Claustrophobic women causes plane to divert

Well I am clinically diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and one of the things I hate the most is plane flights, they get me going like nothing, but a couple of Ativan and I am good (and I take somewhere between 30-100 flights a year)

While I have and do suffer from panic attacks, I have never burst out and made a scene.  Freaking out only feeds the fire.  The whole absurd situation though is a) the women b) the reaction.  The people dealing with the situation obviously overreacted just as much as she did.  There were obviously multiple failures here or you wouldn't have people quoting the stuff about the vasaline, the screwdriver, the note about Al Queda, etc if people weren't overreacting and you wouldn't have pulled out everyones luggage and spread it out on the tarmac and re-inspect it with bomb sniffing dogs.

The whole absurd situation though is a) the women b) the reaction.  The people dealing with the situation obviously overreacted just as much as she did.  There were obviously multiple failures here or you wouldn't have people quoting the stuff about the vasaline, the screwdriver, the note about Al Queda, etc if people weren't overreacting and you wouldn't have pulled out everyones luggage and spread it out on the tarmac and re-inspect it with bomb sniffing dogs.

Good points!

I'm not clastrophobic, but otherwise I am exactly the same. Even without the valium, I no longer have panic attacks, ever since my fear of flying has been resolved.

How did you resolve your fear of flying Sprigged? I'm flying on Wednesday and am not looking forward to it! The only think that makes me feel better is that I'm not flying into London. The first few times I took a plane, I loved it, but have been scared to death ever since. Once I get through the take off, I relax a lot. Now I'm worried about the stupid plane blowing up! I guess I have control issues. It bothers me more that I'm up there and there's nothing I can do. And yes, I realize there are over 100 flights a day between the US and the UK and I am just being silly. But still....anyone ever feel this way? Any calming suggestions (I will have meds)?

Cow! 

I have suffered from pretty extreme anxiety as a result of two cases of post-natal depression.  I've had panic attacks so severe I've fainted, run out into an urban street in my night clothes at 3AM, sat down on a pavement w/my head between my knees, etc.  In fact, even now, just waiting for my increased dose of Lustral to kick in, which it appears to be doing, it's a day by day struggle w/panic attacks.

I have ZERO sympathy for this gal. 

No one puts a gun to your head and forces you to fly coach transatlantically. 

Got anxiety and panic attacks?  Don't fly long-haul.  Need to for a funeral or business?  See your doctor and get some meds.  Tell the staff as you board.

I can only imagine how frightened those other passengers must have been, maybe it triggered a panic attack for some.  Perhaps others were en route to see a sick relative and were delayed b/c of this.

Anyone thought of them?

my MIL is claustrophobic on planes and she is coming to visit in September.  She'll take an adivan and she'll be with her sisters so they can move her around.    I'm more worried if she can't take a book on the plane.   

I never used to be claustrophobic until I got stuck in some tunnels at an indoor playground with my then 2 year old son.  I couldn't find a way out and started to panic.  I haven't been able to be in enclosed spaces since (caves!) but flying doesn't bother me.

Got anxiety and panic attacks?  Don't fly long-haul.  Need to for a funeral or business?  See your doctor and get some meds.  Tell the staff as you board.

I fully agree with this statement. I think if you know ahead of time that you may hve difficulties with the flight, you should consult your doctor for a remedy and make the staff on the plane aware when you board. That way if anything does begin to happen, the staff will realize you're not a terrorist who is flipping out, but rather a person with flying issues and you can be taken to a quiet area on board and calmed (well, if there is a quiet area, I guess it depends on the plane you're on). Then the staff will understand, and if any passengers start to worry, they have a reason to give the passengers (like, "she has a little bit of a fear of flying, so we're just talking to her to calm her nerves", etc).

I'm more worried if she can't take a book on the plane.   

