A flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to New York JFK diverted to Atlanta on March 14 when a passenger kept flicking the lighter they’d brought on board – and wouldn’t give it up when a flight attendant tried to confiscate it.
The crew declared an emergency after explaining to the passenger that if he didn’t turn it over they’d have no choice but to get the Airbus on the ground. On arrival in Atlanta, law enforcement removed the passenger from the aircraft and transported him to an area hospital for medical evaluation.
Passengers wondered how the man got a lighter through the security checkpoint in Dallas, but passengers are permitted to bring a single lighter with them! They just can’t make fire while on board the aircraft.
Here’s the interaction between passenger and flight attendant, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Dr. Drew: