United Pilot Flushes Ammo

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X-Rap

X-Rap

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Has anyone else read the story about the United pilot that flushed his ammo down the toilet on a flight to Germany?
The story isn't really remarkable until you read about what the Germans reaction when they found out.
I wonder what they thought would happen??

The aircraft was taken to a remote parking position after landing, airport fire fighters used protective suits while emptying and filtering the waste tanks, recovered 6 bullets in that search, Germany's Luftfahrtbundesamt (LBA) grounded the aircraft. A second search discovered the remaining 4 bullets, too, and the aircraft was able to depart for its return flight with a delay of 4 hours.

The Aviation Herald tried to verify the occurrence over the next almost two weeks, stating in all inquiries to Authorities in Germany and the USA that the story is so extremely unbelievable that it must be true again, but remained unsuccessful. Almost about to give up almost two weeks later and stop monitoring the occurrence The Aviation Herald succeeded in getting a first official confirmation from Munich Airport, who confirmed the aircraft had been directed to a remote parking position and departed with a delay, Munich Airport however did not want to comment further on the narration of the event by our source.
 
If I were filtering tanks of human waste, I would want to use a protective suit, too.
 
I won't name names, but in one city a police officer's attention was directed to an empty cartridge case in the gutter. He called it in, and the cops cordoned off the block, evacuated homes and businesses, then got the bomb squad to deal with the "dangerous explosive". The mayor postured about how HE had handled "a situation involving a weapon of mass destruction" and "possibly saved many lives" due to HIS vigilance and wisdom, etc., etc. Apparently some of HIS people saw through the nonsense and the blowhard was not re-elected. When the facts came out, there was talk of suits against the city for lost business, but AFAIK nothing came of that.

Jim
 
I guess since the craft was grounded, moved to a remote location and fire personnel were deployed I thought along the lines of fire or explosive protective suits not so much hasmat.
The tank could have been screened by the regular service personnel without the big dog and pony show.
 
Jim K said:
I won't name names, but in one city a police officer's attention was directed to an empty cartridge case in the gutter. He called it in, and the cops cordoned off the block, evacuated homes and businesses, then got the bomb squad to deal with the "dangerous explosive". The mayor postured about how HE had handled "a situation involving a weapon of mass destruction" and "possibly saved many lives" due to HIS vigilance and wisdom, etc., etc. Apparently some of HIS people saw through the nonsense and the blowhard was not re-elected. When the facts came out, there was talk of suits against the city for lost business, but AFAIK nothing came of that.

Jim
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Was that the case of the 22LR shell somewhere in London?
Bunch of pantywaists.

edit: the shell in a puddle in York is what I'm citing, still not sure if its your example - http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8805022.Fossgate_bullet_find_mystery/
5NoMZ84.png

Kids, this is what a real man looks like. A hero.
 
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in one city a police officer's attention was directed to an empty cartridge case in the gutter. He called it in, and the cops cordoned off the block, evacuated homes and businesses, then got the bomb squad to deal with the "dangerous explosive".
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Thats really overreacting.

I cant be the only one thats opened their truck passenger door to be greeted with a small rain of brass falling out. If its inconvenient for whatever reason, it stays where it fell.
 
Devonai said:
Hasn't anyone in Germany heard of an amnesty box?
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Amnesty boxes only work in unsecured areas of the airport. This plane and therefore the ammunition on the plane was in a secured area of the airport. An area that people can move around from plane to plane without any checks being done. Airports need to plan and react for even very unlikely scenarios.

One possible scenario:
  • The pilot brings the ammo through security as he is legally allowed to do in the USA
  • He dumps the ammo into the lavatory
  • An accomplice in Germany who empties plane lavatories retrieves the ammo and passes it on to another accomplice who has smuggled a gun or gun parts onto another flight
  • A plane gets hijacked
Unlikely? Yes. Possible? Yes. The German airport can't take chances once they know they have ammunition in their secure zones.
 
