The first sign that Russell Petrie was too drunk to fly was probably when he boarded the plane and yelled “let’s party and have some drinks!”
Petrie, a Canadian citizen, managed to order five vodka drinks and two glasses of wine from two different flight attendants before AA cut him off during his flight from Seattle to Miami. After making some suggestive remarks to female flight attendants and other female passengers, Petrie is reported to have said: “you don’t [deleted] decide how much vodka I can drink . . . I’ll meet you off the airplane.” He also grabbed a female passenger’s butt, because that’s the type of classy guy he is.
Petrie then made his way into the airplane’s lavatory where he began loudly pounding on the airplane’s walls. At this point the flight was diverted to Denver so Petrie could be arrested.
From The Province:
Russell Petrie, 30, struck a plea bargain that will likely result in a sentence of six to 12 months and up to a $10,000 fine, according to Colorado court documents.
Maximum penalty for the charge is 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Petrie will also be asked to reimburse American Airlines $7,757 for the cost of landing the Seattle-Miami flight in Denver.In exchange for a guilty plea, a charge of sexual assault was dropped against Petrie, who also grabbed the buttocks of a female passenger on the flight, according to an agreed statement of facts filed in court.
Petrie, who has been a Colorado jail since the incident, may be deported.
Drunken airline passenger makes plea bargain [Canada.com]
(Photo:whatatravisty)
More From Consumerist
-
No, My Drunk Seatmate Probably Can't Open The Emergency Exit
-
Airline Passenger With Her Own Bottle Of Gin Steals Food, Cigarettes, Demands Crew Put Some "F****** Music On"
-
Airline Cancels Flight Because Pilots Should Be Sober When Flying Planes
-
Perhaps The Only Good Thing About Expensive Gas Is The Decrease In Teens Driving Drunk
-
Passengers Tackle Man On Flight Because Grabbing Ladies Just Isn’t To Be Tolerated
it’s well established that alcohol can effect people much differently at altitude (even with cabin pressure on) than at ground, so I’d say if this Canuck gets himself a good lawyer he’ll be able to weasel his way outta this one. Eh?
I’m sorry, but I have to blame AA here. Seven drinks to an already obviously intoxicated passenger? Not only is that illegal (at least in the state where the flight took off from (I live there)), but just plumb stupid.
@Peeved Guy: ‘Security theater’ is often used to describe the work of the TSA, point being that most of what they do is a production put on to make you feel safe, instead of really, objectively safer. I inferred from your comment that you thought this was worthwhile, or at least understandable. Apologies if I somehow missed the line between snark and sincerity in there somewhere.
@JiminyChristmas: No. That was what I getting at, just never heard of it referred to by that moniker before (security theater). Thanks for the education.
AA should have learned what club owners around the world accept as gospel: enforce a dress code to weed out many of the bleeders.
Maybe Virgin will be the first to enforce a “Dress to Impress” code?
@bbbici: I stand corrected on that. Apparently it is hard if not impossible to open a cabin door way up in the air [www.straightdope.com]
I still stand by my assertion that unruly passengers who harrass other passengers or staff can and should be subdued (if not by reason, then by force) and restrained. This isn’t a bar where he can get tossed outside, it’s a confined aluminum tube with a lot of other paying passengers. Behave or get tazed, bro.
@savvy999: Because of the interior/exterior pressure difference, it would be impossible for Hulk Hogan to open an exit door at altitude.
@DePaulBlueDemon: Why “just kidding” about Valium? Anti-anxiety medication is perfect for nervous flyers. I never leave the ground without some Xanax in me.
@aaron8301: Actually, it’s against Federal regulations.
FAR Title 14 Part 91.17(b) states:
“Except in an emergency, no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in that aircraft.”
For all the people coming down on the airline for serving him drinks just remember “you don’t [deleted] decide how much vodka he can drink”
Interesting comments. I constantly see Consumerist commenters talk about “personal responsibility.” Yet in this case most of you want to blame the airline.
He was obviously not so drunk that he didn’t manage to order from multiple flight attendants, knowing that ordering from a single attendant would attract attention. You can’t blame each attendant for serving him a few drinks.
Once he started putting his hands on other people and banging on the walls he became a risk — not of bring down the plane but certainly getting into a fight and injuring other passengers and/or crew. At that point it was time to get him off the plane. If they had continued the flight, and he had hauled off and punched someone, then AA would have certainly been open to liability for not taking action. And of course they would be criticized roundly here for that.
@Inhocmark:
2 and a half actually.
he was apparently intoxicated before he boarded. aa should have stopped him from riding. at the very least, he should have been cut off from alcohol. yes, this guy should take responsibility for his actions. he should not have gotten drunk as any idiot knows it is illegal to be drunk on a plane. aa has responsibility too. they fed him alcohol even after he was visibly drunk.
@mycroft2000: Ummm… planes are pressurized…hence, Montgomery Burns could open an exit door at altitude…
@Skiffer: Ahhh…in, not out…I stand corrected…
A total asshole, but…up to 20 years in prison? Ouch. No wonder we don’t have any room for the real criminals.
Now that you’ve read of this incident, go and watch the film “Canadian Bacon.” Perpare to laugh very, very hard.
Give the guy a break. He had heard a false rumor that the Tragically Hip were breaking up and he was trying to drown his sorrows.
I sometimes forget that Canada has jerks too.
I would love to meet this man and shake his hand. He is now my hero. Also, I know for a fact that the pilots could have had a sense of humor about it and opt for the easir, cheaper way out. They could’ve just lowered the cabin pressure slightly. Keep in mind, I am a licensed pilot. I know the effects and have talked to former and current airline pilots. This strategy works out extremely well in cross continent and ocean flights, as people have more time to gave fun. Once the pressure is lowered, the alcohol has a larger effect on the body, which can turn a buzz to a haze, and a haze to being passed out. The pressure only needs to be lowered an extra 1/2 to 1 atmosphere for this to take place. After the intended subject is disabled, the pressure is returned to normal.
A followup. He wound up getting “time served” in jail (5 months), plus deportation and some other minor things.
Not a bad sentence, IMO.
[www.canada.com]
@savvy999: when you come from a place where the only real after-work activity is to drink, things kinda go downhill pretty fast.