FAA: Northwest flight canceled after pilot's outburst4/7/2007, 2:17 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press
ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) — A Northwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Detroit was canceled after authorities said a pilot was yelling obscenities during a mobile phone conversation as passengers boarded.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded after being called at McCarran International Airport about the pilot Friday afternoon, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said Saturday.
The pilot was apparently in a heated mobile phone conversation in the cockpit, then went into a lavatory, where he locked the door and continued the conversation as passengers boarded, Gregor said.
"Passengers who were boarding the aircraft could hear his end of it," Gregor said.
Authorities were told that the pilot, when confronted by a passenger, cursed at the passenger, Gregor said.
There were 180 passengers and five crew on the flight to Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Northwest Airlines Corp. said in a statement.
The name of the captain, who Gregor said was a veteran pilot, wasn't released.
Gregor said Northwest decided to remove the pilot from the flight and return him to his home base in Detroit for an investigation. He said it was up to Northwest to determine what would happen to the pilot.
Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest said the flight was canceled due to reports of inappropriate language by a crew member. Northwest also issued an apology to passengers and said the incident was under review.
"Customers on the flight were accommodated on other flights to their destinations," the airline said.
Northwest said it provided passengers with meals and hotels during their additional time in Las Vegas. Most were expected to be on flights by Saturday, Northwest said, and a few were booked on flights Sunday.
The FAA plans to follow up with Northwest about the incident, Gregor said.
The Associated Press
ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) — A Northwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Detroit was canceled after authorities said a pilot was yelling obscenities during a mobile phone conversation as passengers boarded.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded after being called at McCarran International Airport about the pilot Friday afternoon, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said Saturday.
The pilot was apparently in a heated mobile phone conversation in the cockpit, then went into a lavatory, where he locked the door and continued the conversation as passengers boarded, Gregor said.
"Passengers who were boarding the aircraft could hear his end of it," Gregor said.
Authorities were told that the pilot, when confronted by a passenger, cursed at the passenger, Gregor said.
There were 180 passengers and five crew on the flight to Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Northwest Airlines Corp. said in a statement.
The name of the captain, who Gregor said was a veteran pilot, wasn't released.
Gregor said Northwest decided to remove the pilot from the flight and return him to his home base in Detroit for an investigation. He said it was up to Northwest to determine what would happen to the pilot.
Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest said the flight was canceled due to reports of inappropriate language by a crew member. Northwest also issued an apology to passengers and said the incident was under review.
"Customers on the flight were accommodated on other flights to their destinations," the airline said.
Northwest said it provided passengers with meals and hotels during their additional time in Las Vegas. Most were expected to be on flights by Saturday, Northwest said, and a few were booked on flights Sunday.
The FAA plans to follow up with Northwest about the incident, Gregor said.
You can click on the link all you like where I stole it from... 
Did we forget about that big pay donation to NW management................? :down:
