Aquila Online

Aquila pronounced AK-weh-lah, uh-KWILL-uh or even a-kee-laa, means eagle in Latin. Just like the eagle, this blog is my “bird’s eye view” on situations or topics that I happen to come across in my life.

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Kulula Conundrum

// October 6th, 2006 // General // 5,074 views

You may have heard on the radio of two unruly passengers on a Kulula flight out of Cape Town that were arrested earlier today.

Well a full report with pictures is on its way cos I was there.

***Updated***

A flippant remark sparked by irritation at limited leg room aboard a Kulula.com flight led to a six-hour hijack drama at Cape Town International Airport.

According to passengers, about 20 minutes into the 11.11am Johannesburg-bound flight a passenger complained about not having enough leg room. When the flight attendant told him there was nothing she could do about it, the man replied that it did not matter because he and his friend planned to hijack the plane anyway.

This was the drama that unfolded as we were returning to the airport yesterday afternoon, following a two day business trip to Cape Town. Firetrucks, police cars and ambulance vehicles converged on Cape Town International airport as we arrived for our flight back to Johannesburg.

The airport Spur was closed down for the public as a media contingency set up command during the six hour ordeal. This obviously caused an overspill to the other fine dining establishments eateries in the complex, which started to get crowded as hell.

Security staff at the departure gates seemed even more uninformed than what we were, but dealt quite efficiently with the numerous gate and time changes as a result of the events that unfolded outside.

Even though our SAA flight was delayed by an hour, after boarding the plane, everything else seemed to run as smooth as it could under the circumstances. I’m just glad to be back home in Jozi.

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9 Responses to “Kulula Conundrum”

1. Katt says:

   2006/10/07 at 11:16

   Oh my word! What morons!
2. Aquila says:

   2006/10/07 at 11:30

   Yeah, nowdays people shouldn’t stuff around with remarks like that – That other guy who allegedly attempted to hijack a SAA aircraft earlier in June is still sitting in prison.
3. Triggermap says:

   2006/10/08 at 22:31

   I think a one hour delay is good going for this kind of thing. Overseas, they’ll shut the airport down for 24 hours for plenty less…
4. Aquila says:

   2006/10/09 at 09:08

   Definitely
5. Eight says:

   2006/10/09 at 17:00

   First of all, did the idiot expect the air hostesses to move a row of seats to make more room? That’s not easy without a socket set, crow-bar and permission. (and you can’t take a crow-bar on board)

   Secondly, if I were an air hostess and someone said (even jokingly) that they were going to hijack a plane, I’d sh1t myself.

   Thirdly, our airport system is quite screwed up enough without fools like this guys making the work load even more complicated for the intellectually challenged people who are “running” things at the airports in this country.
6. Brett says:

   2006/10/10 at 13:44

   The First Officer on that flight was ex Special forces…this bloke picked the wrong day, pity about protocol, should have just sent the FO back to sort him out…

   I can see Mr. Cleaver now singing I had a bad day, by Daniel Powter
7. Aquila says:

   2006/10/11 at 07:54

   Brett – hehe….he definitely should have recce’d his ass.
8. Rocket says:

   2006/10/12 at 11:58

   No one likes airlines.

   You could be a surgeon or a Crown Court judge, but the moment you set foot in an airport you’ll be treated like a mutinous ten-year old on a school outing. The pre-flight nagging now goes on for twenty minutes. “For your comfort and safety, and the safety of other passengers, we would ask that you chew your complimentary peanuts eight times before swallowing, with your seatbelt fastened.”

   Shut it, you whore, before I wring your neck.

   Contrary to your ludicrous claims, it is not possible to bring down a Boeing 747 with a Marlborough Light.

   Believe me, I’ve tried.

   - as said previously by harry hutton and agreed with by millions
9. Aquila says:

   2006/10/13 at 13:31

   or blow up a petrol station if you a take a call on your cell….

   Mythbusters!!