Pilot says he will dump Trump fans in Kansas.
An American Airlines pilot threatened to carry out an emergency landing and “dump” chanting pro-Trump passengers if they did not βbehaveβ on a flight from Washington DC to Phoenix on Friday.
Flight AA1242 was in mid-flight when a group of passengers,Β many of them wearing MAGA hats, began shouting βUSAβ over and over again.
According to reports, the group refused to listen to cabin crew when asked to wear facemasks and stop chanting.
In a video posted online, the pilot can be heard saying: “This is the way it’s gonna beβ¦ it’s a four and a half hour flight to Phoenix. We’ll put this plane down in the middle of Kansas and dump people off – I don’t care.
“We will do that if that’s what it takes, so behave, please.”
Mindy Robinson, one of the passengers on the flight, wrote: “Wow. Iβm on a plane full of patriots flying from DC to Phoenix and we started chanting βUSAβ …and the Captain came on said told us heβd drop us off in Kansas if he had to if we didnβt obey their every single rule.
“American Airlines is everything but American.”
An American Airlines statement explained the pilot was “emphasizing the importance of following crew member instructions and complying with mandatory face-covering policies.”
“At American, we take the safety of our customers seriously and we value the trust they place in our team to care for them throughout their journey,” the statement read.
The incident came just two days after a mob of Trump supporters stormed Capitol Hill,Β which led to five deaths.
Many commentators have described the rioters as domestic terrorists as the FBI andΒ Justice Department continue to identify and charge individuals linked to the riot.
House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has warned that if Trump is not removed from office by US vice-president Mike Pence and the cabinet, the House is prepared to launch impeachment proceedings.
Mr Pence is reportedly still considering invoking the 25th amendment to remove the President.
American Airlines pilot warning Trump supporters to behave or he’ll land the plane.
They really are children. pic.twitter.com/IZehIxLxO8
β Victor Stoddard (@VicStoddard) January 10, 2021