Man Booted Off Flight After Confronting Texas Governor On Marriage Stance

Via the Austin American-Statesman:

As he was waiting with family and staff to board a flight back to Austin on Tuesday night after two days promoting Texas in New York City, Gov. Greg Abbott was approached by another passenger who shook his hand and then loudly and profanely expressed his unhappiness with the governor’s opposition to gay marriage. “I hope you … go to hell because of your stance on gay marriage,” the man told the governor, using an epithet for emphasis, according to Abbott communications director Matt Hirsch, who was with the governor. The man, identified only as a 32-year-old male by Port Authority police, was asked to step back by Texas state troopers traveling with the governor.

As he walked away, Hirsch said the man, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, directed a parting shot at the governor: “I’m going to see you on the plane.” As it happened, he didn’t. After the tense scene — which was loud enough to be apparent to the crowd of passengers awaiting Jet Blue’s last flight of the day from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport — Jet Blue security told the man he wouldn’t be flying back to Austin on Tuesday night but would be put on the first flight back Wednesday morning. He was given a hotel room for the night, Hirsch said

The passenger was not arrested. Abbott later expressed his gratitude to airport officials.

Pre-Flight Checklist: Remove Cat

Via the Guardian:

A cat has escaped with at least one of its nine lives after stowing away on an ultra-light aircraft flight. A video has been posted on YouTube of the cat digging its claws into the aircraft’s wing as its pilot and passenger fly hundreds of feet above the ground at first apparently unaware of its presence. Romain Jantot, understood to be the pilot in the clip, cites a flying club in Kourou, French Guiana, in the film’s description. “A standard flight until … I still don’t know if it got in after the pre-flight check or if I missed it,” he says. “The cat is doing well, she is still our mascot.” All appears well and cat-free as the aircraft accelerates on the runway and begins its takeoff. But about 38 seconds into the clip, the cat slowly creeps into view under the plane’s left wing, making its way towards the pilot and passenger with a sinister slow crawl. Just after a minute has passed, the pilot’s shock is clear as he notices the windswept stowaway. Never before has a man’s face said “there’s a cat on the wing of my plane” with such unequivocal clarity.

Over 7M views already. The pilot's double-take is great.

Boeing Shows Off 787-9 Dreamliner

CNN reports:

There's a famous quote: "If you did it, it ain't braggin'." Boeing did it -- in front of a camera. An eye-popping rehearsal video Boeing released Thursday shows off its newest version of the Dreamliner aircraft — the 787-9 — performing some impressive and beautiful banks and ascents. The takeoff alone will get your attention. So maybe it's not bragging, but the flight certainly qualifies as world-class swagger for the Dreamliner, which is scheduled for a performance next week at the 2015 Paris Air Show. Watch these breathtaking "technical maneuvers" — as Boeing calls them — while the Vietnam Airlines plane soars over Moses Lake, Washington.

Yeah, I would not enjoy that takeoff.

TSA Agents Fired For "Groping" Scheme

The wingnuts are going to have a field day.

Two Transportation Security Administration officials at Denver International Airport (DIA) have been fired for conducting a scam on male passengers. A male and female agent collaborated so the male could fondle the genitals of men he found attractive. At some point in 2014, the male TSA agent told a female coworker that he “gropes” male passengers he finds attractive, and he asked her for help manipulating the system, according to law enforcement documents obtained by KCNC. “He related that when a male he finds attractive comes to be screened by the scanning machine he will alert another TSA screener to indicate to the scanning computer that the party being screened is a female. When the screener does this, the scanning machine will indicate an anomaly in the genital area and this allows [the male TSA screener] to conduct a pat-down search of that area,” the documents said.

(Tipped by JMG ready Jaime)

You Knew This Was Coming

British and German tabloids are claiming that the Germanwings pilot was "tormented" about being gay. From Britain's Daily Star, which has more than twice the circulation of the Guardian:

Lubitz’ relationship with his girlfriend is said to have broken down and it has been claimed that he was secretly homosexual. He was even taunted by pilot pals for previously being a “trolley dolly” airline steward and dubbed Tomato Andy – a derogatory gay slur. It also emerged the David Guetta fan enjoyed partying at a German nightclub which holds boozy, circus-themed events involving drag queens and dwarves. The lively Agostea club in Koblenz lies 20 minutes from the home he shared with his parents in the German town of Montabaur. The revelations came as German airline Lufthansa, which owns Germanwings, announced it would pay up to e50,000 “immediate financial assistance” to relatives of every victim of the horror crash.

