Icelandair reports own pilot to police for flying Boeing 757 below altitude over home town in last flight before retirement
Posted by birkir@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 731 comments
Katana_DV20@reddit
The unfair fallout of this is that it will be on the FOs record too. Who knows what the situation was like on the flight deck. FO should have politely said that they cannot risk their own career by agreeing to such a move. Easier said than done when Cap'n is a grizzled veteran on his last flight. But at least the FOs concern would be on the FDR which the investigators will hear.
This_Elk_1460@reddit
Does Iceland not practice CRM? Are they still living in the 1960s where first officers are terrified of offending their irrational captains?
Katana_DV20@reddit
Interestingly this is a human factors issue here in S.E Asia where there is a cultural upbringing of deference/respect to elders and to experience. (By the latter I mean the PIC may not be an old guy in his 60s but just a few years older but with far more flight hours.)
This has resulted in FOs not speaking up when they see the PIC screwing up or they do speak up but do not take action ("My plane!")
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
If I were his FO I would not rely on the CVR, nor would I fight him for the controls over it. I would inform ATC over the radio. "Icelandair 1234, This is the FO. My captain is planning to intentionally perform an unsafe maneuver. I have advise him not to do it." Squawk 7700 while you are at it. See if the captain still chooses to do the maneuver.
Hour_Tour@reddit
You can make a visual approach to a runway, visual approaches and visual climbouts are IFR procedures. There is a small airport on Vestmannaeyjar which I'm sure they will have been using as the basis for their inbound and outbound portion of this flyby. The area around the airport is uncontrolled but with ATS provided by an AFIS unit, so how the flying is conducted within that zone is wholly on the crew, no controller to tell them no.
N205FR@reddit
The cancel IFR thing - I’m curious what European SOPs say about that, EU pilots here? As a US pilot every airline I’ve been at allows for canceling IFR (or departing VFR)
novagreasemonkey@reddit
Everyone’s against the 23 hour CVR mandate, but it would save this FO’s butt if it was on the CVR. I’ve seen low passes before but never that low of a pass with pax, in an airliner
fellipec@reddit
I'm sure that back in the Electra era, pilots did fly low over the beaches in the flights between Rio and São Paulo for the enjoyment of the passengers.
Drunkenaviator@reddit
Every word they said will 100% be on that CVR. They record for plenty of time for it to be saved after they landed.
quartzguy@reddit
Don't you have to pull a switch to save the memory of a CVR?
novagreasemonkey@reddit
30 minutes is standard, an hour less so. Average ground taxi would kill most of that. CVRs don’t have a ton of storage space.
Drunkenaviator@reddit
Not on the 757s I fly. They're 12+ hours.
BIKF@reddit
If the FO is even trying to save their own butt they would pull the circuit breaker for the CVR to preserve the evidence.
1aranzant@reddit
I guess you meant the 25hr requirement? It's US shit only, it wouldn't have had any consequences for this pilot...
slapdashbr@reddit
the CVR won't capture his giant wink when he says "this mighy not be a great idea"
Golden_Hour1@reddit
Its probably enough plausible deniability to keep their job regardless
LTKerr@reddit
Below altitude? Doesn't sound so b...holy shit
checkoutmuhhat@reddit
When I read the headline I was like that's kinda lame, seeing the video yeah that's not cool at all.
RunBrundleson@reddit
Kind of like that b52 pilot that was notoriously unsafe. Thought it was cool to buzz the tower and ended up killing his entire crew. You cannot fuck around. Ever. Literally ever.
It’s like a surgeon sewing their initials in someone’s spleen. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Snobben90@reddit
Heard about the guys flying an empty regional jet and decided to max the altitude it could fly at? No? Well. They ended up climbing so fast past the service ceiling that they stalled and jammed both engines.
Their last decision was to deliberately crash the aircraft before a village. Hadn't the village been there, they might have managed a landing and survived.
Ok-Mastodon2420@reddit
I think that you're thinking of the one who crashed at his last flight while showing off for his family.
He was actually WAY WORSE than that for a long time. He nearly ran over a photographer on the ground....while flying.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Fairchild_Air_Force_Base_B-52_crash
soft_er@reddit
this story is crazy, i'm too scared to try those bank angles in ms flight sim
Petr0vitch@reddit
the amount of "his superiors saw him breaking rules but took no action" in that article is maddening
ThePrussianGrippe@reddit
“A real Maverick”, he called himself.
