Release #96.38

August 19, 1996

ALPA Applauds Indictment In Disruptive Passenger Incident

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Air Line Pilots Association today applauded the indictment by a federal grand jury of a man accused of interfering with the crew on a USAir flight between Savannah, Ga. and Charlotte, N.C., last month.

A federal grand jury in Savannah handed down a one count indictment accusing Gary Lougee, a passenger on the July 6 flight, with striking fellow passengers and flight attendants, trying to break into the cockpit and attempting to open an emergency door during the flight. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, and the aircraft returned to Savannah. Lougee was apprehended by airport police and turned over to the FBI for questioning. Lougee is scheduled to be arraigned in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in Savannah on Sept. 12.

"We cannot tolerate any interference with flight crews," said ALPA President J. Randolph Babbitt. "'Disruptive' is wholly inadequate as an adjective to describe passengers who create disturbances. They're dangerous. They endanger themselves and everyone else on the flight. ALPA supports strong punitive action against those convicted of such offenses, and we're working with the Federal Aviation Administration and other industry representatives to address this issue and to deal with the threat to aviation safety created by disruptive passengers."

ALPA is the nation's oldest and largest pilots' union, representing 45,000 pilots at 36 U.S. airlines. Since its earliest days, ALPA has been among the strongest voices for improved aviation safety.

###

ALPA Contact: Bob Flocke, (703) 481-4440