A United Airlines flight returned to London after a boisterous woman cursed at her seat-back entertainment then attacked flight attendants.
Michelle Vanbuskirk certainly had a bad day on a flight from London to Washington on September 25th.
The woman, who lives in north London, allegedly became so intoxicated that she began swearing at her in-flight seat-back screen. From there, reports claim that an hour into the flight, Vanbuskirk began making a scene and was escorted to the back of the plane, where she seemingly attacked two flight attendants.
The flight was forced to turn back to Heathrow airport shortly after the altercation, and Vanbuskirk was arrested by police officers upon landing.
I’m just picturing the drunk pirate talking to his pigs on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Let’s talk about costs. The fuel cost to takeoff and return to London was over $5,000. Fuel had to be dumped because the aircraft was unable to land with a full tank. Many passengers missed connections. The crew timed out, meaning they could not legally work on the now-delayed flight due to maximum work hour rules. Thus, a new crew had to be located.
Vanbuskirk is facing charges for being drunk on an aircraft, two counts of assaulting cabin crew by beating and a public disorder offense…A fifth charge – intentionally interfering with the performing of a member of air crew – was withdrawn.
CONCLUSION
A few months ago I wrote about how the United Kingdom is cracking down on drunk passengers who cause disruptions on airplanes. This is a wonderful test case. While I do not take any pleasure in judging Vanbuskirk or her motives, if she or passengers like her are not forced to pay for all expenses incurred as a result of their poor choices, nothing will ever change. I hope she receives a huge bill from United…and even from passengers who missed their connections.
> Read More: A $105,000 Fine For Drinking And Flying
(H/T: View from the Wing)
Your inept “reporters/writers” fail the necessary FIVE- Ws again and again. The article is dated today, implying it is late news (occurred yesterday?).
Sometimes, you may not know WHY, but
the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN are mandatiry.
The incident occurred approximately a week
ago. Your job is : relaying important and accurate information.
Usually, a cancelled widebody international flight is closer to $1M lost revenue. The $5k figure is a laugh.
I’m sure such an upstanding person can pay.
This kind of behavior would stop if the people who keep getting drunk on airplanes, falling off cliffs, getting chased by bears, and lost in the wilderness would be PROSECUTED for causing disruptions. Since they’re all quite stupid, they don’t grasp the effects of what they’re doing. But they do understand money and/or jail time.
United bears some responsibility for allowing an intoxicated person onto the aircraft. Just keeps getting crazier
Who wrote the section “ABOUT AUTHOR” ???? His wife ?????? Geeeez, is it really necessary to post Matthew’s on-line resume with an EXHAUSTIVE list of alllllllll the newspapers he’s been “featured ” in, just to report on a drunk United passenger ??????
Augustine wrote that.
Bro, are you for real? This is a blog, not a news site. It’s hardly unusual for a blogger to document their qualifications.
Jules i assume you want the airline to breathealizer test every passenger? Or give em a sno iff before boarding ??
I was on a United flight, the attendants are ASS HOLES! I had one yell at me about using my mp4 w/o earphones when it was right against my ear and no one was complaining, I asked her if that was a written rule, she stated with extreme attitude, “Yes, read your ticket and rules” then proceeded to find a copy for me, shoved it in my face and waited for me to read it, I did, I turned off the player and for the rest of the flight, 16 hrs, she gave me attitude! I asked her to not bother me any more but on flight they have all power and they know it! After the fligjt I tried to report her attitude and all I got was a run around! These people have the power and they know it! So don’t ever disagree with them no matter what or ELSE!
Thomas, using your mp4 player without headphones is one of the biggest dick moves you can make in a public setting. Especially stuck with you in an aluminium tube for 16 hours.
People generally don’t complain because they are adverse to confrontation; I’m glad the FA called you out on it.
So Thomas you were being an ass and rude because yiu feel yiu are some how privileged. Sounds like the biggest ahole on the plane was you
Howard and Michael, at times like this I wish the site had a “like” button. Thank you.
Yeah Tom, you are the a**wipe here.
Also, an MP4 player? It must be great to have such amazing technology!
Sure, only people who have no brains could defend the United Airlines , knowing how brutally they ( the United Airlines) we’re dragging out the passengers out of their seats and watching the local police brutally beating those passengers for no reason…The United Airlines is a worst airline on a planet EARTH.
Don’t you claim to be an attorney?
Either they boarded an inebriated passenger or they served one beyond the point of intoxication.
Passengers can be hell, but advocating for the damages you outline just isn’t real.
There is no way United is to blame for this passenger not being able to control herself.
Your position is not based on any legal theory I know of. Airlines have a duty to deny boarding to intoxicated passengers and the responsoto cease serving them should they appear intoxicated.
Given that, there is no way they can be said to have no responsibility here. They contributed to the incidtbecause they failed to exercise due care. The kind of punitive damages you suggest just aren’t real.
Still waiting for an update in your incident with Swiss.
I believe her. The airline and all white people and especially all males, are lying about this. The airline should be shut down and all the assets given to the people to correct this injustice.