A Frontier Airways flight diverted after a person with two field cutters grew to become aggressive and threatening towards others. By all accounts it seems like this ended about in addition to it may have, due to the teamwork between the crew and passengers.
Field cutters trigger Frontier Airways flight to divert
This incident occurred on the night of Friday, November 11, 2022, and includes Frontier Airways flight F91761. The brand new Airbus A320neo with the license plate N393FR was scheduled to depart Cincinnati (CVG) at 7:12PM, and arrive in Tampa (TPA) at 9:27PM.
After the airplane took off, a number of passengers noticed a traveler sitting towards the again of the cabin appearing erratically. The one that was within the window seat subsequent to this man stated that he flashed a field cutter and stated “I need to kill or I need to stab individuals.”
The traveler who was seated within the aisle subsequent to this man additionally seen the field cutter, and was afraid for her security. She reported this to the crew, and the crew sprung into motion.
The flight attendants quietly seemed for a passenger with police or navy coaching, to commerce seats with the girl. At this level a Navy veteran provided to change seats with the girl (on Veterans Day, no much less). Right here’s how he described his interplay with the man who had the field cutters:
“He has a weapon and I don’t know what sort of weapon it’s. I stated, ‘hey I’m gonna be sitting right here any more,’ and he stated ‘no the younger woman is gonna be sitting there.’ He received like frantic, and he stated ‘oh no!’ Then he received up and went to the again of the airplane.”
The scenario had been communicated to the pilots, and the choice was made to divert to Atlanta (ATL). Nonetheless, the diversion wasn’t introduced to passengers, with the intention to attempt to hold the person with field cutters calm. Fairly passengers didn’t understand they have been diverting to Atlanta till they have been on the bottom there, and turned on their telephones.
All passengers have been informed to deplane, via the suspect refused to get off the airplane. Finally he walked towards a flight attendant together with his arms in his pockets, at which level one other man with a background in legislation enforcement tackled him.
At this level the FBI and Atlanta Police Division took the person into custody, and the flight was canceled for the night (I assume the crew had maxed out allowable hours). Passengers got resort lodging, and have been flown all the way down to Tampa the subsequent morning.
Whereas passengers had solely noticed one field cutter on the person, a search of the suspect by authorities discovered a second field cutter in his carry-on.
This incident poses some main safety issues
As many will most likely keep in mind, the weapon of selection for hijackers on 9/11 was field cutters. Whereas so much has modified since then (together with strengthened cockpit doorways), it’s fairly alarming that somebody managed to get two field cutters via safety and onto a airplane.
This incident is now below investigation by the US Lawyer’s Workplace, as that’s the lead federal company on this matter. The TSA has additionally began an inner evaluate of this incident, by viewing CCTV from Cincinnati Airport, and in addition reviewing airport safety processes and operations.
Whereas I’d wish to be shocked that somebody managed to get via a TSA checkpoint with two field cutters, nearly each check over time has proven a excessive failure price from the TSA relating to stopping weapons. I think about this isn’t the one time that somebody has managed to get field cutters via safety.
Equally, we see 1000’s of weapons confiscated by the TSA yearly, and one has to surprise what number of make it via.
Thank goodness that the crew and passengers labored collectively to get the airplane on the bottom safely with out anybody being injured. It’s anybody’s guess what this man’s motives have been.
On the plus facet, broadly talking I do suppose there’s a lot much less of a danger of hijacking than there was within the pre-9/11 period, between strengthened cockpit doorways, and crews not cooperating with the calls for of hijackers. Whereas somebody may little doubt injure others with field cutters, I think about fellow passengers would take motion fairly clearly to restrain somebody like that.
Backside line
Whereas there are all types of unruly passenger incidents these days, a diversion on Friday night time was on a distinct degree. Passengers overheard a person with two field cutters speaking about how he needed to kill or stab individuals. The crew sprung into motion, received the assistance of different passengers, and diverted the flight to Atlanta.
Whereas passengers ended up solely attending to Tampa the next morning, no less than there have been no accidents. That is now being investigated, to determine how the person received via safety with two field cutters (I believe the reply is fairly apparent — the TSA isn’t good at doing its job).
Kudos to the crew for a way this example was dealt with, in addition to the volunteers who helped hold this traveler below management.
What do you make of this Frontier Airways field cutter incident?
