2 PAX EXHIBITING STRANGE BEHAVIOR LEADS TO A DOMESTIC FLT BEING MET BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ON ARR.

Date: 2002-10 · Aircraft: MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: climb

Anomalies: flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-passenger-misconduct|other-security-conern

Synopsis

2 PAX EXHIBITING STRANGE BEHAVIOR LEADS TO A DOMESTIC FLT BEING MET BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ON ARR.

Narrative

PAX X DISRUPTED CABIN PAST 1500 FT IN ASCENT TO FL330. PAX X HAD TAKEN AN INFLT PILLOW; RIPPED IT OPEN AND STARTED THROWING DEBRIS FROM THE PILLOW INTO CABIN. THIS SPARKED CONCERN TO THE CABIN CREW DUE TO THE FACT THAT DISRUPTION POSES A POTENTIAL FOR DISTR TACTIC IN LIEU OF A HIJACKING. IN AN EFFORT TO ISOLATE EVENTS AND EVALUATE ACTIVITY; I INTERVENED. AFTER CAREFUL ASSESSMENT OF INCIDENT; I CONCLUDED THAT ACTIVITY IN QUESTION DID NOT WARRANT DIVERSION. SIT HAD BEEN ISOLATED AND CTLED. LATER; PAX X REQUESTED A PAIR OF SCISSORS AND DID NOT GIVE REASON FOR REQUEST. PAX Y HAD TAKEN A PILLOW CASE AND PLACED IT OVER HIS HEAD LIKE A CLANSMAN. THE DISRUPTION WAS CONSISTENT AND CONSTITUTED LEVEL 1 THREAT. INFORMED CAPT AND REQUESTED LEO AND CUSTOMER SVC AGENT TO MEET FLT UPON ARR TO GATE. SIT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRESENT CLR AND PRESENT DANGER TO PAX AND CREW. ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD STATED NOT TO TAKE ANY THREAT; NO MATTER HOW SMALL; LIGHTLY. HAD THERE BEEN A POTENTIAL HIJACKER OR TERRORIST ON BOARD; THESE EVENTS COULD HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.