Congressman Sanford Bishop of Georgia boarded a Delta flight from Washington to Atlanta, sat on the ground for an hour because of a weather delay, and then was told that he couldn't use the bathroom for the first 30 minutes of the flight due to security regulations at Reagan National Airport. He told the flight attendant that he understood the rule, but his bladder didn't. Trying to avoid a urinary disaster, he requested a paper cup, stepped into an area where the other passengers couldn't see him, faced the exit door, urinated into the cup, and eventually deposited it in the cabin lavatory. Meanwhile, the cockpit radioed ahead to Atlanta police, who detained the congressman and questioned him. The FAA is considering a fine of $1,100 under the "unruly passenger" statutes, which require all passengers to urinate on themselves if necessary, otherwise the terrorists will have won.
November 5, 2002 5:20 AM
