A flight we will never forget!!

So its 4.30am July 17th and we wake up to the now not so sweet sound of “Sweet Child O’Mine” (Our alarm clock ring tone)! Everything on our long list was completed the night before, a 14 hour stint at work the day before checked everything off the ‘to do’ list for both of us and we were ready for our first holiday and trip out of Dubai after 8 long hard working months in the Desert.

We got to the airport on time, courtesy of the Dutco Balfour Beatty driver, checked in no problems and found the best place in an airport………….the bar! It was time for the traditional airport Bloody Mary for me and the newly formed tradition of Mimosa (Bucks Fizz) for Erin, perfect drinks to start the holiday and went very well with a big fat hearty full English Breakfast!

Boarding time arrives for our 15 & ½ hour direct flight to San Fran – we have good seats, a fantastic entertainment system, free booze and everything was set.

However……………

After about 2 hours in we notice a guy sat across the aisle to us, he was an older gentleman, late sixties, early seventies, and he had been up and down the plane a few time and then he started to venture through the curtain into Business class, soon to re-appear being put back in his seat by a stewardess. He did this on numerous occasions and we didn’t think too much of it at first. We actually started playing a game to see how long it would take before he was up again and attempting to sneak in and try and fly business class.

After about three more attempts at business class we notice the stewardess’ getting a little bit more vocal and aggressive, apparently as he was walking around the plane he started to touch a few of the crew in what can only be described as inappropriate places. His next little adventure involved him standing in the aisle and dropping his trousers, again, to me and Erin this was rather amusing and seemed pretty harmless.

The man was an Iranian and didn’t speak any English whatsoever, the crew didn’t speak his language and his wife just sat there with a stupid grin on her face, as if she didn’t know what day it was……..This is where it got kinda serious, the next thing we know, there is a huge debate and shouting and he had gone into business class toilets to smoke a cigarette and this was obviously not allowed and then the crew started shouting at him and had to get a few passengers to translate and explain the seriousness of what he had just done.

About 2 hours or so passed, then he was up again, this time the economy toilets was his choice of where he was going to smoke, the problem this time was he ended up putting the ciggy in the bin which started a fire. It was then that they decided he needed to be restrained. It took about five people standing on seats in front of him and behind him to try and tie his arm behind his back with the temporary handcuffs (zip ties) and lock his legs together in seatbelts.

He obviously didn’t appreciate this and was kicking and screaming and shouting and trying to headbutt the crew. They eventually got him in his seat, gave him oxygen and he was getting himself into a frenzy and unable to breathe. He spent the next 3 hours shouting and moaning under the watchful eye of the staff! It was very unrelaxing and there was no chance of any sleep. They let him out once, so that he could go to the toilet and of course he caused trouble, this time he pushed his wife to the ground in the aisle and then once again the 20 minute struggle to restrain him was happening!
We were then told that the police in SF had been informed and that he was to be arrested upon arrival. The remaining 5 hours consisted of him shouting and screaming randomly, and the occasional spitting session at other passengers (until they forced a mask over his mouth)! Erin was feeling very uncomfortable and was scared thinking about what he was going to do next!

Anyway, we landed in SF and were told by the Captain to remain seated, about 5 cops came onto the plain, Handcuffs ready and he was dragged off the plane. As we got off the plane, there was about 25-30 SFPD charging towards our plane (I think they had had a boring day and this seemed like a good bit of action)! He was arrested and I can only imagine US Customs and Immigration sent him straight back on the next plane out of there.

It wasn’t the best way to start our holiday as we didn’t catch any sleep whatsoever and it was a 16 flight that we will never forget and hopefully never experience again. However, we were in California and very excited to start our 3 week vacation with family and friends, just about to leave the airport when……………………………….

We were the chosen lucky ones - US Customs picked us out of the 250 people on the plane and decided they were going to open everyone of our suitcases and rummage through every item that was in there…………….Perfect!!!


Hope this finds you all well and brings a smile to your face


To follow: Part 3 - ‘We finally leave the airport’

Love to you all,
M&E
xxxxx