Nothing spoils the thrill of securing cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms quicker than being on a flight that has to be diverted because of a passengers intoxicated and threatening behavior.
Last Friday, January 8, an AirTran flight headed to San Francisco from Atlanta was diverted to Colorado Springs due to the disruptive behavior of Muhammad Abu Tahir, a legal US resident.
Problems started when a flight attendant refused to serve Tahir more than three airplane sized bottles of wine. He spoke to a senior flight attendant who agreed to give him two additional bottles, both of which were quickly consumed.
Tahir proceed to the lavatory and a few minutes later was asked by a flight attendant to exit the lavatory so that others could use it. He refused and started yelling that he was being disrespected.
A senior flight attendant tried to intervene but Tahir kept screaming. He later grabbed the senior attendant by her arms and hands, letting her go only after a passenger intervened. A beverage cart was positioned to keep Tahir in the lavatory.
Tahir, who had purchased a coach seat, was arrested when the plane landed and told the FBI that he believed he was being disrespected when flight attendants refused his request for food which was being served to business class passengers.
If found guilty of interfering with a flight crew during a flight, Tahir faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and having to pay restitution to the airline.