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Plane Delayed as Mitt Romney Attacked Over Reclined Seat

Olympics, Terrorism — on February 16, 2010 2:18 pm

Mitt Romney attacked on planeAnother day, another passenger thrown off a plane. The man in question wasn’t overweight, requesting orange juice, or harboring a screaming child.

This time, a frenetic flier was kicked off for taking a swing at Mitt Romney.

The 2008 presidential hopeful and his wife were on an Air Canada flight bound for Los Angeles, returning from the Olympic Games in Vancouver, where they were guests of honor.

So what provoked this man to attack Romney?

According to a Romney spokesperson, the former Massachusetts Governor was sitting in the economy section of the plane with his wife, Ann.

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Shortly before departure, the man seated in front of Ann reclined his seat. Romney asked the man to return his chair to the upright position during take off.

Mitt Romney probably not happy about the incidentAt that point, the man became enraged and attacked the former governor. Romney did not strike back and instead allowed the flight crew to handle the incident.

The plane returned to the gate where police were waiting to arrest the unruly passenger. It took off a short time later.

The Romneys had been in Vancouver since Friday to watch the Winter Olympics. They were considered guests of honor because of Mitt Romney’s work as president and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, an event that was muddled by budget problems and bribery scandals before Romney took the helm and righted the ship.

What do you think about the incident? Have you ever confronted another passenger about their in-flight behavior? Leave us some comments below.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: CBS News, Associated Press

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  • Anonymous

    I think he and all of the redistributionists // flatearthers// progressives//, and other champions of the “common man” have learned a valuable lesson; You can subsidize them, and dress them up,.but,.. you can’t take them out.

  • Judie

    This is a case for the flight attendant. She/He should have noticed that the seat was not upright and addressed the problem. I have been on flights where the passenger next to me has multiple packages and bags on the floor in front of him/her, blocking my way for a fast exit, should it be necessary. I have been on flights where a person was talking on a cell phone. Also, tray tables down and seat backs not upright. Flight attendants are supposed to be taking care of the safety of all passengers.

  • Anonymous

    Can’t recall any problems on flights; but a man in the next seat in London’s Royal Festival Hall had such loud breathing I asked him to quiet down. He was apparently unaware of it and got riled at me so I gave up and put up with this jerk.

  • http://twitter.com/safetysecurity Larry Kaminer

    The most unruly passengers I have seen were not the ones having some drinks on the plane. They were the ones who got on the plane after spending too much time at the bar in the terminal!