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Frankfurt.– A Condor Boeing 767-300, registration D-ABUD performing flight DE-248 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Puerto Plata with 263 people on board, was already overhead the Atlantic at FL320 having left Ireland about 10 minutes earlier, when the crew turned the airplane around and diverted to Shannon (Ireland).

The crew dumped 8 tons of fuel, then entered a holding for about 20 minutes to prepare for the landing reporting they had 4 people on board needing to go back. The airplane landed safely on Shannon's runway 24 about 80 minutes after turning around.

The airplane resumed the flight after about 100 minutes on the ground and reached Puerto Plata with a delay of 3.5 hours.

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COMMENTS
7 comment(s)
Written by: winstric, 16 May 2009 10:45 AM
From: United States
Great Reporting!!!! "needing to go back" For What!!!!!!!
I am glad they needed to go back!
Written by: Rainman, 16 May 2009 11:39 AM
From: United States
Who wrote this article a 5 yr old kid,
What are they paying this reporters to write such an inclonclusive article .
No idea why they went back or what the outcome of those returned was
Written by: lhsenator, 16 May 2009 12:33 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Police took one intoxicated man (47) from Munich into custody, who has been charged with being intoxicated on board of an aircraft in violation Section 2A of the Air Navigation and Transport Act. He pleaded guilty in a court hearing, was fined 100 Euros and was released.

The airplane resumed the flight after about 100 minutes on the ground and reached Puerto Plata with a delay of 3.5 hours.

Written by: Vivacuba, 16 May 2009 12:55 PM
From: Dominican Republic
The crew dumped 8 tons of fuel @ $2.50 USD/Gallon = $5917USD to return 4 persons to the gate? Contaminated the environment with fuel. 3.5 hour delay. This guy gets a $100Euro fine? How did this drunk guy get onboard initially anyhow?
Written by: lhsenator, 16 May 2009 2:33 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Vivacuba,you forgot the landing,handling fees.One cycle(takeoff,landing),extra fuel and a extra delay on the next return flight due to crew rest limitations!In other words 10k$.
How the guy did get on board drunk is an easy answer,on these low yeld flights probably 25% of the passengers are drunk and believe me they can hide it!
So any suggestions how to avoid this?
Written by: Vivacuba, 16 May 2009 8:59 PM
From: Dominican Republic
You're right, they can hide it. It is extremely important for the cabin crew to identify these persons while boarding. First the gate agent should not pass the buck and send em' down the jetway, which they do repeatedly in large part cause they themselves don't want to deal with them. I guess there will always be a small percentage that slip through. Give em' the boot if @ all possible prior to push Carrier should bill em' back in this case for damages.
Written by: Bailarin This user is banned, 19 May 2009 11:04 AM
From: Dominican Republic
What else can you do when you have 263 totally pissed Witzeldorfs on a jet at 7.00 in the morning that just crawled out from under a park bench in the Black Forrest ? ( next time save the fuel .)
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