Airlines

American Airlines plane diverted after passenger calls Flight Attendant ‘waiter’

After a passenger on board called a flight attendant as a “waiter,” an American Airlines plane returned to the airfield from where it had taken off.

According to Guyana’s Stabroek News, after just two hours, the flight to Georgetown, Guyana, made a U-turn and headed back to JFK International Airport in New York City due to an incident involving a “disruptive passenger,” as the airline described it.

The passenger was identified as Joel Ghansham, a “Guyanese cultural activist,” Mr. Ghansham posted a video on YouTube with the caption “What really went down?” to give his version of the incidents.

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Mr. Ghansham, who claimed to have flown in business class, denied being disruptive and said the incident began when he asked a flight attendant for assistance because he had just had surgery in order to put his baggage in the overhead storage. He replied, ‘No, I don’t do that.’ He informed her, “I don’t get paid that kind of money, but if you don’t like it there is always another airline,” business class passenger Ghansham told the outlet. Then he apparently received assistance with the luggage from another staff member.

Around an hour into the trip, the flight attendant who had reportedly declined to help Mr. Ghansham asked the passenger if he would like anything to drink. Mr. Ghansham claimed the man responded, “No thank you, waiter.” In the video, Mr. Ghansham asserts that the flight attendant informed him that although he wasn’t a waiter, he “had the power to turn the plane [around]”; Mr. Ghansham stated that he responded, “You must be God, so you do it.”

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The flight was soon on its way back to New York, the pilot announcing over the speakers. An agent from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and a police officer reportedly met Mr Ghansham as the plane touched down, and he was questioned by both.

Mr. Ghansham says “There was not a disruption. I never got up. There was not an argument, there was not a confrontation, nobody touched each other. He was wearing a mask. He wasn’t even loud. It was just his pride.”

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Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.