# United Airlines flight diverted to Boston after nutjob pulls a screwdriver, note **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 16, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954 "2006-08-16T15:25:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/81 "2006-08-17T16:58:47Z")
I think she saw a creature on the wing tearing it up with a with a scewdriver. When the creature rushed to her window he looked like **OBL** using vaseline to moisten his lips(Awfully windy out there on the wing) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/82 "2006-08-17T17:19:53Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] But our country’s name begins with T. [/QUOTE] I’m none too happy with countries that begin with ‘T’ either! In fact, I dislike nations beginning with 25 letters of the alphabet. I’ll leave it to anyone interested in which letter nations I DO like… 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/83 "2006-08-17T17:43:32Z")
Now that we are fairly certain this was a older woman having a panic attack, and not some “Death to the Infidels” terrorist, how do we punish her, and why? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/84 "2006-08-17T18:03:31Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] Now that we are fairly certain this was a older woman having a panic attack, and not some “Death to the Infidels” terrorist, how do we punish her, and why? [/QUOTE] Last I read (at [Boston.com](http://Boston.com)), she’s going to be charged with “interfering with a flight crew,” or something along those lines. It sounds like from the start of the flight, she appeared very nervous and made many trips up and down the plane, to the restroom. She also started to change clothes - putting on and taking off sweatshirts, and reaching into the overhead bin. Flight attendants asked her to sit down - and here’s the weird part - she apparently pulled her pants down and peed on the floor. She got into an altercation with flight staff, was subdued by an air marshal in training and another passenger… and that’s about it, it seems. What is interesting - and what lends credence to the suspicions I mentioned earlier - is that the plan was to detain the woman when the flight arrived at Dulles. [Something else](http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/17/security_scare_ends_at_logan/?page=2) caused the flight to be diverted to Logan: [QUOTE=The Boston Globe] Governor Mitt Romney said another woman on the flight was also taken into custody for `immigration issues." `The federal authorities knew about her presence on that aircraft and had intended to take her into custody when she reached Dulles, but it was the second incident that caused the plane to be diverted," he said. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/85 "2006-08-17T18:56:02Z")
I understand the charge, I’m curious about what would be fair and just punishment. Do we throw the book at someone who presumably became mentally unhinged during the flight? I don’t feel it is the same as the guy who drinks too much and becomes just as disruptive. I also don’t believe that one can _just_ say, “Don’t fly again, ever!” (although it needs to be said in addition to punishment). ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/86 "2006-08-17T19:05:21Z")
Court-ordered Valium? ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/87 "2006-08-17T20:33:03Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] What is interesting - and what lends credence to the suspicions I mentioned earlier - is that the plan was to detain the woman when the flight arrived at Dulles. [Something else](http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/17/security_scare_ends_at_logan/?page=2) caused the flight to be diverted to Logan: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **The Boston Globe** Governor Mitt Romney said another woman on the flight was also taken into custody for `immigration issues." `The federal authorities knew about her presence on that aircraft and had intended to take her into custody when she reached Dulles, but it was the second incident that caused the plane to be diverted," he said. [/QUOTE] Please read that again. The other woman was to be detained. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/88 "2006-08-17T21:22:35Z")
[QUOTE=peri] Please read that again. The other woman was to be detained. [/QUOTE] You’re misunderstanding me. A second woman, as of yet unidentified, is the reason the plane landed at Logan. Not the peeing “Pakistan” one. I hope you don’t think my reading comprehension is so poor that I would link to an article and cut and paste part of it without reading it… if I was unclear, sorry 'bout that. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/89 "2006-08-17T21:26:22Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] You’re misunderstanding me. A second woman, as of yet unidentified, is the reason the plane landed at Logan. Not the peeing “Pakistan” one. I hope you don’t think my reading comprehension is so poor that I would link to an article and cut and paste part of it without reading it… if I was unclear, sorry 'bout that. [/QUOTE] :smack: :smack: :smack: I read it again… got it. Apparently my reading comprehension is that bad. Second unidentified woman was to be detained at Dulles, but peeing Pakistan woman forced the landing at Logan. Too many weird things going on to take a risk, it seems. Sorry - and thanks for pointing that out - **peri**. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/90 "2006-08-17T21:46:00Z")