“A real mad prick”, is what everyone else called him.
Thengine@reddit
Get real. Toxic macho attitude is pervasive in the military. Ignoring safety policies and doing stupid stuff for the luls is just par for the course. It's a slippery slope when the brass starts holding their people accountable... then EVERYONE would have to follow policy.
It's also why cop don't arrest their own for the same things they violate the plebs for.
ThePrussianGrippe@reddit
Idk.
Based on the Wikipedia summation I’m pretty sure everyone else of equal rank or below him did think he was a massive jackass.
Thengine@reddit
Weird. It's almost like everyone created a revisional history where they only gave ORAL 'disapproval' AFTER the accident.
'Oh yeah, the guy that killed himself and another pilot? I never liked him!'
But everyone else is super squeaky clean, and never does anything risky.
Sure...
NDSU@reddit
That's why the military was so strict for decades, and why so many in aviation were unhappy with the recent Kid Rock fly-by having no consequences
throwawayyy2888@reddit
People have a tendency to think something is not going to happen until it does, even with massive warning signs. I guess it's just our pattern recognition engine gone awry.
Shroom-Kitty@reddit
For real. It just. Keeps. Going.
TheHamWagon@reddit
It was actually even worse than that too. It wasn't the pilot's retirement, it was a commanding officer's who repeatedly called out the pilot for his risky flying behavior and he didn't want to get in the plane with the pilot because of his antics. He was kind of forced into the plane due to tradition and in the recording of the flight comms I'm pretty sure you even hear that officer exclaim "you've fucking killed as all" once the plane started crashing
Short-Ad1032@reddit
Why couldn't his someone in his command just ground him?
TheHamWagon@reddit
I don't remember all of the details of this situation, I think it was a combination of failures. From my loose memory the guy he killed was at least somewhat direct in the pilot's chain of command but since nothing bad had happened yet the pilot got away with it.
Kanyiko@reddit
TLDR: Bud Holland was a pilot who loved to showboat - an by showboating I don't mean simply mean 'Oh look at what a good pilot I am' but literally in one case, flying such a low pass over a ridge that a film crew tasked with making recordings there had to dive away to literally not get decapitated (the plane cleared the ridge by 5 feet or less).
The problem was that every commander above him looked at images of his 'feats' repeatedly and in one case, one commander literally said 'I did NOT see this, this is NOT my problem'.
The safety officer who was killed in that flight was one of the few critical voices who urged those above him to ground Holland but wasn't listened to, so instead he swore to be a copilot to Holland's every flight so 'at least he wouldn't end up killing an innocent junior pilot'. Which he did, he literally saved one junior pilot by sacrificing himself.
Why_Hello_hello@reddit
Same reason the pilots who fly by Kid Rock had no consequences . Some sort of bro code
TheRadler@reddit
I’ll m not defending the Apache pilots here, but to compare hovering to what Bud Holland did is like comparing a street racer who got caught to a quadruple homicide in front of thousands of people, including the victims families.
Just vastly different levels of failure of leadership, lack of accountability, and death and destruction.
qqererer@reddit
Turns out Nathan Fielder was right about everything.
AljoriDawn@reddit
They were getting internally investigated when SecWar stepped in to brocode them out of trouble.
Ok-Mastodon2420@reddit
Bros before hoes....or proper investigatory procedures
PlayonWurds@reddit
What did they do? He has about the ugliest paint job on his plane.
PlayonWurds@reddit
Ahh you meant the helicopter pilots. His plane is still ugly.
spartanss300@reddit
What's the source for that? I don't think there was any transcripts or recordings of the black box available.
TheHamWagon@reddit
I can't guarantee complete factual details of everything, it's my loose memory of something I learned about years ago that just kinda stuck with me because of how terrible the situation was and it being something that personally struck close to home for me.
RunBrundleson@reddit
If I remember from the video I think you see one of them eject at the last second but it’s too late.
No_Title_5917@reddit
That makes it so much darker… imagine knowing the guy flying has a history of pushing it and still being pressured to get on anyway. That last line hits hard, like he knew exactly how it was going to end.
