When a disruptive, apparently intoxicated passenger refused to leave an American Airlines plane set to fly from Charleston International Airport to Philadelphia, it could have spiraled into a mire of reshuffled schedules and negative publicity. <\/p>\n
The pilot was ready to cancel the flight. He called Charleston County Aviation Authority police officers to board the plane. <\/p>\n
But unlike the incidentin April aboard a United Airlines flight in Chicago that went viral and caused an uproar, Sunday's tense moment ended calmly. <\/p>\n
\"We talked to him,\" CCAA Police Capt. Chris Helms said. \"We de-escalated the situation, and rightly so.\" <\/p>\n
The officer who spoke to the passenger explained the consequences, Helms said. The flight would be canceled if he didn't leave, and the incident would be reported to the FBI. <\/p>\n
\"Sometimes people can't think straight,\" Helms said. \"We see people sometimes confused. They think flying is a right, not a privilege.\" <\/p>\n
At that point, the man agreed to leave with law enforcement, Helms said. He wasn't arrested. They helped him book a later flight, and when he wanted to leave the airport in the meantime, they sent him off in an Uber. <\/p>\n
The handling of the situation reflected the training and methodology of CCAA officers, Helms said. <\/p>\n
\"When it comes to these interventions, whether it's with the general public or it be a suspect or subject, there are a few things we keep in mind,\" he said. \"One of those is the golden rule.\" <\/p>\n
The incident was the first time this year officers had to board a plane at any of the three airports the CCAA operates, Helms said. That happened twice all of last year and resulted in no arrests. <\/p>\n
Arrests are overall rare, Helms said. In 125,600 calls for service last year, CCAA officers arrested only 28 people. <\/p>\n
The type of call they responded to Sunday, classified as an \"irate passenger\" call, sometimes comes from a plane itself but could be as simple as a passenger losing his or her temper while trying to find their gate. <\/p>\n
\"Sometimes they're having a tough day,\" Helms said. \"Sometimes there's alcohol involved.\" <\/p>\n
Reach Jack Evans at (843) 937-5491. Follow him on Twitter @JackHEvans. <\/p>\n
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'Irate passenger' situation Sunday at Charleston International Airport reflects 'golden rule' intervention training - Charleston Post Courier<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When a disruptive, apparently intoxicated passenger refused to leave an American Airlines plane set to fly from Charleston International Airport to Philadelphia, it could have spiraled into a mire of reshuffled schedules and negative publicity. The pilot was ready to cancel the flight. Continue reading