Jackson Free Press

A plane is grounded and searched because of the smell of a burning match. However, the match was not lit to ignite a bomb - it was to cover the scent of another type of silent-but-deadly weapon.

From abcnews.com:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Dec 6, 2006 (AP)— An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence, authorities said.

The Dallas-bound flight was diverted to Nashville after several passengers reported smelling burning sulfur from the matches, said Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority. All 99 passengers and five crew members were taken off and screened while the plane was searched and luggage was screened.

The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal a "body odor," Lowrance said. She had an unspecified medical condition, authorities said....

The article goes on to say that the woman was not allowed back on the plane. I must admit that I feel sorry for her because I am sure she was embarrassed, but I think that there were plenty of other options besides lighting a match. For instance, she could have gotten up and stayed away for about fifteen minutes so no one would know she's the source of that odor. Or, she could have yelled, "Oh my goodness! What is that?" After 9/11, the words "plane" and "matches" should not even be in the same sentence.

I had a hard time typing this because I couldn't stop laughing, but I feel guilty about laughing, so I don't really know what to think. If the woman really does have a medical condition, I hope she gets the help she needs. On the other hand, I hope she has learned that lighting matches to cover an odor should be done at home, not at a location where your name could end up on a terrorist watch list.

Still trying not to laugh here...very difficult...ROTFL...okay, that's enough. :-)

Previous Comments

ID

109196

Comment

As I wipe away the tears (from laughter) streaming down my face, I too feel bad for this lady. Geez, could you imagine her embarassment? Flatulence is known to occur depending on altitude and cabin pressure and I guess she just couldn't take it anymore! Hey, how did she get matches on board in the first place? Are they "safe" now?

Author

Will Jemison

Date

2006-12-07T00:31:01-06:00

ID

109197

Comment

HA! MF was on a flight once....on the back row near a HUGE man who looked just like Mr. Clean. He also happened to be a cat enthusiast, had just left a show and brought his sphynx looking bald cat. After take-off the air in the cabin quit working and there was no circulation. Then the toilets backed up and were closed. Then the cat, um, well, used the bathroom in its cage. But the cage was under the seat. And the smell was just coming from the area. So all the way through the flight, MF was getting the stink eye from other passengers. She's going to kick my ass for telling that story. But hey, it's SEVEN A.M.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-12-07T08:06:25-06:00

ID

109198

Comment

FARTS ON A PLANE. Someone has to do something about the mf'ing farts on these mf'ingn planes. I mean REALLY.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-12-07T08:07:02-06:00

ID

109199

Comment

Hey, how did she get matches on board in the first place? Are they "safe" now? According to this link, strike-anywhere matches are not allowed, but you can bring up to four books of safety matches. I wonder if they'll be changing that after this. But the cage was under the seat. And the smell was just coming from the area. So all the way through the flight, MF was getting the stink eye from other passengers. If the cat made a stinky, maybe he should have put the cage in plain view so they'll know who to blame. :-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-12-09T16:07:07-06:00

ID

109200

Comment

Hey, maybe if the woman had one of these, she wouldn't have gotten in such a predicament. I wonder if they really work.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-12-09T16:17:04-06:00