From The Mirror tabloid:

Former colleagues told how Lubitz was mercilessly taunted over his cabin crew past. He was nicknamed “Tomato Andy” because they believed he didn’t know if he was a “fruit or veg” – a reference to his sexuality. One ex-workmate said it was slang term for a “straight who was really gay”. Another added: “Everyone thought it strange that he kept on going back home to his mum and dad at weekends. "He had a nice car, a good job, and good prospects, but he seemed to spend all his time by himself.” Lubitz bought two top-of-the-range Audi cars earlier this month. One was said to be a present for himself and the other for his girlfriend. Habibalah Hassani, 53, who runs a pizza restaurant near the killer pilot’s Dusseldorf home, said he had often seen him with his lover. But neighbours in Montabaur claimed she had not been seen there recently.

Rumors about the pilot's sexuality have even been picked up by the reputable Independent:

Mass-murdering Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had had a “serious relationship crisis” with his girlfriend, investigators told Germany’s Bild newspaper yesterday, and according to one report last night he split with her the day before the crash. An ex-girlfriend told Bild that Lubitz had once told her he wanted his name remembered and that he planned to go down in history by doing something to “change the whole system”. "People all over the world will know my name." Other theories concerned his sexuality. There was speculation yesterday that he may have been gay and felt forced to keep it secret, after it emerged that a male friend had sent a message to Lubitz’s personal website after the crash. It read: “We were only talking yesterday about what we would do together when you came back. You always made me smile.” It was suggested to The Independent that “Tomato Andi” was a joke gay term used to describe someone who repressed their homosexuality, a tomato being commonly referred to as a vegetable despite being a fruit. In any case, it now seems certain that Lubitz had serious psychological problems which he kept secret.

Meanwhile American crackpots like Pam Geller and Jim Hoft are predictably claiming that the pilot was a recent convert to Islam.

Headline Of The Day

Via the London Standard:

The co-pilot who deliberately crashed a plane into a mountainside in the French Alps was suffering from depression and 'a personal life crisis,' according to reports. Andreas Lubitz, 28, had deliberately put the Germanwings airliner into a descent after the captain left the cockpit, French prosecutors said after analysing evidence from the recovered cockpit voice recorder. 150 people were killed, including babies, 16 schoolchildren and the flight's cabin crew and pilot. The head of Lufthansa, Germanwings parent company, admitted Lubitz had taken a long break from pilot training, while German media reported he had been battling mental health issues. Investigators are focusing on his "personal, family and professional environment" to try to determine why he locked his captain out of the cockpit and reset the autopilot to take the doomed plane from 38,000 feet to just 100ft. According to German newspaper Bild, Lubitz was going through a "personal life crisis", while the Der Spiegel newspaper said he had taken a break in training because of "burnout-syndrome".

More from the Daily Mail:

Yesterday, the boss of Germanwings admitted Lubitz had slipped through the ‘safety net’ and should never have been flying. It was also revealed that the fitness fanatic had suffered from depression and ‘burnout’ which had held up his career. He reportedly received a year and half of psychiatric treatment and was at one point recommended to be examined by a doctor before flying. But, incredibly, he passed his psychological assessments and was later considered fit to fly. Germany’s Federal Aviation Office confirmed this morning that Lubitz had a medical condition noted in his pilot’s records which required him to have a regular examination. It was reported this morning that during his education at the Lufthansa Flight School in Phoenix, Arizona, he was listed temporarily as 'unfliable'. It was suggested today that Lubitz - who had worked for Lufthansa as a cabin attendant for nearly a year before being accepted for flight training - may have been teased by other pilot's over his previous role. A friend said: 'His nickname was "Tomato Andy" - a reference to his past employment as a flight steward'.

And from Sky News:

Prosecutors investigating the Germanwings crash have said there were indications the co-pilot hid his illness from his employers. In a news conference on Friday, the prosecutors said that Andreas Lubitz hid a sick note on the day the Airbus A320 crashed into a mountainside during a flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf. The torn-up note, dated on the day of the crash on Tuesday, was found in the 27-year-old's flat in Dusseldorf. The prosecutors added that documents showed he was receiving medical treatment, but that no suicide note or claim of responsibility for the crash was found.

FRANCE: Prosecutor Says Airliner Was Crashed Deliberately By Co-Pilot

Via ABC News:

A Marseille prosecutor says the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps appeared to have crashed the plane deliberately. Prosecutor Brice Robin said the action of manipulating "what is called the flight monitoring system in order to embark on the descent of the plane", could "only be deliberate". "I repeat, when he was alone, in charge of the Airbus, the co-pilot started the flight monitoring system to get the plane to descend," he said. "The action on this altitude selector can only be voluntary, I repeat action on this altitude selector can only be deliberate."

