HeadLine: AIR RAGE ROUGHNECK ARRESTED BY THE FBI

The Mirror, 30/03/2001, p17
by SHAUN MILNE

A DRUNKEN Scots oil worker was arrested by FBI agents last night after
an air rage attack at 30,000ft.
Fraser Lonie, 34, from Dysart, Fife, was detained after the United
Airlines flight from Sydney landed in Los Angeles.
He allegedly punched a male air steward twice in the face after being
refused more drinks.
After a short skirmish three other cabin crew restrained Lonie and
handcuffed him to a seat. The aircraft’s pilot radioed ahead to LA and
FBI officers were waiting to arrest the Scot when the packed jumbo jet
finally landed.
Last night an FBI source said: “The man has been held for further
questioning.
“We suspect he may have consumed too much alcohol, but it is likely
that will be a matter for the courthouse to decide.”
Lonie is expected to appear in court today.
The roughneck, who works on oilrigs off Aberdeen, had been holidaying
in Sydney and was heading for the second part of his vacation in the
States.
He was said to have knocked back several drinks and was refused more by
a steward who escorted him back to his seat.
It was then he punched the stunned American steward in the face before
being pinned to the floor and cuffed.
One stunned passenger on the flight said: “The guy was out of control
but the cabin crew reacted very bravely.”
An FBI spokesman said: “This matter is still under investigation by our
LA field office so there is nothing more we can say.”
A spokesman for United Airlines refused to comment on the incident.
But he revealed that the air company will press for him to be banned
from future flights.

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