She was just trying to be considerate. Sheesh!
A 34-year-old French woman, who tried to open the emergency door of a plane so she could have a cigarette, has appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Sadrine Helen Sellies was on an inbound flight from Hong Kong on Saturday morning with her husband.
A nervous flyer, she was affected by alcohol and sleeping tablets when passengers noticed her tampering with a plane door.
Today she pleaded guilty to a charge of endangering safety on an aircraft.
The court heard Sellies was prone to sleep walking and had an unlit cigarette and a lighter in her hand at the time.
The Commonwealth Prosecutor told the court the plane was flying at 39,000 feet over north Queensland when the incident happened.
Magistrate Gordon Dean placed Sellies on a 12-month good behaviour bond and told her to behave on planes.
What? This was resolved in 2 days without endless debate? The magistrate showed restraint and common sense? No indefinite incarceration to make sure she is not a terrorist? Amazing!
Naturally, there wasn’t much worry about her getting the door open. [boeing faq]
It reminds me of an announcement often given by Southwest Airlines pilots some years ago, regarding the then-new ban on smoking during flights:
“Passengers who wish to have a cigarette are advised that the new smoking area is now out on the wings… where the inflight movie will be Gone With The Wind”.
(maybe the women had heard that announcement once, and finally decided to give it a try)
Next time you sit in the exit row and the stewardess checks that you speak English, can actually move the door, etc – and then instructs you on how to open the emergency exit door,
– ask if you should rehearse it.
Mike C
Maybe in BOTH cases justice prevailed. I don’t know as I do not know all the details of either case.
The problem with too many Americans is that they have become brainwashed into believing that the only place for law breakers is behind bars, and the longer the better. Rehabilitation is unknown to them. Regret and turning their life around doesn’t count (although a lot sure find religion pretty quick). Once released, roadblocks are erected to stop anyone with a record from again becoming part of society.
Contrast that to almost every other western country. Prison populations are way lower, usually less then half. Recidivism is much lower. Violent crime inside prisons is very small compared to American prisons. Upon release, support groups help the former convict re-integrate into society, get and hold a job, complete any addiction programs, continue with mental health treatment, find a place to live away from the last, crime infested neighborhood.
Yup, sure is a contrast between civilized behavior and the American way of thinking.
No indefinite incarceration to make sure she is not a terrorist?Well, she wasen’t one. Do we have to flag “terrorist” on everyone barking the law?