I recently watched Silence of the Lambs for the first time, a 1991 psychological thriller centering on a cannibal named Dr. Hannibal Lecter. A recent incident on American Airlines in which a man growled as he chewed on his mask has left me drawing distinct parallels.
Hannibal Lecter Spotted On American Airlines
The incident occurred onboard an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Salt Lake City (SLC) and while ostensibly rooted in the passenger’s drunkenness, turned into a tirade over masks and President Joe Biden.
At one point, the man, 61-year-old Timothy Armstrong of Las Vegas, walked up to the galley and screamed at the flight attendant, “You can’t hold us!”
“Sit down now!”
A disruptive passenger was detained and cited on a flight into @slcairport today. INFO: https://t.co/sYRvLggLxK I interviewed the passenger who shot this video, I’ll have that story on @KUTV2News at 10. pic.twitter.com/dlMwzmamVV
— Jeremy Harris (@JeremyHarrisTV) September 7, 2021
After being seated, he struggles to put his mask on before growling as he chews on it.
MORE: I confirmed the man was cited for … get this … public intoxication. This is one of 3 videos shared with me from passenger Dennis Busch. This clip shows the man growling at the flight crew. @KUTV2News pic.twitter.com/aR5AGNMxTN
— Jeremy Harris (@JeremyHarrisTV) September 7, 2021
The flight did not divert. Instead, police were waiting in Salt Lake City and promptly arrested the man.
An American Airlines spokesperson said:
American Airlines flight 1802 with service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Salt Lake City (SLC) was met by law enforcement upon arrival at SLC due to an unruly passenger. The flight landed safely at SLC where local law enforcement removed the disruptive passenger from the aircraft. We thank our crew for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.
I’d say the flight attendant in the video handled the incident pretty well and my non-psychologist analysis leads me to suggest more than sobering up for the distributed passenger, but a comprehensive mental examination.
CONCLUSION
This guy on American Airlines is no Anthony Hopkins, but chewing on his mask with a ferocious, manic-like intensity has me thinking about him.
Stay safe out there…Hello Clarice.
(H/T: View From The Wing)
Do you know what kind of separation can be seen on the pictures (the flight attendant stands behind it)? Is this extra to be protected from unruly passengers?
I think that is a beverage cart.
AA still doesn’t serve alcohol so it’s no use asking if he enjoyed his mask with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
ROTFL!
But AA does serve alcohol in first class!
Booze for F class has got to be some sort of racism/caste system, etc., injustice.
No different than a NYC restaurant turning away a party of 8 African Americans this weekend because they either are unvaccinated or wouldn’t show their papers. New York is quickly becoming the new Montgomery Alabama 60 years ago. Racism is alive and well in NYC in 2021.
The saddest thing for me when I see this is to imagine that he is someone’s husband. And most likely a father. Now his family will bear the brunt of his actions by being humiliated by this completely unhinged behavior. Forever. On the internet.
I think back to so many of these situations over the past months, many happening with their children standing right there, and wonder how they don’t realize that the greatest harm they are doing will be to the ones that love them.
It’s heart wrenching.
It’s true. You’re correct.
Also heartwrenching is the thought that the children witnessing their parents engaged in such pathetic behavior may likely grow up thinking this is appropriate or acceptable. To an impressionable 4- or 5-year-old, mommy/daddy engaging in (drunken) fisticuffs with an authority figure – if you want to call an FA or gate agent that – is something that a socially well-adjusted individual simply does. Obviously that’s not correct, but the individuals engaged in this kind of BS are raising a generation of future degenerates that won’t know any better.
You mean that AA’s no alcohol in coach policy didn’t prevent this? Who would have guessed? Let’s get serious and go to full nationwide prohibition. Oh wait….didn’t we try that once?
Is it possible that this man is on the autism spectrum? Just suggesting it could be more than booze.
Anything is possible, but the odds strongly favor him simply being an entitled ass*ole who has rarely been held to account for his behavior.
The real threat here is the flight attendant and pilot enforcing an asinine mask mandate and inciting this passenger’s behavior.
We need to hold those promoting these rules and following these rules accountable by any means necessary. Can we identify who the FA and pilot are and bring them to account as well.
They appear to be egging him on and inciting disorder in the skies. Both are supremely unqualified for any job in aviation.
Where did you get this is about masks? The guy went off on another passenger for not being white and then wouldn’t sit down.
It’s actually the captain, not a flight attendant. Notice the epaulettes on the shoulder of the man behind the beverage cart. Not sure when Hannibal started losing his mind, maybe while the captain was using the loo (they block the path when a pilot exits the flight deck) or maybe the FA called him out to assist and she placed the cart there when he was called. Either way, it was a dangerous encounter and glad the sh*tfaced man didn’t decide to engage that pilot while he was in the galley.
Correct me if I am wrong.
However that does not look like the side of a beverage cart..rather the galley wall with doors. I have not seen a beverage cart with those doors on the side. Nope.
Also the two hands in the picture clasping the side of the “cart” at a weird angle
Also the galley cart would have to be about one inch wide to accomodate the placement of the Captain wearing the chin diaper.
Me thinks…the pic of the Captain..was photo shopped in? Maybe…and why?
That’s a FA I believe. Check video. Not photoshopped in.
OK Did not see the video first. Not photoshopped. However as another has already posted …FA’s do not wear epaulets. Usually the FA’s have to deal with the jerks….interesting to see a cockpit member joined in
My understanding on many airlines is that FAs have 1-2 epaulets while first officers have 3 and captains have 4.
consistent with pilot uniform not flight attendant. black vs red tie.
He sure had a lot of legroom. Was he in economy plus?
That’s first class.
Damn trumpets!
I feel like you might have behaved similarly if they had run out of ducks this morning.
Who knows… 😉
American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, United SCARELINES !!!
Your right!!!! He is the Captain! Cockpit crews are not suppose to leave the cockpit!!!!????
I bet Hannibal Lecter doesn’t order the fish.
This guy was detained and Jackson Waterson hasn’t posted. See a connection there?
ROTFL. Nice one.
As much as I think we should get rid of masks on planes it seems alcohol is a major problem. I would support breathalyzing people before they board.
From a purely legal standpoint, I wonder if the airline and/or passenger could go back to the airport vendor that over-served him and file a claim against their liquor liability coverage?
Because the boarding process is so quick already.
His poor family. This is being featured this morning on CNN. Their lives are now forever altered by an angry bizarre burst of insanity that didn’t even involve them. No, I have no sympathy for him. I do though for his wife and what I imagine to be children.
And AA does not serve alcohol
In First Class it does.
Pilot or FA, I’m just here to note that they’re wearing their mask like a chin diaper. It goes OVER the nose or it’s not helpful.
Seriously this has been the worst group project ever.
Shame he wasn’t put down.
I’m not sure where and when this particular not-gentleman got his copious amount of booze; however, I’m inclined to believe that should the airports and airlines choose to STOP selling the stuff, the number of these insane incidents might just decrease! Hello?!