TheHamWagon@reddit
And it was supposed to be that guy's last day of service, his whole family watched as the plane crashed. I can never even begin to imagine the sorrow that was felt that day.
Hot_Astronaut_4551@reddit
This guy was totally reckless and killed several people with his arrogance. It was a case study for flyers in the Air Force. F that guy!
-Ernie@reddit
Isn’t this the crash where a squadron commander took the copilot seat to protect the pilots under his command from having to fly with this asshole?
Literally took one for the team.
Hot_Astronaut_4551@reddit
It was the vice commander of the 92 Bomb Wing’s fini-flight. His family were there watching his final flight before retirement. There was also the commander of the 325th Bomb Squadron onboard.
-Ernie@reddit
This is the guy.
A few months prior to the crash there was another incident where Holland flew in an unsafe manner and then called a fellow crew member a pussy for calling him out on it.
From the Wikipedia linked above:
He put the safety of his squadron members above his own, and ended up paying the ultimate price for it as the copilot on the day of the crash.
His wife and two of his kids were watching the flight from their home on base.
Fuckkoff-@reddit
"He put the safety of his squadron members above his own"
Why didn´t he ban him from flying?
FocalDeficit@reddit
In the article it states he wanted to but was overruled, which is why he began undertaking any missions Holland was assigned, to keep the other pilots under his command from having to fly with Holland.
Andrew10403@reddit
Yeah that was such a messed up accident write up on Wikipedia. I slowly lost interest in pulling all of my hair out after the 3rd or 6th or 28th verbal warning, but they just kept on sending him back out for demonstrations!
Forgotthebloodypassw@reddit
Video here.
Aksama@reddit
A fascinating video on the matter and more context on the pilot who caused the crash.
TrumpsPissSoakedWig@reddit
Here's the original CBS Evening News story about it, bonus featuring peak 90's era Connie Chung and a studly young Scott Pelly.
jacobgardiner@reddit
Sad story. But it was actually in the lead up to the airshow that the crash happened.
He wasn’t trying to impress, just being selfish and not following SOPs
rmannyconda78@reddit
I think his co pilots last words were “great you just killed us”
hiroo916@reddit
Video on that pilot and the incidents preceding the final crash. Final irony was that his co-pilot for that last flight was the guy who reported him for hot-dogging and tried unsuccessfully to have him grounded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__tuSld3u6o
interesting side note: a scale model radio-controlled B-52 also crashed doing a similar high-bank maneuver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68WZ6PgsBhM
Rockbeat64@reddit
He was the co-pilot because he didn’t want anyone else flying with the guy so he volunteered for the flight.
bill-of-rights@reddit
Exactly - Lt Col Mark McGeehan - this man had courage and honor. He couldn't get the USAF to ground the idiot that finally crashed the B-52, so he and 2 other senior officers flew with the idiot, with the obviously optimistic view that they could prevent the idiot from doing something stupid, but failed. Serious organizational dysfunction to allow any of this to happen.
Roadgoddess@reddit
Yeah, I was living in Spokane when that crash happened. Poor Fairchild Air Force Base had that and shooting back to back. It was such a terrible time.
HavingNotAttained@reddit
::: note to self ::: Don’t….sew my…initials…in others’…spleens…
Thank you, friend! 👍
RunBrundleson@reddit
Don’t even lie you were planning to invert a b52 tomorrow and thankfully I was here to convince you not to do that. I’m just doing my part trying to educate b52 pilots on Reddit.
Psychological_Wafer9@reddit
Or a local army pilot. Real asshole, he didn’t do the research on how to barrel roll an Apache, like Apache pilots do cause they’re dumb, and fucking but off the tail rotor when they were upside down and fell to their deaths
SpiceWeasel83@reddit
Gee straight and level under 500 is totally the same as a 90* bank turn at… 500, that the big ugly fat fudge can’t recover from
Jesus Christ
WetRocksManatee@reddit
He wasn't buzzing the tower, he was practicing for an airshow routine and decided to add a roll to the routine. The airspeed was too low, he stalled the aircraft at low altitude and killed the crew.
Plenty_Ambassador424@reddit
A roll in a B-52? Wtf, that wouldnt even cross my mind for a second...
AggressiveYear8430@reddit
It was a steep turn though which caused the crash.
