Pair from Manchester threaten to blow up plane

[celeste]

Stansted emergency landing: Pair 'threatened to blow up plane'     The trial of the two men is expected to last five weeks Two men threatened to kill passengers and blow up a Boeing 777 at 30,000 feet, a court has heard.
The plane made an emergency landing at Stansted Airport in Essex and fighter jets were scrambled, Chelsmford Crown Court was told.
Tayyab Subhani, 30, of Townley Street, and Mohammed Safdar, 42, of Hallam Crescent, Nelson, Lancashire, deny endangering the safety of an aircraft.
The court heard neither was a "terrorist" or "extremist".
Prosecutor Brian O'Neill QC told jurors that neither man was capable of carrying out the threats but the claim was made deliberately and the pilot had no option but to take it seriously.'Jets escorted airliner' He said: "That day Pakistan Airlines flight PK709 took off from Lahore heading for Manchester. It never arrived at its intended destination.
"As a result of the behaviour of these two defendants, especially Mr Safdar, the flight had to be diverted to Stansted and was escorted by two RAF Typhoon fighter jets.
"This behaviour involved threats to kill members of the cabin crew, threats to kill passengers and threats to blow up the plane whilst it was in flight.
"Such utterances, if made at ground level, may sometimes be capable of being ignored or not being taken seriously but when those threats are made in flight at 30,000 feet on a commercial jet, that's not an option."
The trial is expected to last five weeks.

[celeste]

They should expect a lengthy sentence for putting people in fear
 
I wonder if they could be banned from any future flights

[Cupcake]

What on Earth was their point?  Not terrorists, not extremists, not equipped to blow up anything or anyone....... what a pair of revolting idiots.  They should be charged for all the cost of scrambling jets and emergency services and they should be locked up for as long as possible.   
 
 

[Adsum]

What on Earth was their point?  Not terrorists, not extremists, not equipped to blow up anything or anyone....... what a pair of revolting idiots.  They should be charged for all the cost of scrambling jets and emergency services and they should be locked up for as long as possible.   

 
 
 
Remember years ago when terrorists used to hijack planes and demand to be flown to Cuba? I could never understand that. Why didn't they just buy a ticket on a flight going to Cuba in the first place?   

[Cupcake]

Hijacking like that was usually a way to get your cause in the headlines.  Frighten and inconvenience people, cost the airlines money and maybe someone would pay attention to your message. 
 
This pair just ran up and down the plane shouting threats.  Absolutely bizarre......
 
 

[sheilanz]

Put them both on a plane and send them to what
ever place they 0riginally came from ...make sure
they could,nt get back..

[Cupcake]

From the news this morning.  Puts a whole different light on things.  Clearly a lot of people were annoyed and these two had words with crew and then lost their tempers and said some stupid things.  Waste of time taking that to court.
 
Two men have been cleared of threatening to blow up a plane at 30,000 feet.

Chelmsford Crown Court had heard how the Boeing 777 landed at Stansted Airport in Essex in May.

Tayyab Subhani, 30, and Mohammed Safdar, 42, both of Nelson, Lancashire, denied endangering the safety of an aircraft.

The jury were instructed to find the two men not guilty by the judge.

During the trial, the court heard fellow passengers had been annoyed when the PK709 flight from Lahore to Manchester was diverted to Stansted over a "trivial incident".

It had been claimed Safdar, supported by Subhani, made threats to kill crew and passengers after an argument broke out with air stewards.

Judge Charles Gratwicke described the case as "tenuous and peppered with inconsistencies".

He added: "Under the circumstances no jury can properly convict these men."

[Adsum]

From the news this morning.  Puts a whole different light on things.  Clearly a lot of people were annoyed and these two had words with crew and then lost their tempers and said some stupid things.  Waste of time taking that to court.
 
Two men have been cleared of threatening to blow up a plane at 30,000 feet.

Chelmsford Crown Court had heard how the Boeing 777 landed at Stansted Airport in Essex in May.

Tayyab Subhani, 30, and Mohammed Safdar, 42, both of Nelson, Lancashire, denied endangering the safety of an aircraft.

The jury were instructed to find the two men not guilty by the judge.

During the trial, the court heard fellow passengers had been annoyed when the PK709 flight from Lahore to Manchester was diverted to Stansted over a "trivial incident".

It had been claimed Safdar, supported by Subhani, made threats to kill crew and passengers after an argument broke out with air stewards.

Judge Charles Gratwicke described the case as "tenuous and peppered with inconsistencies".

He added: "Under the circumstances no jury can properly convict these men."

"Waste of time taking that to court".



I agree Cups. All planes should be fitted with some kind of hatch whereby troublemakers can be ejected at 30,000 feet.   

[Cupcake]

This pair should have been charged with antisocial behaviour, or even threatening behaviour.  They did that.  But there's naff all point charging them with a crime that was clearly never even intended.  They mouthed off in temper - they didn't endanger anyone or anything.  Total waste of public money and now they go scot free. 

[sheilanz]

Sure this happens more than we know, both the offence and the result

[Cupcake]

It happens a lot that people behave like pigs on flights.  Stress over flying, not being allowed to smoke, cramped conditions and alcohol all play a part.  Rows and abuse are common, though I don't suppose the majority make death threats.....

[Matom]

Put them both on a plane and send them to what
ever place they 0riginally came from ...make sure
they could,nt get back..

Considering one of them is 30, he could well be British born and bred, as could have the older one. Or are you implying that If I commit a crime I should be packed off to Ireland? Because I was born in the Uk but my parents are Irish.  Or am I ok, because I'm Caucasian? Just asking because I'm intrigued by this logic.

[celeste]

You seem to be speculating

[Adsum]

Welcome to the forum matom. You only joined the forum less than an hour ago, and already you have shared your views with us on two topics. I look forward to reading many more of your comments in the coming weeks and months.