November 16 started like any other day at Houston’s airport, but for the passengers of Flight 1161, it was anything but. Destined for Denver but diverted to Dallas, passengers experienced perhaps one of the top 5 freakouts on a plane we’ve ever seen.
It all began with a woman, visibly distressed, sobbing and swearing at the airline’s employees trying to escort her down the aisle. Her resistance was not quiet; it involved a blood-curdling scream that echoed throughout the cabin, setting a tense stage for what was to come.
As the crew struggled with the woman, another passenger, donning a gray beanie, stepped in. She tried to speak to the troubled woman, who, for a moment, ceased her panic. This brief interlude of calm, however, was just the eye of the storm.
Another altercation broke out between a man in a white baseball cap and a member of the airline staff. The cabin turned into a theater of conflict and confusion, with passengers taking out their phones to capture the unfolding drama.
Then the initial woman began clambering over the seats, desperately trying to escape? Other passengers scrambled out of her way. She was brought back to her seat after accusing staff of kidnapping and assault.
Meanwhile, the woman in the beanie began to preach loudly about possession, the devil, and Jesus Christ – she said the troubled woman needed exorcism. She begins to sing. A passenger in sunglasses issued threats in ‘Texas style.’
Who doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ?’ the woman in the beanie demands as people mutter. ‘If y’all don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ, I suggest you find one.’
…The employee in the brown sweater embraces her and continues to rub her back and rock her like a baby.
This wall all too much even for Frontier Airlines, where disruption is de rigueur, and the pilots put the plane down in Dallas.
My little sister’s first experience flying by her self on Frontier
byu/octopussking inPublicFreakout
I’m reminded of the woman who caught the Spirit and uncontrollably called for Jesus during a mechanical delay.
This is what happens when you charge $29 for a flight. There is a reason this stuff happens regularly on Spirit and Frontier but not Delta and United.
Now that’s (inflight) entertainment!
@CHRIS and I’m totally fine with that since I;d rather drive than ever step on a flight operated by Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, or ANY ULCC. It’s bad enough on the legacy carriers.
Because, you know….’merica, the beautiful.
Nice to see all the
“Good Samaritans”
trying to help!
How did we get here? Why are people so stupid and crazy? I blame the hippies and the self esteem movement. They ruined everything.
There’s never a stun gun when you most need it.
If no video it didn’t happen…
I really really hate the people who tape someone’s misery or mental breakdown just to post it online like it’s some form of entertainment to them. The guy who snatched the taping woman’s phone earlier this month had the right idea, but poor execution. He missed throwing her phone in the toilet. It’s not a fc#&ing concert. Have some compassion, stay seated and mind your own business.
@Dave – there’s video in the post
Kudos to the woman in the brown/striped sweater who hugged the passenger with the breakdown. Weighted blankets and bear hugs work great on people and animals in mental distress.
I really wish you would stop profiting from other’s misery (and also displays of bad behavior.) This woman clearly is mentally ill or on drugs or something else is wrong. And when people are simply exhibiting bad behavior, not only do you not know what got them to that point, you encourage more people to behave badly by giving them notoriety.
@Dan
Spot on, Dan. Seems like people don’t respect any authority now. Authority like….Police, Teachers, PARENTS, Leaders are trashed.
George Floyd would not have died…..if people had not egged this on.
Crowds not under control!!
Thugs stealing from stores….and they are absolved of all guilt? Where’s the justice for the harmed? When crime is not nipped in the bud….IT GROWS!!!
Should we chop off the fingers of thieves….as before. I hope not.
All this nonsense has got to stop. MLK was right….you don’t have to judge people by the color of their skin. Just look at the content of their character.
Gary, you put in some great effort here in the literary style department: “Destined for Denver but diverted to Dallas” was just the beginning. When I read that line, I immediately opened a can of fava beans and poured myself a glass of nice chianti. My anticipation was rewarded with even more stylistic gems: alliteration, foreshadowing, action sequences, witty turns of phrase. Keep ’em coming!
@Cindi
I don’t care what “got them to that point”. She endangered a hundred (or more) other innocent people by her shenanigans.
From the article itself it’s not clear why the plane ever left the ground. If it hadn’t, why was it diverted from its destination? Why weren’t the passengers quieted or removed before departure?
Stop serving alcohol as people don’t know how to behave
I travel a lot for business and witness many acts of kindness (helping others stow & retrieve their bags) as well as rudeness. I try to show kindness hoping some of it will rub off.
How many idiots can you fit on a plane? Apparently a lot. And yet, nothing will happen to any of them and we can all loom forward to running into one of these morons on a flight in the future.