ATLDave said:
If I were filtering tanks of human waste, I would want to use a protective suit, too.
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Spot on. I'm guessing the suits were a paper and plastic combination of generic hospital-type PPE, rather than EOD-style gear.

Probably making a whole lot more of this than necessary.

Now that York incident, on the other hand... wow.
 
I once found a box of ammo in my carry on after clearing security, I was half way to my destination and switching planes when I discovered it.
Another time (this was pre 911) I bought 1000 cast bullets for a very good deal in Phoenix and had them in my carry on. It took the supervisor to finally come and clear the two little boxes so I could board. Wouldn't even think of doing intentionally today.
 
I don't know if you have to declare projectiles only as "ammo", but even if you do, there shouldn't be any problem as long as you declare it and check it.

One possible scenario:
The pilot brings the ammo through security as he is legally allowed to do in the USA
He dumps the ammo into the lavatory
An accomplice in Germany who empties plane lavatories retrieves the ammo and passes it on to another accomplice who has smuggled a gun or gun parts onto another flight
A plane gets hijacked
Unlikely? Yes. Possible? Yes. The German airport can't take chances once they know they have ammunition in their secure zones.
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If you can't trust the pilots, you can't trust anyone. They can do a LOT more damage with the plane itself than they can any firearm.... a few rounds of 9mm would be the last of their problems.
 
A little off topic but in a few weeks Kathy and I will make our annual trip back to NY to see my old friends of childhood and do a day of party on the beach. We normally take Kathy's truck as it is smaller than mine and she is more comfortable driving it, although she refuses to drive in NYC. :)

This year taking my truck I already have started to "NY Sanitize" the stupid truck. I use my truck for the range so every now and then a misc round rolls around.The console may have 22s in it or the glove box. The truck is loaded with nooks and crannies. While I don't plan to get stopped for anything I would hate to get stopped and have some jerk cop see or find any loaded ammunition. How stupid is this? I need to worry about making my own truck NY clean in the US.

Ron
 
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lol Ron, I hear you.

That said, and with all due respect, why are there loose rounds rolling around in your truck? That's just plain wasteful... :D

In all seriousness, I'm joking with you.

:)
 
I've heard of people being jailed after having empty brass and loose ammo being found in their vehicles at border crossings going to Mexico and while working in Israel some years ago we were warned of similar happening to people going into Egypt.
They seem hypersensitive to calibers used by their military in both instances if I recall.
 
jerkface11 said:
If you have a pilot in on your hijacking scheme you don't need a gun.
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That depends on if the pilot flies the plane you want to hijack or not.

In the USA, you need two members of the flight crew to take a plane without a struggle since the rules do not allow a pilot to be alone in the cockpit. After the Germanwings incident, European airlines have adopted similar rules.
 
I don't see recovering ammo that is inside an airport's secure zone as an overreaction. From the report it took 4 hours to drain the lavatory and recover the bullets. Not a big deal.

What do you think should have happened? A flight crew on an incoming flight reports live ammo on the plane. Go....
 
Have a maintenance crew drain the tank like they would have anyway. No firemen no hazmat suits.
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Exactly, everything could have been done at the gate as the plane was prepped for the next flight.
I wonder if the passengers were kept on for the 4 hours they took to find the rounds.
Probably lots of lights, sirens and intentional disregard for passengers comfort.
 
jerkface11 said:
Have a maintenance crew drain the tank like they would have anyway. No firemen no hazmat suits.
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I challenge you to find anyone willing to retrieve items from a lavatory without a suit. Maintenance crews don't screen waste, they only empty the tanks.

X-Rap said:
I wonder if the passengers were kept on for the 4 hours they took to find the rounds.
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Of course they were. The pilot originally dumped his ammo in the trash and the ammo was discovered by a passenger and reported to the flight crew. The passengers had access to the ammo so they must stay until the German authorities have recovered the ammo.

X-Rap said:
Probably lots of lights, sirens and intentional disregard for passengers comfort.
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I agree on the last bit. The PILOT did show a lack of regard for his passengers by trying to hide his screw up instead of taking the consequences like an adult.

The airport personal just followed their protocol.
 
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