The German citizen, left in sole control of the Airbus A320 after the captain left the cockpit, refused to re-open the door and pressed a button that sent the jet into its fatal descent, Mr Robin said. He said that "one can then hear several calls from the commander asking to be allowed into the cockpit", but there was no answer. "He knocked on the door and there was no answer from the co-pilot either," he said. "One can then hear the noise of human breathing within the cockpit, and that human breathing noise can be heard until the final impact which means that theoretically the co-pilot was alive.

German Jetliner Crashes In Southern France, All 148 Aboard Feared Dead

Via the New York Times:

A German plane carrying at least 142 passengers and six crew members to Düsseldorf from Barcelona crashed on Tuesday in southern France, the French civil aviation authority confirmed. The wreckage of the aircraft, an Airbus A320 operated by Germanwings, a budget subsidiary of Lufthansa, was located by a French military helicopter near the town of Prads-Haute-Bléone, according to Eric Héraud, a spokesman in Paris for the aviation authority, the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile. The pilots declared an emergency at 10:47 a.m. and descended rapidly to around 5,000 feet from a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet, while flying over the town of Barcelonnette in the Alpes de Haute-Provence region, Mr. Héraud said. President François Hollande of France said that many of the victims were German. “The conditions of the accident, which have not yet been clarified, suggest that there might not be any survivors,” he said.

Germanwings is owned by Lufthansa.

One Million Moms Vs Spirit Airlines

I literally shouted "HOORAY!" when this came in just now. Scared the cat.

Spirit Airlines ads often use distasteful marketing choices. For example, there is also their Bare Fare ad. The script for that ad goes: "Our fares are unbundled: no 'free' bag, no 'free' drink. From the start, it's just you're a_s + gas and a personal item." That included an image of a stick figure covering its privates as though not wearing any clothes. Yesterday, they went too far with their latest perversion and launched their "69" ad. It’s a shame an airline would advertise in such a way when families fly on their airlines. This time they have outdone themselves with a disgusting ad. The entire marketing campaign is horrible. This suggestive advertisement is offensive and completely inappropriate. TAKE ACTION: Please use the information we have provided on our website to contact Spirit Airlines urging they pull this offensive 69 ad campaign immediately!

See the full text of the ad at my post from yesterday.

Spirit Airlines: Use Your Mouth To Spread The Word About Our 69th Aircraft

The text above reads: "We've been waiting to hit 69 planes for years. It's our favorite number - ever since we were twelve and found that magazine under our brother's bed (the one with the fantastic articles). #69 is perfect: just the right size, with a cockpit that's in your face (because it's bright yellow). Use your mouth to spread the word: Spirit is in an even better position to get you where you're going. We're popping an epic Bare Fare in celebration! $69.00* round trip!"  JMG reader Richard predicts an immediate meltdown from One Million Moms.

This Is An Ad For Something

AdWeek names this their "Ad Of The Day:"

Air France embarks on a lavish flight of fantasy in this trippy 45-second global commercial by BETC Paris. Directed by film collective We Are From LA (which also directed Pharrell's "24 Hours of Happy" video, as well as Evian's "Baby & Me," also by BETC), the action takes place inside an oversized, ludicrously stylized airplane cabin where legroom is absolutely no problem. Colorful images of French culture and taste play across the screen. We're treated to ballerinas, the Tour de France, a high-fashion photo shoot, pastries, young lovers and more. Most of the performers ride swings dangling from the ceiling for some reason. (And you thought the Delta guy enjoyed being on a plane.) The visuals are a tad confusing but also riveting. You keep watching in an attempt to figure out what the hell's going on.

The music is a new version of 2011's Warm In The Winter by the Portland, Oregon duo Glass Candy and is a take on John Paul Young's 1978 global smash Love Is In The Air, which remains a staple at disco oldies parties.

Delta Flight Skids Off Runway At LGA

LaGuardia airport is closed at this writing after a Delta flight out of Atlanta crash-landed on the runway, skidding into a snowbank and a perimeter fence.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 aircraft skidded during a Thursday morning snowstorm. LaGuardia Airport was closed immediately after the incident occurred. The FAA said the airport is expected to reopen at 6:59 p.m. EST. Port Authority spokesman Joe Pentangelo said the plane went off the runway at around 11:10 a.m. Delta issued a statement following the incident confirming the flight number, and indicating the plane exited LaGuardia's Runway 13 during its landing.

This Is An Ad For Something

From British Airways:

We teamed up with Out of the Blue, Oxford University's all male a capella group, for a very special version of Wham’s classic hit ‘Club Tropicana’ The 14-strong group flew to Malta with the airline to recreate the summer hit and bring the taste of sunshine and pina coladas tantalisingly close to Brits looking forward to their next break in the sun. The video, which was filmed at one of BA Holidays featured hotels - The Corinthia St George’s Bay in Malta - follows the original, complete with deep tans, lilos, cocktails and shades.