I'm wondering what their reasoning is to not allow books on board. Have they mentioned anything? I mean, if they're searching you, why can't they simply flip through your book to make sure it's a real book? Or run it through the x-ray machines? And besides that, who's going to bring a crazy bomb-book on board? Are they going to construct a weapon out of the newsprint pages of a $7.99 Mass Market book? Paper cut the staff on board and hijack the plane? I can deal with electronics being banned, but I think it's stupid to ban books from planes when they're pretty much harmless (unless you use a hardback as a projectile! oh noes!). I've never been on a transatlantic flight, but I know a couple people who have told me that they would have lost their marbles if they hadn't had SOMETHING to do.

My post-natal depression and anxiety are my problems, which are my responsibility together w/my doctors.  Personally I wouldn't want someone else to have to pay in such a way for something that was totally for me to try to sort out beforehand, including warning the staff beforehand if need be.  That's just irreponsible and inconsiderate for others.

We were on a VERY crowded train one time w/a young man who was obviously struggling.  But he did tell people right away, 'I'm really claustrophobic.  I've had some tranquilisers, but they're taking a bit to kick in.'

Everyone was pretty understanding.  After about an hour, he was able to cope a bit better.

If this is the same story I'm thinking of, it wasn't just that she was claustrophobic - her behavior was extremely erratic, I believe I read that she urinated on the floor of the plane and was talking about being in Pakistan illegally, and other assorted bizarre things.

This reminds me of my flight to the UK last August. A nervous woman lost it when the lady seated next to her asked her to move so she could take her son to the toilet (he was about 4). The woman started screaming and chanting about God and Jesus to save us etc. etc. I have never seen flight crew move so fast. She was restrained but continued with her loud outbursts until we landed in Toronto. We had to jettison fuel and make a fast descent (not fun with a 10 month old). THen when we landed the police boarded the plane to remove her. They asked me to move from the aisle seat inward because they didn't want her flailing and hitting me and DD. Overall the whole experience lasted for a good 1.5 hours. They had to drag her off the plane because she wouldn't walk. Then they refueled us and we took off. Very nervewracking. At least when I finally met DH at Gatwick, where he'd been waiting for 1.5-2 hours, I could tell him a really eventful story about why we were late.

ITA with the other posters - if you are a nervous flier, take meds. My MIL is a very nervous flier and Xanax has changed her life. She's even been in the front of a helicopter over the Grand Canyon!

If this is the same story I'm thinking of, it wasn't just that she was claustrophobic - her behavior was extremely erratic, I believe I read that she urinated on the floor of the plane and was talking about being in Pakistan illegally, and other assorted bizarre things.

I heard this also. They also said that her public defender said she was "out of it" when he tried to consult with her. I think she may have had more issues going on than just claustrophobia. Especially with the whole urinating on the floor of the cabin. Ew

If this is the same story I'm thinking of, it wasn't just that she was claustrophobic - her behavior was extremely erratic, I believe I read that she urinated on the floor of the plane and was talking about being in Pakistan illegally, and other assorted bizarre things.

Well when I originally posted, the information about her urinating and talking about being in Pakistan illegally were details that have now surfaced.

On the other hand... I still think most of the points made here are valid.  She shouldn't have been on the plane and the people overreacted.  TexasEx demonstrates what should happen when an unstable ends up on a plane, hog tie them and get them off.  Diverting, hauling everyone off the flight and splaying everyones luggage all over the tarmac is a bit excessive.

ITA with the other posters - if you are a nervous flier, take meds. My MIL is a very nervous flier and Xanax has changed her life. She's even been in the front of a helicopter over the Grand Canyon!

Xanax....I'm going to call my doctor on Monday! Thanks!

See, this is why I told myself after my last flight that I will never fly again without Xanax! Dont want to end up like this woman. *shudders*

i took so much xanax that i got immune to it

hence the change to valium

i only ever take half as it makes me feel a bit more in control than a whole. 

Well, I got my Xanax today. I'm flying tomorrow. I'm getting ready to go to sleep and I took one about an hour ago as a test run. I must say, I feel incredibly relaxed (and a bit sleepy), but coherent. Good choice! This will be great. Thanks for the advice.