SAN-MDW flight diverts to remove disorderly passengers

[jimntx]

Diversions like this should happen more often.  Maybe passengers would learn they do NOT  have the Constitutional right to do whatever they want to do on an airplane.
 
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/southwest-flight-diverted-passengers-become-114819373.html
 
(Just my evil nature, but I LOVE the fact that SAN-MDW passengers ended up under arrest in Amarillo.  They may have to rent a car to find transportation to Chicago now.)

 

[swamt]

I agree with the evil nature, and yes passengers really do need to understand (learn) that they just cannot do whatever they want to do.  I am a little surprised we did not read where 12  male passengers stepped up for the crew, or maybe that is where the disruption came from.  Hard lesson to learn the hard way and I hate the fact that all the other passengers were put out of their way.  Must have been pretty bad though as the 6 men were detained in Texas and 12 of the original passengers refused to continue on...

 

[FWAAA]

Although every media source says something slightly different about this incident, it appears that it was about 25 soccer players from a San Diego league heading to Chicago, and at least 12 of them got into a tussle with each other and fellow passengers who told them to quiet down and knock it off. The crew set down in Amarillo where the locals took six of them into custody and another six either choose to stay behind or were asked/told that they could not continue to MDW even though they were not arrested (media differs on this detail).

Southwest released a statement:

Southwest flight #1522 from San Diego to Chicago’s Midway International Airport made an unscheduled stop at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport last night after several passengers traveling together became disorderly and, subsequently, refused to follow instructions from the crew.

Out of an abundance of caution, the pilot in command of the flight diverted to Amarillo where law enforcement officials met the aircraft and detained six individuals. Additionally, six other members of the group chose to deplane and remain in Amarillo. The flight eventually continued to Chicago where it landed without further incident.

Safety is the top priority at Southwest Airlines, and we will always take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our crews and customers.

According to the LA Times, WN has promised to re-book the ones left behind in Amarillo:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-disorderly-passengers-20150901-story.html

http://www.10news.com/news/rowdy-sd-soccer-players-divert-flight-to-texas (photos & video)

http://wgntv.com/2015/09/01/chicago-bound-flight-diverted-6-detained-after-disturbance-on-plane/ (photos & video)

http://abc7chicago.com/news/southwest-flight-diverts-to-texas-after-argument-on-board/964907/

http://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/state-regional/six-detained-after-southwest-flight-diverted-to-rick-husband-amarillo-international-airport

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/southwest-airlines-passengers-held-after-plane-diverts-amarillo-n419311

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/923761/chicago-bound-plane-diverts-texas-10-person-fight

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/2015/09/01/southwest-airlines-flight-amarillo-stop/71505836/

 

[700UW]

FBI Update
 
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/09/fbi-outlines-reasons-why-six-southwest-airlines-passengers-were-arrested-and-charged-in-amarillo.html/

 

[swamt]

Pretty sad. A bunch of punks trying to throw their wait around and it didn't work.  Hoping they missed their game, unless it was after a game.  The "I paid for my ticket and I will do whatever I want on this flight" didn't exactly work out for them, now did it? Again, sorry for the rest of the passengers troubles. What a bunch of morons...

 

[jimntx]

FBI Update
 
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/09/fbi-outlines-reasons-why-six-southwest-airlines-passengers-were-arrested-and-charged-in-amarillo.html/

Thanks for the post 700.  Looking at the names of those arrested, I see a discrimination/racist/anti-Moslem accusation against SWA coming in court.  Not saying it will amount to anything, but I bet the charge will be made by their lawyer.  After reading 700's new link, I hope the government and SWA stick to their guns and go for the stiffest penalty possible.

 

[swamt]

Thanks for the post 700.  Looking at the names of those arrested, I see a discrimination/racist/anti-Moslem accusation against SWA coming in court.  Not saying it will amount to anything, but I bet the charge will be made by their lawyer.  After reading 700's new link, I hope the government and SWA stick to their guns and go for the stiffest penalty possible.

Ditto...

 

[jimntx]

Just saw a new post on Yahoo.com.  I didn't copy the link because about 95% of the article was a re-hash of what we already know.  However, it did mention that the 6 are in jail in Canyon, TX until a federal detention hearing (whether or not they will be granted release from jail on bail) on Thursday.  If they are released on bail, they will probably disappear into the Middle East somewhere.