Sadly, domestic violence occurs even at 40,000 feet in the air. An escalating argument onboard led to a lurid case of battery, a mobile phone catching fire, and the Southwest flight eventually diverting.
Southwest Airlines Pensacola Diversion After Heated Fight And Battery Using Cell Phone Sparks Battery Fire
Southwest Flight WN4699 was heading from Dallas (DAL) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on Wednesday when a man and woman onboard began bickering. The heated argument became physical when the man took a mobile phone and smashed it against the woman’s body.
Smoke began emitting from the device, prompting one passenger to yell “FIRE.” Airlines are prepared for electronic fires and flight attendants quickly placed the phone in a fire-safe bag that can withstand even a burning phone.
Even with the smoldering cell phone safety disposed of, the captain opted to divert to Pensacola (PNS).
A Southwest spokesperson noted:
“A Southwest flight operating from Dallas Love Field safely diverted to Pensacola International Airport on Wednesday afternoon due to a dispute between two passengers traveling together that resulted in a broken cell phone which smouldered and was placed into a battery containment bag by our Flight Attendants.”
“After the two passengers exited the aircraft in Pensacola, the flight continued to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. We appreciate the patience, cooperation, and support of the Customers onboard today.”
It is not clear if one or both of the passengers were arrested.
The flight promptly continued to Fort Lauderdale, arriving about 90 minutes late.
CONCLUSION
I hope she presses charges against him in addition to the hefty FAA fine the couple may both share. Striking someone with a cell phone (or a hand or anything at all) is totally unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned.
(H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo)
I will go one step further: I hope that she’s not punished at all. To punish her at all would be a horrible thing to do after she was physically attacked. Until I hear otherwise from a credible source (and anybody the man talked to is automatically not a credible source), this woman is blameless and does not share responsibility for what occurred onboard, no matter what she might have “done” to get herself hurt. Here’s to hoping she finds safety somehow, whether or not that means leaving her partner (assuming, of course, that this was a couple)
What the actual heck is happening in this country? At first I thought we were just fixated on inflight incidents/violence and it was the tabloid flavor of the day. But hearing the statistics in comparison to 2019 is staggering. All I can venture to say is that it’s a combination of deep trauma from Covid -along with political/racial unrest-combined with cheap fares and anything goes travel.
I”ll just keep my head down in the meantime and hope it settles soon after people’s stimulus money runs out.
I hope she presses charges against him in addition to the hefty FAA fine the couple may both share. — Who knows? There may be a lawsuit against the phone manufacturer in the hopes of a small settlement?
I swear… if someone acts up violently in one of my flights in the near future… I just might send a champagne bottle to the back of their head! Flying is a miracle and we are so fortunate to be able to fly! Why be an imbecile?!?
Another Florida related incident? Color me completely unsurprised.
It’s a good idea to use battery bags when travelling: they cost next to nothing ( under $10) and are a convenient, and safer way to fly with phones, tablets and other lithium battery powered devices.