Flight attendant 'chased by passenger demanding crackers' on United Airlines flight re-routed to Belfast
Belfast Telegraph (Northern Ireland) 04/07/2016
Author: David Young
(c)2016 Independent News & Media (Northern Ireland). All Rights Reserved
An American man accused of endangering the safety of a transatlantic flight chased a flight attendant up the aisle after she refused to serve him cheese and crackers, a court has heard.
The head flight attendant on the United Airlines Boeing 777 claimed Jeremiah Mathis Thede was "agitated" and demanded to know the name of the colleague who had not given him the snacks.
Sheila Wire, the purser in charge of the flight crew, said Thede also allegedly threatened a fellow passenger who had told her he had placed a potential "trip hazard" - a discarded food tray - in the path of attendants walking backwards down the aisle.
The airliner, carrying 264 passengers, was en route from Rome to Chicago on June 20 last year when the captain decided to touch down at Belfast International Airport after concerns were raised about Thede's behaviour by cabin crew and other passengers.
Californian Thede (42), denies a charge of endangering an aircraft or persons in the aircraft.
Ms Wire, who has 43 years' service with United, was the first witness as the trial began at Antrim Crown Court.
She told the court she had to brief four other male passengers to get ready in case Thede had to be physically subdued.
In the event, police officers removed him from the flight when it arrived in Northern Ireland.
Ms Wire said she was alerted to a problem in the economy section between 30 and 45 minutes into the flight. She said she saw attendant Lisa Hall rushing toward her, followed by Thede. "I just saw this look on her face, she was stunned," said Ms Wire.
Ms Wire said Thede had a pad and pen in his hands and was repeatedly saying "I want her name".
After telling Ms Hall to go to the cockpit, Ms Wire said she tried to establish what had happened from Thede. "He responded that he went to the back, he wanted cheese and crackers, and 'that lady wouldn't give them to me'," she told the judge.
"I stood there waiting for more information, but it was just that, that was really the basis of what was happening at that minute.
"I remember standing there taking a very deep breath and I remember in my mind thinking 'this is over cheese and crackers?'."
Thede, dressed in a light grey suit and white shirt, sat in the dock as the purser gave evidence. He has been on bail in Northern Ireland awaiting trial since last June.
Ms Wire claimed that at other points in the flight Thede was getting up and down from his seat and opening and shutting overhead bins when seatbelt signs were on, and refused to sit down when warned.
She said his behaviour prompted numerous complaints from other passengers.
"One said: 'What is United Airlines doing to ensure my family and I are safe?'," she said. "I remember that as a direct quote."
Ms Wire said she warned Thede that the flight might have to be diverted if his behaviour continued.
"He looked at me and said 'are you done yet?'," she told the court.
It has been claimed the plane had to dump thousands of litres of fuel before making the unscheduled stop.
As the crew would have exceeded their legal flying hours if the aircraft had resumed the journey straight away, the passengers were forced to wait almost 24 hours before the plane could take off again, with many having to sleep on the terminal floor.
The trial continues.
Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
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Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
"I'm putting an end to this f*ckery." - Rayna Boyanov
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
How can you have any crackers if you don't eat your meat?
Commercial Pilot, Vandelay Industries, Inc., Plant Nutrient Division.
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
You're thinking of pudding, the dispensing of which is governed by completely different procedures.
HR consultant, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, Inc.
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
No...You're thinking of pudding, the dispensing of which is governed by completely different procedures.
It's a fundamental rule- no snacks until you've eaten your primary meal.
Don't go type specific on me with this being a 1979 Floyd - Pink...
Commercial Pilot, Vandelay Industries, Inc., Plant Nutrient Division.
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
Damn cowboy hosties!
HR consultant, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, Inc.
- flyboy2548m
- Posts: 4395
- Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:32 am
- Location: Ormond Beach, FL
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
43 years of service with United....
Good God!
Good God!
"Lav sinks on 737 Max are too small"
-TeeVee, one of America's finest legal minds.
-TeeVee, one of America's finest legal minds.
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
Which still makes her younger than 90% of the hosties for American Airlines.43 years of service with United....
"I'm putting an end to this f*ckery." - Rayna Boyanov
- Ancient Mariner
- Posts: 3774
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:24 pm
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
I just knew I made a wise decision when I banned myself from US airlines.
Anyone knows when common sense was dropped over there?
Per
Anyone knows when common sense was dropped over there?
Per
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
When?...Anyone knows when common sense was dropped over there?...
It was a slow gradual process. Snot-nosed Evan-like MBA's pinching pennies, the upper 1% demanding more profits from Wall Street, The Wal-Mart effect of consolidation and squeezing for cheapness, FORTRAN analyses of ways to optimize efficiency, Dummy & Flyboys over-inflated pay, the Interwebs and Online cheapness/Travelocity & 15 etc. copy cats, the general dumbing down of Uhmurika, and of course, we must also blame El Presidente!
Commercial Pilot, Vandelay Industries, Inc., Plant Nutrient Division.
- flyboy2548m
- Posts: 4395
- Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:32 am
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Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
That's a little like me banning myself from Dhakka's vegan restaurants. Sure, technically speaking it's a loss, but not one they are real likely to notice.I just knew I made a wise decision when I banned myself from US airlines.
Per
"Lav sinks on 737 Max are too small"
-TeeVee, one of America's finest legal minds.
-TeeVee, one of America's finest legal minds.
- Ancient Mariner
- Posts: 3774
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:24 pm
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
Except for me, probably not.That's a little like me banning myself from Dhakka's vegan restaurants. Sure, technically speaking it's a loss, but not one they are real likely to notice.I just knew I made a wise decision when I banned myself from US airlines.
Per
Always nice to have choice.
Per
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
Concur.Always nice to have choice.Per
"I'm putting an end to this f*ckery." - Rayna Boyanov
- Ancient Mariner
- Posts: 3774
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:24 pm
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
Interesting and impressive selection. Yours?Concur.Always nice to have choice.Per
Per
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
In my Nordic dreams.Interesting and impressive selection. Yours?
"I'm putting an end to this f*ckery." - Rayna Boyanov
- Ancient Mariner
- Posts: 3774
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:24 pm
Re: Flight attendant chased by passenger demanding crackers
Those you should embrace.In my Nordic dreams.Interesting and impressive selection. Yours?
Per
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