Blame It On Ruth Gordon

Yet another bad behavior undoubtedly inculcated by the movies (especially those featuring cartoonishly feisty old ladies):

Air Rage Granny Scrambles Fighters

MIAMI (Reuters) - Fighter jets were scrambled at Miami airport on Tuesday after an elderly woman threw a fit on an American Airlines plane and flight attendants thought she would attack them, police said.

Reports said the woman was aged between 69 and 79.

"They said old," a police spokeswoman said, adding she could not confirm her precise age.

The pilot of flight AA-2133 with 126 passengers on board announced an emergency as a precaution shortly after taking off for Caracas, and fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane back to Miami international airport.

The plane landed safely.

Imagine what she would have done if the Medicare bill hadn't passed Congress?

Comments

[Anonymous]

Not Ruth Gordon, Helen Hayes!

[Ken]

The guys at the firestation down the street havn't put out a fire in a long time. Maybe we should close the place down?

[thoreau]

Hmm, maybe if we give this woman a sedative under the new Medicare bill we could get rid of the air marshalls...

I could see scrambling the fighter jets if several strong guys (or girls, to be fair to the small but apparently growing number of female terrorists...) pulled out knives and tried to take over the plane. But can anybody say with a straight face that one old woman stood a chance of subduing 120+ passengers and crew?

[James B.]

On a somewhat related note, the air marshalls program now has a budget of over half a billion dollars and has made a grand total of 25 arrests, none for terrorist activities.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/11/25/air.marshals.gao/

[Ruthless]

I can see turning the plane around to dump the biddie, but scrambling fighter jets?

[Patrick]

Two words: Parachute and Lifejacket

[Patrick]

Two words: Parachute and Lifejacket

[Patrick]

Two words: Parachute and Lifejacket

[Justin Barstow]

I hope the government sends a bill to the airline.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

"Imagine what she would have done if the Medicare bill hadn't passed Congress?"

Perhaps free socialized drugs won't be a totally bad thing. It will keep the AARP crowd stoned, at home watching Matlock and, most importantly, off the roads.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Has anyone else noticed that "AARP" sounds like a grouchy old fuck belching?

"AAAARP! Gimme more free drugs! AAAAARP"

[joe]

James B, we spent quite a bit of money keeping ground forces in Germany from 1945-1989. I don't believe they ever shot any Warsaw Pact soldiers. Waste of money?

[Mark S.]

"Has anyone else noticed that "AARP" sounds like a grouchy old fuck belching?"

To me it sounds like the nickname of a character from a Norman Leer sitcom.

"Eh Aarp! You wanna beer to wash down those nexium?"

[Tom Ridge]

The airport security screeners ought to be fired for not stopping this obvious threat.

[KJ]

Joe,

have you ever seen any big government spending you didn't like?

[joe]

Plenty. Have you ever seen any you did like?

[Will]

"I hope the government sends a bill to the airline."

Amen Justin!

[escorts]

Thanks