JMG tipster Rich says this the "gayest 'non-gay' ad travel ad" that he's ever seen.

Seen At San Diego International

The above sign can be seen at San Diego International Airport across from the Virgin America gates. Photo by Mario Inchiosa.

TAIWAN: Dashcam Captures Plane Crash

Via BBC News:

A plane carrying mostly Chinese tourists has crashed into a river in Taiwan, killing at least 25 people. Dramatic video footage emerged showing the TransAsia Airways plane clipping a bridge as it came down shortly after take-off from a Taipei airport. The plane, carrying 58 people, has broken up and the fuselage is lying half-submerged in the Keelung River. Rescue efforts are ongoing. At least 15 people have been pulled out alive, with 18 still missing. Television footage showed some passengers wading clear of the sunken wreckage and a toddler being pulled out alive by rescuers. The ATR-72 turbo-prop plane had just taken off from Taipei Songshan Airport and was heading to the Kinmen islands, just off the coast of the south-eastern Chinese city of Xiamen. It is the second TransAsia ATR-72 to crash in seven months, following an accident last July which killed 48 people and injured 15. The final communication from the pilots to air traffic control was "Mayday, mayday, engine flame out", according to a recording played on local media.

Wreckage From AirAsia Flight Found

Via the Los Angeles Times:

Searchers recovered bodies from the Java Sea on Tuesday and found what officials said wreckage from Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 as the three-day mystery over the plane's whereabouts reached a heartbreaking resolution for the families of 162 people aboard. “I am absolutely devastated,” Tony Fernandes, AirAsia's chief executive, said in a statement. “This is a very difficult moment for all of us at AirAsia as we await further developments of the search-and-rescue operations but our first priority now is the well-being of the family members of those on board QZ8501,” he said. AirAsia said debris belonging to its aircraft was found in the Karimata Strait -- between Singapore and Indonesia -- about 110 nautical miles southwest of Pangkalan Bun, on the southern edge of Borneo island.

At this writing about 40 bodies have been recovered.

Another Airliner Is Missing

Via USA Today:

The fate of an AirAsia Indonesia jet that disappeared Sunday over the Java Sea with 162 people aboard remained a mystery more than 16 hours after it disappeared in violent weather, authorities said.Flight QZ8501 was bound for Singapore from Surabaya, Indonesia, when it lost contact with air traffic control at about 7:24 a.m. (6:24 p.m. ET on Saturday), the airline said in a statement. The time in Surabaya is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time; Singapore is 13 hours ahead of ET. "We don't dare to presume what has happened except that it has lost contact," said Djoko Murjatmodjo, Indonesia's acting director general of transportation. Minutes before the plane disappeared from radar, the pilot asked air traffic control for permission to avoid a cloud bank by turning left and going higher, to 34,000 feet. Flight QZ8501 gave no distress signal, he said.

Headline Of The Day

Details.

BRITAIN: London Airspace Closed After Power Outage At Air Traffic Control

Via RT News:

Dozens of flights to and from Heathrow airport have been delayed or cancelled due to a power outage at air traffic control, European air traffic control authority Eurocontrol said on Friday. Heathrow, which is the UK’s busiest airport, said London airspace would be closed until 7pm on Friday, leaving a number of planes stuck on its limited runway space. “There is a power outage at the NATS control center in Swanwick which is affecting UK airspace,” a Heathrow spokesperson said. “Flights are currently experiencing delays. We will update passengers as soon as we have more information.” London Gatwick Airport claims no flights are currently departing from its runways, but flights are arriving as normal. A number of flights are being held over the English Channel.

Departures are being held at airports on the US east coast.

HomoQuotable - Frank Bruni

"One of the impediments to consensus is manifest on a plane: There’s little sense of a common good, no rules that everybody follows so that nobody gets a raw deal. Instead there’s an ethic of every passenger for himself or herself. The existence of, and market for, the Knee Defender, that device that prohibits the person in front of you from reclining, says it all. On second thought, no, this does: Immediately following news coverage of a flight that had to be diverted when two passengers scuffled over a Knee Defender’s use, sales of the device reportedly increased. Courtesy is dead. The plane is its graveyard. There’s a scrum at the gate and then another scrum in the aisle that defy any of the airline’s attempts at an orderly boarding process. There’s no restraint in the person who keeps smacking the back of your chair; no apology from the parent whose child keeps kicking it; no awareness that certain foods, unwrapped in a tight space, turn one traveler’s lunch into every traveler’s olfactory reality." - Frank Bruni, writing from the New York Times.