Now I don't think this has been posted... http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6512001^1702,00.html May 29, 2003 TWO people were stabbed and two others injured when a man tried to force his way into the cockpit of a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Launceston this afternoon, emergency services have said. Two flight attendants, a man aged in his late 30s and a woman aged in her 20s, were stabbed and had been taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Metropolitan Ambulance spokesman James Howe said. Transport Minister John Anderson told reporters the attack was carried out with a sharp wooden implement. There was no evidence it was an act of terrorism, or premeditated, he said. Qantas flight QF 1737 was enroute to Launceston when there was a melee on board, forcing the aircraft to immediately return to Melbourne's Tullamarine airport. The aircraft took off shortly before 3pm, according to reports. Police surrounded the aircraft as soon as it landed, reports say. Australian Federal Police said a man was arrested shortly after the flight returned to Melbourne. "We believe a male passenger was attempting to enter the cockpit and was subdued by flight attendants and passengers," a spokeswoman said. "The flight had not long left Melbourne." Qantas have provided no details other than confirming the incident took place. Mr Howe said the flight attendants were both in a stable condition with facial lacerations. Two passengers were also treated by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries.
Scary stuff!!! _______________________________ Stabbed attendant 'kept tackling' By Mary Machen May 29, 2003 A PASSENGER told tonight how a Qantas flight attendant ignored serious stab wounds to his head to repeatedly tackle a 'would-be hijacker' until he could be subdued. Derek Findlay described today's dramatic hijack bid by a man in a suit and armed with wooden stakes, who attacked two flight attendants and tried to crash a Melbourne to Launceston domestic flight. Mr Findlay, 30, was among passengers who wrestled the attacker to the cabin floor after he ran towards the cockpit, lunging at the male purser and female flight attendant. As well as sticks, the man was also brandishing an aerosol can. Mr Findlay also gave first aid to the wounded male flight attendant, named Greg, and to his female colleague, who suffered lacerations to her right cheek. Speaking at Launceston Airport after arriving on another flight, he shrugged off suggestions he was a hero, saying others would have done the same. "It's the purser who was heroic - he was stabbed in the head but still managed to push the attacker back into the plane and then was helped by male passengers. "The purser kept tackling, football tackles, before we managed to get the man to the floor and tie him down with zap belts," said Mr Findlay, a commercial diver. He described the would-be hijacker as "determined", and his actions as clearly premeditated. Mr Findlay, who was seated two rows from the front of the plane, described the attacker as slightly built, Caucasian with a dark tan, about 170cm tall and "pretty fit". "He was professional looking, wearing a suit and white shirt, and he looked determined," Mr Findlay said. "A premeditated attack? Yes, definitely." What was most peculiar, said Mr Findlay, was that the attacker's fingertips on his right hand were bandaged. Mr Findlay would not be drawn as to why he thought that would be. "It seemed odd," he said. "But I would describe him as an idiot for trying to do what he was trying to do. "What political statement could he want to make on a domestic flight to Tasmania." He said the attacker made no demands audible to passengers, but it was evident he planned to take control of the aircraft. Once subdued, the man did not utter a sound, except to answer `yes' when police who boarded the plane in Melbourne asked if he understood why he was being handcuffed, Mr Findlay said. Passengers appeared relieved as they arrived in Launceston after their ordeal. They said the plane's captain and co-pilot did not leave the cockpit during the incident. "It remained locked throughout the attack," said a man from Rosebud in Victoria. "The captain stayed in the cockpit, where he was supposed to be."
Indeed... I fly a lot and I have gone through this scenario many times in my head. In fact, it is probably a bit paranoid, but I always scan the other passengers on the plane quickly just to see who looks like a nutcase. But actually, this story shows that anybody can potentially be dangerous - you wouldn't really expect a guy in a suit who looks like a business man to launch this kind of attack. Nowadays, I see no other choice but to do the same thing if this ever happened. If I saw somebody threatening to take over the plane, I think I would try to tackle him immediately. That might take courage, but waiting until the plane hits a building is not the better part of the alternative.
So, so true. This guy was just a nutter, who apparently lost his job recently. He's already had a court hearing this morning (it's 11:15am), and the trial is set to start in August sometime.