QuevedoDeMalVino@reddit
A roll is a 1G maneouver… If executed correctly.
Main-Form5974@reddit
He was trying to avoid flying over restricted airspace (bunkers full of nukes). Still a major asshole for flying like an idiot and getting the crew killed.
PiperArrow@reddit
That's not right. Here's the description from Wikipedia:
Moose135A@reddit
Yes, but he had pulled plenty of crap before that one and should have been grounded long before he killed three other guys.
WetRocksManatee@reddit
Yeah he had a history of incidents, including nearly crashing doing a fly by over a game that his daughter was playing.
burritoresearch@reddit
Buzzing the tower in level flight is one thing, completely another is what that guy attempted which was an extremely aggressively banked turn at such an altitude and airspeed that the whole wing stalled.
chitownbears@reddit
The book is called a different shade of blue. Unread it while in the air force and let's just say that guy had a long history of being a dickhead and the black box audio the co pilot says "you killed us all" and I have a vivid memory of hearing it but I can't find it anywhere all I see are forums with other people discussing it saying the same thing
nclh77@reddit
Zero chain of command consequences.
TonyStamp595SO@reddit
Like this guy?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-59954321?
RedTruck1989@reddit
This is like GIFs now....there is at least one example for everything. Holy Hell.
Wit-wat-4@reddit
I disagree re: the surgeon assuming you’re talking about the guy who used the arbon(sp) beam to initial. There’s zero actual physical harm/danger there. I get why he lost his license, he did an un-agreed-upon procedure, but pilots pulling this stuff quite literally are playing with lives.
jhonkas@reddit
or this one
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot_Flight_593
Kilo259@reddit
Good ol fairchild freestyle.... base is notorious for faking it till you make it.
Beefy-McQueefy@reddit
I mean I see basically that driving past O'Hare. Though there aren't any elevation changes for 100s of miles, so you're not below mountain tops like in the video.
Sugar_Kowalczyk@reddit
So. LOUD.
He needs to go dooe to door and personally apologize to all residents.
BUNNIES_ARE_FOOD@reddit
Yeah doing this in a 57 is like extra fuck you 😂
hyperdream@reddit
And yet also.... totally fucking cool.
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
Pilot here. Not cool. Not impressive. I feel bad for his copilot.
FreeK200@reddit
I'm not a pilot, but I feel the same way.
With that said, how different would this be if he requested this (and received approval) from both the airline and whatever Iceland's (Assumed, I couldn't find other articles on this) aviation authority is? In addition to receiving approval from the legislation (if any) of the town itself?
Obviously with how low this is, it seems unsafe from both a "What if something goes wrong and we don't have the altitude to recover" category as well as the noise it would produce. I'm just interested in understanding if there is any way to go about something similar to this that wouldn't piss off the world. Is the "Water Salute" the end all, be all for pilot retirements?
Drunkenaviator@reddit
Zero chance anyone at the airline is going to approve that. Even at the most cowboy "rules are for suckers" cargo operation I flew at they'd laugh at you if you asked to do that.
FreeK200@reddit
Understandable. This seems like an insane risk no matter how you slice it. Is there any other liberties afforded to pilots (similar to the water salute) that they could more reasonably get away with if they were to ask?
Drunkenaviator@reddit
You could most likely get a route modification approved by ATC to fly over your hometown. But we're talking at an altitude of probably 5000 feet, not 500 feet.
av8geek@reddit
It's actually cooler than I thought
Lumpy-Return@reddit
ONE HUNDRED…..FIFTY……
StoriedMatter@reddit
FL150? Doesn't sound so b...holy shit
Drunkenaviator@reddit
Lol, FL15 maybe.
Phiddipus_audax@reddit
FL1.5?
From the vid it seems like the plane is about 300' above sea level but just a guess.
Kitchen-Cabinet-5000@reddit
Even FL150 is a moot point when you’re flying towards Mount Everest.
nascent_aviator@reddit
FL1.50.
Ehh_WhatNow@reddit
“RETARD….RETARD…..I MEAN THAT LITERALLY”
danit0ba94@reddit
Imagine if that was secretly programmed in there for situations like this.
Vmaxed_T7@reddit
BWOOP BWOOP. BWOOP BWOOP
ChmeeWu@reddit
“PULL UP!! PULL UP!!”