Well, [here](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/n/a/2006/08/17/national/a075940D13.DTL&o=0) she is. Looks pretty white-Vermonter to me. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/91 "2006-08-17T21:56:10Z")
The news story from Boston, with video and more pictures [here](javascript:openInfo(’/video/player/whdh\_video.php?f=l060817\_scare\_in\_sky.wmv’,‘news’,‘764’,‘420’)😉 (Windows Media file). Yeah, sign me up on the “looks like a White Vermont lady to me” list, **Dooku** ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/92 "2006-08-17T22:17:20Z")
OK, Dio, would you like that crow broiled or fried? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/93 "2006-08-17T22:22:28Z")
I’m confused. Was the Pakistani woman a different woman from this one? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/94 "2006-08-17T22:27:44Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I’m confused. Was the Pakistani woman a different woman from this one? [/QUOTE] Yes-- a differet one. She’s the one who shut down an entire airport (although a small one) in WV. There’s a Pit thread that was just started about that incident. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/95 "2006-08-17T22:31:04Z")
Mayo was coming back from Pakistan, not sure if she was Pakistani > [@](#): > > Mayo had been visiting Pakistan for pleasure, said her former husband, William Mayo, 63, of Northfield, Vt. He said the couple divorced about four years ago. There was another woman detained on immigration issues, not sure if she was Pakistani > [@](#): > > Governor Mitt Romney said another woman on the flight was also taken into custody for ``immigration issues." > > ``The federal authorities knew about her presence on that aircraft and had intended to take her into custody when she reached Dulles, but it was the second incident that caused the plane to be diverted," he said. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/96 "2006-08-17T22:33:25Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Yes-- a differet one. She’s the one who shut down an entire airport (although a small one) in WV. There’s a Pit thread that was just started about that incident. [/QUOTE] That’s a different incident. There were 2 different women of interest on the Mayo flight: Mayo, and another woman wanted on immigration issues. The woman who shut the WV airport down was an entirely different incident. She evidently was Pakistani. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/97 "2006-08-17T22:35:24Z")
just to clarify, I referred to Mayo as “peeing ‘Pakistan’ lady” based on the fact she was observed on the plane muttering the word “Pakistan.” She’s an American peace activist who apparently has a pen pal in Pakistan. Real _Pakistani_ lady who shut down an airport in W.Va - there’s a thread in MPSIMS started by **The PCapeman** about it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/98 "2006-08-17T22:41:08Z")
I see. Then it wa probably the word “Pakistan” that freaked everybody out. She also looks a little darkly complected. maybe their imaginations ran away with them ---
**Author:** ![the\_PC\_apeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@the\_PC\_apeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_PC_apeman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/99 "2006-08-17T22:48:13Z")
She looks younger than the passenger CNN interviewed and reported as saying ‘she could have been my grandmother.’ I wonder where the “older” idea is coming from. **Hollow** , can you check your link. It doesn’t look right or work for me. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954/100 "2006-08-17T22:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I see. Then it wa probably the word “Pakistan” that freaked everybody out. She also looks a little darkly complected. maybe their imaginations ran away with them [/QUOTE] Or maybe it was taking a leak on the fucking floor. Let me remind you again of what you said. > [@](#): > > If she had been white, there would have been no “terrorist” insinuations, no fabricated screwdrivers or notes about al Qaeda and no national news story. and > [@](#): > > I still don’t think a white lady would have provoked people to start imagining notes about al Qaeda. I believe that the reaction of the others on the plane is, in itself, a strong indication that the woman was Middle Eastern. I’ll stand or fall on that assumption pending any verification of her ethnicity. I haven’t been proven wrong yet and such overreactions to Middle Eastern ethnicity have happened before so it’s really not the outrageous assumption that some of you are trying to make it out to be. She was white. Do you agree? You were wrong. Do you agree? _You’re_ the one who read this story and made assumptions based on race. So who is the racist here? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-airlines-flight-diverted-to-boston-after-nutjob-pulls-a-screwdriver-note/368954.md?page=6)