“Rugby Rumbles!”

Sports and Politics are two conversations you should never get into when up in air. After a couple of drinks politics becomes less democratic and great sportsman ship fades away. I was a witness to this fate as we carried a group of international rugby players on our flight. Unfortunately they were not the champions. After an intense game they were heading back home with heads down. All of these muscular guys, helped themselves to the beer on board, and eventually a post match celebration started.

After a while they started tossing the ball around for all the wrong reasons. They started criticizing each other’s moves, and how better a game it could have been. Soon word bashing became an exchange of the fists.

Now in cases of disruptive passengers, air crews are trained to restrain (Yes, next time before you start irritating your air hostess, make a note to self that she is also a martial arts expert in disguise.) However restraining 22 over grown men who are in the mood to kill, was not a smart thing to do.

Once the captain was informed regarding the evolving situation in the cabin, as per his orders we had nothing much to do, but to enjoy the live action. After few minutes the captain made a P.A. “Ladies and Gentlemen this is your captain speaking!” which gained most of the other passengers and crew attention apart from the rugby gang.  “I am aware of a situation in the cabin where some passengers are being disruptive!”

This managed to get a few of their attention. “For the people who are punching each other, we are now passing over Vietnam, a high Security Military base. If this continues, I will land this plane now and you may enjoy half time here!” That was surprisingly enough to get all of their attention, and as meek kittens one by one withdrew to their seats.

Our Captain was applauded at the end of the flight by all for his wit. However whether he really could have diverted or not, is still a mystery!
 

Love, Dany