Wednesday, 03 December 2008
updated 1 minute ago
07:03 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

Brit sparks Dubai bomb alert

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Wednesday, 09 July 2008

BOMB ALERT: A British passenger has been taken into custody in Dubai after causing a bomb scare on an Emirates flight. (Getty Images)

A drunken British passenger sparked a bomb alert on Wednesday as an Emirates airline flight from Manchester in Britain landed at Dubai, an official for the carrier said.

"We can confirm there was an incident involving a passenger aboard EK20 from Manchester this morning after it had landed safely in Dubai," an Emirates official said.

The official said the passenger had an argument with one of the crew and then claimed a bomb was on the aircraft, which was later searched and no explosives were found.

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"The captain immediately alerted the Department of Civil Aviation who took charge of the situation. The passenger is now in police custody," the official added.

READERS' COMMENTS

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Idiots
Posted by Paul Smith, UK on Friday 18 July 2008 at 14:17 UAE time

I don't think it matters what country you’re from, some people just don't know how to behave. I dislike boozed up idiots and holiday destinations which tolerate it such as Tenerife. Mixing somebody with a low brain cell count & Booze usually equals irresponsible behaviour, if only every country treated them like the UAE. If the UK adopted the same laws as Dubai, it would be a nicer place to live. We’d then only have to find a proper government, who wouldn’t take a slice of everything we earn.

Booze Ban? Airline Bankruptcy.
Posted by Harry Barracuda, Manama, Bahrain on Thursday 17 July 2008 at 17:56 UAE time

Once again the idiots blame alcohol and not the idiot who deserves the punishment. Go ahead and ban alcohol on your precious airline, I'll fly one that serves me what I want when I want it, thank you very much.
Most of the idiots I've seen causing disruptions on aircraft here in the Middle East are stone cold sober and bitching about not being served in business class when they've bought an economy ticket, or bitching about their family not being sat together when they haven't even bothered asking. These people should stick to no-frills, low cost, so-called "free seating" airlines and let the rest of us travel in peace.

Alcohol on Board
Posted by shakeel, Dubai, India on Thursday 17 July 2008 at 17:11 UAE time

It's high time to ban alcohol on board. Airlines can ban baby meal or milk on board for safety, but why can't they ban such poison.
And still many passengers carry those cheap quality china made lighters in their checked baggage. Hope and pray that GCC Carriers should take this 1st step to ban serving, carrying alcohol on board.

A disgrace!!
Posted by jasoir, Dubai, UAE on Monday 14 July 2008 at 14:54 UAE time

How embarrassing!!! The sterotypical drunken British football hooligan and holiday lager lout has arrived and made all the more apparent to all. I am British and would encourage the UAE authorities to make an example of him, then get it printed in the UK press, as this might deter other of the same ilk to re - route to Costa Balnca where the poor Spanish are used to The Brits Abroad!!

Drunken Passenger
Posted by BC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 13 July 2008 at 11:54 UAE time

Anees, helpful and constructive input, Rodger, you're right. It would have to be an FAA or CAA directive led by the issue of flight safety, the airlines would not contest it as it would ultimately reduce the overhead of flights. This could assist the everyday passenger, most of which don't drink on flights to keep ticket prices to a reasonable level. This is partly why low cost airlines are (Most of the time) doing so well.

Bomb alert
Posted by Rodger, Dubai, UAE on Friday 11 July 2008 at 18:08 UAE time

I actually think that the increase in flight prices makes a ban on booze less likely. Firstly, passengers will expect at least the same level of service as they currently get for their money, secondly the increased ticket prices will (hopefully) deter quite a few of the idiots that don't know how to behave on a plane from flying in the first place.

Bomb Alert by British
Posted by anees, Dubai, UAE on Friday 11 July 2008 at 13:23 UAE time

British are known to behave like this after boozing.

drunken passenger
Posted by gaz, oman, oman on Friday 11 July 2008 at 11:40 UAE time

I THINK DRINKING ON BOARD IS NOT THE ISSUE! I AM A FREQUENT FLYER WITH EMIRATES, AND I KNOW THAT THE STAFF DONT GIVE THAT MUCH TO PASSENGERS TO DRINK.HOWEVER PASSENGERS DO DRINK IN THE BARS BEFORE THEY BOARD THE PLANE AND GET THROUGH PRETENDING TO BE OKAY.THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT INSTEAD OF BANNING ALCHOHOL.I MYSELF DONT DRINK,BUT IF SOMEONE WANTS A DRINK TO CALM THEM SELVES DOWN,THATS UP TO THEM.THEY SHOULD KNOW THEMSELVES WHAT IS THEIR LIMIT.AND AS A BRITISH MYSELF I THINK WE SHOULD NOT THINK EVERYONE IS LIKE THAT.THAT PERSON NEEDS A WARNING.

Brit sparks Dubai bomb alert
Posted by Keshan Perera, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 18:29 UAE time

It's imperative that the culprit be reprimanded regardless of the status he was in sober or not. I guess the punishment for a similar crime for an Asian would be immediate deportation.

Passenger Bomb Alert
Posted by BC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 17:55 UAE time

David A, I don't think you can put this down to a single nationality or demographic, it is a fact the booze and flying do not mix as flying intensifies the effects of booze. Banning booze on flights is inevitable as flights become more expensive and delays and interruptions less tolerable.

Air travel
Posted by David A, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 15:28 UAE time

Typical British 'lager lout' behaviour! I agree with both Jacqueline and AJ above - teach him a lesson; this is no laughing matter.

Hang, Draw and Quarter
Posted by ON, Nice, France on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 14:46 UAE time

You deserve everything you get and are subject to a zero tolerance policy.

Passenger Bomb Alert
Posted by BC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 14:29 UAE time

When will the time come when booze is banned on aircraft just as smoking was years ago. One individual can put hundreds of others to inconvenience at the very least, and lives in danger at the very most by often uncharacteristic behavour. Hit this passenger hard and make sure an example is made of him, you would be surprised at how many similar incidents like this happen every year all over the world and many are alcohol related.

Air Travel
Posted by Jacqueline, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 11:02 UAE time

As a British person myself I am continually baffled at why someone would do this. This is ridiculous and this person needs to be taught a lesson, deported and fined heavily. These type of people give Britain a bad name.

Air Travel
Posted by AJ on Thursday 10 July 2008 at 07:12 UAE time

I sincerely hope this passenger gets the book thrown at him and he is made an example of. People out there do not understand the seriousness of misbehaving on flights and the consequences. Those cabin crew deserve more money after what they have to put up with.

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