[brownie]

a man giving a female flight attendant a hard time about buckling his seat belt, refusing to do so with the seat belt sign on due to turbulence. The argument escalates when the man stands and tells the female attendant to get out of his face or he's going to knock her out. She leaves and enters the cabin apparently to talk with the pilot/co/navigator about the problem. The agitated male sits back down.

She reappears with what looks like the Capt. walking down toward where the agitated male is sitting. The seats directly behind his row have been vacated by passengers attempting to move away from a potential problem as it's apparently he's having a melt down of some kind.

You're 5 rows behind all this goings on, witness the above.

What would you do, if anything. What could you do if you were to intervene in some way before or after it escalates to violence with the capt.

 

[mike1956]

a man giving a female flight attendant a hard time about buckling his seat belt, refusing to do so with the seat belt sign on due to turbulence. The argument escalates when the man stands and tells the female attendant to get out of his face or he's going to knock her out. She leaves and enters the cabin apparently to talk with the pilot/co/navigator about the problem. The agitated male sits back down.

She reappears with what looks like the Capt. walking down toward where the agitated male is sitting. The seats directly behind his row have been vacated by passengers attempting to move away from a potential problem as it's apparently he's having a melt down of some kind.

You're 5 rows behind all this goings on, witness the above.

What would you do, if anything. What could you do if you were to intervene in some way before or after it escalates to violence with the capt.

Anxiety-induced meltdowns are the worst kind. Hopefully, just giving him some space and some calm vibes will cool things down. If not, I'll probably draft a couple male passengers to each grab an arm.

 

[Anduril]

I would call my travel agent and book a flight from the nearest airport to my original destination.
Because you can bet "out of an abundance of caution" they are going to divert your flight.

Now, AFTER you get on the ground, and presuming the individual in question is not in custody, you take him out back behind the terminal and beat the ever-living **** out of him for inconveniencing your day!!!

 

[tom_rob]

Post 9/11, the captain would never exit the flight deck. But that doesn’t change much, say she has a large co-worker come to assist.
I would be recruiting able bodied passengers around me, there will be some, even if just big guys, to help restrain the individual if the situation escalates. Watching closely, if it does escalate, we will step in and help immobilize the individual until zip-cuffs can be applied.
TR

 

[RadTek]

Post 9/11, the captain would never exit the flight deck. …..

FWIW They‘ve done it on every flight I’ve been on post 9/11. Apparently they phone the flight attendants who take one of their service carts, turn it sideways and block off the aisle. Crew exits the flight deck, attendant takes his or her place,(presumably to open cockpit door later) all the while another attendant stands guard by said cart while flight crew member goes to the can.

 

[tom_rob]

FWIW They‘ve done it on every flight I’ve been on post 9/11. Apparently they phone the flight attendants who take one of their service carts, turn it sideways and block off the aisle. Crew exits the flight deck, attendant takes his or her place,(presumably to open cockpit door later) all the while another attendant stands guard by said cart while flight crew member goes to the can.

Absolutely, that is a different situation and a biological need. The crew can leave the flight deck for a bathroom break. On the other hand, if there is a threat, the flight deck goes into lockdown (depending on the severity, but a pilot would never intervene for this, hopefully a FAM is on board, if it does indeed escalate).
TR

 

[BeerHunter]

^^^^
This precisely! 🤠

 

[brownie]

Absolutely, that is a different situation and a biological need. The crew can leave the flight deck for a bathroom break. On the other hand, if there is a threat, the flight deck goes into lockdown (depending on the severity, but a pilot would never intervene for this, hopefully a FAM is on board, if it does indeed escalate).
TR

This leaves the passengers to assist in retraining the agitated male or let the female attendant deal with it best she can. She may ask for assistance, or she may be in survival mode when that male gets physical.

There's a window of opportunity here for someone or several who may decide to place themselves in a position to react quickly to the start of a physical threat to the attendant. Who might recognize that opportunity to get into a position to defend the attendant prior to her getting her butt handed to her and THEN have people come to her aid.

I'll explain what I'd do in this scenario after others have given what they might be able to or be willing to attempt to keep the peace on the flight.

 

[tom_rob]

True… Find 3 other ABP’s and when she returns, surround/back up the individual as she relays her message.
I will say, 90% of these guys are blowhards in this situation (there’s nowhere to run) and will not lay a hand on the flight attendant.
TR

 

[7.62Kolectr]

Meh. Not my fight. I’m recording it for tik tok so it’ll go viral and I get paid! 😎

 

[tom_rob]

Yet… you’re in a piece of high speed aluminum tubing with nowhere to go.
TR

 

[7.62Kolectr]

Yet… you’re in a piece of high speed aluminum tubing with nowhere to go.
TR

Can go to the back and sit down.

 

[tom_rob]

Can go to the back and sit down.

True, you can absolutely move to the rear as the two crew members take on this belligerent man. Now, he’s already shown he’s ready to bow up and stretch his masculine, because hey, he doesnt need a seatbelt to protect his a$$ from that severe turbulence.
I stand by my original, have a few ABP’s ready to intervene if things go south.
(I also just figured out how to quote posts… thank god the question wasn’t about that.)
TR

 

[RadTek]

Absolutely, that is a different situation and a biological need. The crew can leave the flight deck for a bathroom break. On the other hand, if there is a threat, the flight deck goes into lockdown (depending on the severity, but a pilot would never intervene for this, hopefully a FAM is on board, if it does indeed escalate).
TR

Got ya.👍

 

[Marlinluvr]

Being a couple rows back, I’d start making my way up to somewhere behind the unruly fellow, hopefully with a couple others! If things got physical, maybe grabbing arms or a little sleeper hold to “assist” him in settling down!

 

[Denverd0n]

My first thought, also. You've got empty seats behind him, move up a little closer. Get some other passengers to quietly join you in moving closer, if you can. Then it's a matter of be prepared, but wait to see what he does, and respond appropriately.

I'm not going to sit there and let him beat the hell out of a flight attendant without at least trying to help.

 

[brownie]

Being a couple rows back, I’d start making my way up to somewhere behind the unruly fellow, hopefully with a couple others! If things got physical, maybe grabbing arms or a little sleeper hold to “assist” him in settling down!

I was thinking with the row behind him vacated I'd just slip up into a seat behind him. If he sees me and says anything, play along with how terrible the airlines are [ other language ] and I'm right there with him about the F-ing seat belt rules.

If the attendant comes back and he decides to get physical, I'm in a position to intercede before he can do any damage. Put him to sleep with a choke would be an option

 

[brownie]

My first thought, also. You've got empty seats behind him, move up a little closer. Get some other passengers to quietly join you in moving closer, if you can. Then it's a matter of be prepared, but wait to see what he does, and respond appropriately.

I'm not going to sit there and let him beat the hell out of a flight attendant without at least trying to help.

Nearly exactly what I was thinking. Good thinking

 

[Anduril]

Well, no karens here.
Nobody even suggested ringing the flight attendant call button.

 

[Old Farmer]

For Pete's sake! If the idiot doesn't want a seat belt because he thinks hes Superman, let him play the role..
When the plane lands have the police ready to arrest him and go about your day...