US Air Shuttle flight BOS-DCA diverted to pick up Bu$h twins in ALB.

[DemoTex]

A US Airways Airbus captain and good friend of mine just called to say the story was just on Washington DC's NBC affiliate (Channel 4). It's called a flag-stop and it is legal if properly dispatched. My question: Did someone in the Bu$h regime put pressure on US Airways to make the unscheduled stop?

[Bluebear]

1. That's OK, Jenna & Tonic are more important than anyone else

No one had pressing business, no one was anxious to go home to their family. No sweat.

[Bluebear]

2. It's true

http://www.nbc4.com/news/3611999/detail.html

The US Airways Shuttle flight between Boston and D.C. was already 20 minutes behind schedule when, just before take-off, passengers were told their aircraft would be making an unscheduled stop. The plan was going to Albany, N.Y., to pick up President George W. Bush's twin daughters.
--
A representative for US Airways said the decision to divert the plane had nothing to do with the Bush twins. In fact, the representative said US Airways often diverts planes for such problems, but could not provide an exact number when asked.

Dorsey talked to several passengers at Reagan National Airport who said they have never heard of such treatment.

Industry experts say such diversions are extremely rare.

[MaineDem]

8. I used to fly that shuttle all the time

I would have been majorly pissed if they did that to my flight. In fact, I'm pissed now. And I don't care who they picked up! The flight did not include a stop. DOn't give it one.

But the fact that it was for the Bush twins goes way beyond belief!

[Tansy_Gold]

12. Excuse me? Freudian slip?

<snip from reply #2>

A representative for US Airways said the decision to divert the plane had nothing to do with the Bush twins. In fact, the representative said US Airways often diverts planes for such problems,

<end snip>

So, is this US Airways rep implying that the boosh twins are "problems"????

[Doctor_J]

14. another 150 votes for Kerry

god, these people are just deplorable.

[imax2268]

19. say what...?

A representative for US Airways said the decision to divert the plane had nothing to do with the Bush twins.

If they diverted to pick up the twins..."THEN IT DID HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BUSH TWINS" idiot...!

[kskiska]

3. Well, I guess that's okay

but if it had been Chelsea…
:mad:

[Parche]

4. us air

They can do that, but that is kind of out of the way\

But looking at the schedules, looks like there was a cancelled
flight ALB-DCA on USair express.
So they probable diverted this one to pick up those passengers
and the Bush twins just happened to be on that flight.

Or GW Bush told the CEO of USair that they would not give them
any more subsidies.............

[never_get_over_it]

9. Boston to Albany to DC

isn't really that far out of the way - however when I read the post titled I thought the poster meant Alabama - lol. I think Albany and Boston are pretty darn close to each other

[Tansy_Gold]

13. Could the other flight have been cancelled on orders

from "on high," thus making the diversion just look like something semi-normal?


I swear to the great goddess, these booshies act more and more and mroe like they think they're kings. . . .

[Jacobin]

5. Only if they want to keep the federal bail out money

Disgusting.

Absolutely disgusting.

[mike_c]

6. semi-randomly chosen, last minute unbooked flight....

This has security-state thinking written all over it.

[gratuitous]

7. I demand at least as much coverage of this

As we got of Bill Clinton's phantom haircut that allegedly delayed every flight in and out of LAX for a week.

Which, of course, never happened, but if you mention "Bill Clinton haircut" to anyone over the age of 12, you'll hear the whole lie, carefully spun, nurtured and grown for years.

[vickie]

10. Have the sanctimonious right-wing bully boys had any

commentary on this? Surely they must be outraged!!!

Vickie Carter
Redondo Beach, CA

[Karenina]

15. Well, it's cheaper than chartering

a private plane, at the taxpayer's expense. Maybe throw a *monkey wrench in a few people's plebian plans but who cares a flying cheney about what THEY think?

[rocktivity]

11. Unless one of the twins was being flown to a hospital for special surgery

I don't see how it was legal. And I hope the airfare is coming out the Bush's pocket.

:headbang:
rocknation

[snippy]

16. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

This is what I expect Comrade Squealer will say if the White House press asks about this.

[Divernan]

17. I've flown USAir for decades and have never heard of such an action

Several times my flight has been delayed or cancelled because of mechanical problems. We either waited until the original plane was fixed and took off late, or got rebooked on a LATER FLIGHT already scheduled to take off from the same airport.

The article says the plane was two hours late getting in to DC. Do you suppose USAir delayed all the connecting flights or diverted a single other flight to accomodate all the passengers who missed their connections? Not bloody likely!

Just when you think the Bush Dynasty has reached the absolute height of arrogance and self-serving, they top themselves yet again!

[Parche]

20. airlines

Some airlines will divert to pick up stranded passengers
it does not happen all the time, but it does happen
For example if the Hawaiian airlines flight from Portland to Honolulu
is cancelled, they might divert the Seattle flight to Portland and
pick them up, or they might use the Portland-Maui flight divert to
Honolulu.

USAir has received mega subsidies from the government, especially
after Sept 11th, they probably did not want to screw that up!!!

[Divernan]

18. Check back with your source and see what he hears from the airbus pilots.

And then post it here.

[0007]

21. This is pure horseshit


My time is more important than yours
My daddy has juice with God!

[theHandpuppet]

22. Didn't you get the memo?

There's absolutely nothing that can keep the Bobbsey Bin Laden Twins from flying.

[DemoTex]

23. As a retired US Airways captain, this is an egregious dispatch.

In all my years, I only did one flag-stop. That was in Buffalo, NY to get some passengers out before a blizzard. I understood, the dispatcher understood and covered my ass legally with a great fuel reserve, and the company understood. Even the inconvenienced passengers understood.

Today's flag-stop of a Shuttle flight smacks of intervention by US Airways' biggest creditor, the US Government. Had I been captain of that flight, I would have accepted the diversion if it was legal and safe. However, when I found out what the reason was - on the ground in ALB - I would have called media outlets on my cell phone to set up photo ops at the DCA terminal.

[rocktivity]

24. Here's the news story

From the Washington Post

Amid the mess over the weekend for travelers flying from Boston to Washington (lost luggage, delayed flights, etc.), those aboard Saturday's 7 p.m. US Airways shuttle from Logan International Airport -- which had been held up for 20 minutes because of luggage problems -- were surprised when the pilot announced that the plane would make a quick hop to Albany on its way to Reagan National.

Planes stop flying out of Albany after 7PM on a SATURDAY???

:headbang:
rocknation

[DemoTex]

25. "It's not unusual for US Airways to make such diversion." BULLSHIT!

Again, as a retired US Airways pilot believe me when I say it is not only highly unusual, but almost unheard of. This needs to be a big story on government abuse.