US fighter jets escort plane back to Toronto
US fighter jets escort plane back to Toronto
Two U.S. F16 fighter jets escorted a plane back to Toronto on Friday after a passenger, apparently irate over an expensive purchase of cigarettes from an airport's duty-free shop, allegedly threatened the aircraft, authorities said.
Ali Shahi, 25, a Canadian man, began ripping apart magazines and the safety card from the pouch of his seat on a Panama City-bound Boeing 737 after he read in the in-flight magazine that cigarettes were cheaper to buy on the plane than in Pearson airport, where Flight 772 originated, the Toronto Star reported.
Soon after his outburst, Shahi allegedly uttered a threat against the aircraft, which was overheard by a flight attendant and reported to the captain.
The flight, which was flying over West Virginia at the time, then turned around back to Toronto, and was joined by a U.S. fighter escort. When it arrived at Pearson, at least six tactical police officers stormed the jet, repeatedly yelling at passengers heads down, hands up. As they ran past, one officer stayed up front pointing his gun, the Star reported.
Shahi, 25, has been charged with uttering threats and endangering the safety of an aircraft, police said.
No one aboard the flight, which carried 183 passengers and six crew members, was injured.
Shahi's father described his son to the Star as a troubled, mentally ill man.
I blame it on the society here, the health system and the police system. We called police on him more than 23 times in two-three years, said Sadegh Shahi, who said the family tried but could not force their son into a rehab program.
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I cant' imagine what the passengers thought.
Pretty wild ride, I'd say.
It's a shame that he won't get help. I'm glad I wasn't on that plane!!
I just read this to my husband and he says...
He then goes on to quote the Ben Stiller movie...
ROFL...
LOL. Those damn "Canadians" are such troublemakers.
lol They sure are!!
I was at the Toronto Airport yesterday on my way back yesterday. It was a nightmare and we didn;t know why - now I do. There was so much security. Almost had to show proof of who I was in my previous incarnation. It took me longer to go through the 2 immigrations, 2 customs ans security than my flight time. Actually I almost missed my flight.
Feel somewhat better now; thought I looked like a suspect
The thing that was upsetting was that most of the people who work at the airport were extremely moody to the point of rudeness. Dare you ask them a question!!! I understand the stuation but not all travelers are bad and surely they don't deserve to be treated like scum. It was a pretty bad experience and I seriously am considering if I will ever be in transit again there
Someone probably raised the price on Maple Syrup. The Canadians get real pissy about that.
They always use that excuse ("I am not responsible for my actions because...", "Someone else made me do it"..., "I had a bad childhood".. so "I can trample on other peoples' rights whatever I feel like do that"!)
If that had happened in the US he would have gotten severe "lead poisoning" from police raids and not be a problem for airlines anymore
You may be right, Kavika, even the gift shop people were moody