just takes a little bit of planning ... with a healthy dose of stupidity. In fact, you can get your 15 minutes of fame the way Derek Stansberry did. Here are four steps to take to turn your bad decision into one that everyone will judge you for.

Book a trans-Atlantic flight, maybe to Paris
Slip a note to a flight attendant explaining that you have a fake passport
For good measure, let federal air marshals know that you have brought dynamite with you
Wait for the federal grand jury to indict you

It worked for Stansberry. The Riverview, Florida, resident took care of steps 2 and 3 on April 27, 2010. Now that he's been indicted (step 4) on charges of interfering with flight crew members and giving false information and making threats, he's scheduled to be arraigned on July 28, 2010 in Bangor, Maine. Why Bangor? That's where the Atlanta-to-Paris flight was forced to land as a result of Stansberry's shenanigans.

Currently, the 27-year-old is free on $20,000 bail ... and he's famous for the moment.

[photo by Aaron & Alli via Flickr]

Filed under: North America, United States, News

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Gary Arndt Jul 19th 2010 4:42PM

If I follow your advice as listed above, will I get a link to my blog?

Tom Johansmeyer Jul 19th 2010 4:44PM

Only if you yell it during the perp walk!

Theresa Jul 19th 2010 8:27PM

What kind of an idiot does something like that? Bet he stops laughing when the iron doors clang shut and he becomes the bride of bubba.

Charlie Goose Jul 20th 2010 11:46PM

"The bride of Bubba" I'll never understand why people like you take such DELIGHT in prison rape. If I made a joke about a woman being raped, I'd be villified. Any rape is the violation of someone's body, mind, and soul. Do you really believe that this idiot from the plane deserves that? I feel so sorry for you. You're damaged.

Laura Lynn Jul 19th 2010 8:32PM

Not funny! People like this deserve to be locked up.

albert Jul 19th 2010 9:15PM

IDIOT

Rey Jul 21st 2010 12:07AM

He's an oxy-moron. Between a moron and a genius.

heidi Jul 19th 2010 10:44PM

He is an idiot they should lock him up and never let him out.

Bill Harrison Jul 19th 2010 10:46PM

If the News media would only not using the names and pictures of people that make these kinds of acts like the killing at Virginia Tec, then they would never get any fame.

melissa Jul 19th 2010 11:00PM

Can we say douche bag??

Lita Jul 19th 2010 11:09PM

There was a recent story about an idiot who left an aluminum case at a gas pump, and as he drove away, he shouted that he was The Unibomber. Of course, the bomb squad came. But the moron came back to get the case. There was nothing in it but papers, but he was let off with just a fine. A fine. Really? This is another jackass that should be sent away for at least ten years for his "little joke." It is time that the government show these idiots just how serious we take their nonsense. No bail. And, when convicted, a minimum of ten years--no time off with "good behavior." (They should have exhibited "good behavior" when they were on the outside.)

John Jul 19th 2010 11:31PM

Um, Lita, this would fall under federal jurisdiction and there is no such thing as parole or "good behavior" (as you call it) under federal sentencing guidelines. You draw ten, you do ten....period.

Justin Jul 20th 2010 8:22PM

oh shut up you btch im sure this guy wont do anything close to this again saying he should spend 10 years in jail is ridiculous he didnt actually blow the place up lol get a grip he is no longer a threat in any way as hes very unlikely to do it again and at the end of the day nobody was hurt just some lazy bomb squad guys had to check the package ... sure he should be punished but 10 years in jail would ruin his entire life

George Jul 20th 2010 2:38AM

Lita youre a moronic ugly pig and for that you should be sent to jail for 30 years the gov needs to start cracking down on people as dumb as you

philip Jul 19th 2010 11:47PM

no need to lock him up and spend tax dollars....turn him over tothe people whose vacation/businesstrip he screwed up...BET they would NOT be kind and talk itover!!! maybe then OTHEr morons would not d osuch totally idiotic things

reece Jul 20th 2010 12:04AM

Maybe they can place THIS LOSER with Hollywood's latest Trainwreck, Lindsay Lohan in the same cell. Better yet, put them in an SUV with a severed brakeline on a mountain road.............Purge the Garbage that Roams the Planet! Two classic dumbasses.

joeomar Jul 20th 2010 1:19AM

According to this article, it appears the perpetrator WANTED to be arrested. This article says it was the perpetrator who informed the flight crew that his passport was invalid and he also told the air marshals he had dynamite. Since his goal was to be arrested, he wasn't stupid - actually he was very successful. The article would have been more informative if it explained his motivation for getting himself arrested.