Extreme-Island-5041@reddit
ALTITUDE! ALTITUDE!
MuggyFuzzball@reddit
RETARD! RETARD!
Yossarian_nz@reddit
TOO LOW, TERRAIN
ElohssaAhola@reddit
REGARD! REGARD!
Try_It_Out_RPC@reddit
Maybe he thought he was still in bed with his CPAP on
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
RETIRE NOW! RETIRE NOW!
Twitter_2006@reddit
Low terrain!
Public_Fucking_Media@reddit
Retard! Retard!
And they was just the copilot.
Frederf220@reddit
Dats da sound of the number for write down
Perryn@reddit
It's one thing to want to see your house, but this guy wanted to check the mail.
BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit
I'm not excusing what he did, but he literally did a low approach and flew over a runway. It's not as egregious as just bombing low level in some mountains.
Still egregious, though.
birkir@reddit (OP)
the runway is in the opposite direction in the video, behind the cameraman
the flightradar path is off by quite a lot
BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit
It's not. He flies directly over the runway.
birkir@reddit (OP)
It's not. He flew directly over the airport.
the airport is literally behind him on the road he's driving in the recording from:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SFUvaa6WkrBpfhLLA
birkir@reddit (OP)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SFUvaa6WkrBpfhLLA
tomdarch@reddit
Yeah, no matter how “safely” you do something like this there is a long track record of accidents that point to why this is a bad idea. Commercial aviation is extremely safe because anything like this is strictly prohibited. I don’t know if reporting this to police makes sense but the Icelandic aviation authorities and the airline absolutely should…. Well, I don’t know what they’d do to a pilot who is retiring and presumably doesn’t care about losing his license. But this is dumb.
T1Demon@reddit
I have a few suggestions. A fine. Jail time. Lining up everyone who lives here and letting them pluck a hair of their choosing from his body.
LingonberryPossible6@reddit
Wait? That's not him coming in to land?
RedditLIONS@reddit
He flew over an airport runway.
pogamau@reddit
I can see a good amount of gap tho. Can someone explain why it's so dangerous?
Perryn@reddit
Altitude is a resource for dealing with the unexpected. It gives you time to respond before a problem becomes a headline. You can trade some of it for velocity if you suddenly lose power. This is like tailgating a foot off of someone's bumper on the highway; it doesn't matter if you're an amazing driver, you're not going to have time to react to something happening that makes them hit the brakes. Except in this case the outcome involves plowing a 757 full of people through a bunch of buildings that are also full of people.
wehooper4@reddit
It’s one thing to do it in a prop single. You’re probably not taking out anyone but yourself, and even then the amount of damage to anything on the ground isn’t worse than a bad car crash.
It’s another thing in a freaking 757 with self loading cargo in the back.
danboon05@reddit
Gravity is bigger when you’re closer to the ground, makes it hard to fly.
Really though, I think there’s just no room for error when flying that low. I don’t know if there are any specific dangers that people are concerned about, more that the pilot is exposing everyone on board to completely unnecessary risk, and also putting everyone on the ground in danger as well. I watch a lot of Fascinating Horror videos on YouTube, and a lot of the plane crashes start off describing situations very similar to this.
AI_moderated_failure@reddit
This is the aviation equivalent of shooting an apple off of a child's head. Any tiny mistake is going to result in tragedy and in this instance could have killed hundreds of people and caused millions in damage. The pilot was likely very experienced. Experience helps you recover from unexpected situations and recover from operational mistakes but it means nothing when you deliberately give yourself so little time to react that the plane will crash before anything can be corrected.
julias-winston@reddit
I'm not a pilot, I'm just a guy who likes planes.
Very well put. 👍
goodNeasy@reddit
The risk assessment matrix in the folder somewhere in the cockpit caught on fire while the pilot was attempting this. It was that bad
Mountain_Pangolin186@reddit
Yeah, I saw the title, clicked, was ready to type in "the fun police strikes again" and then saw this dude cropdust a town between two mountains with a b757. :D
thegreedyturtle@reddit
Reported for being badass.
CalculatorClicker@reddit
Hey now don't be so quick to judge that pilot, it was all good as long as nothing went wrong...and if it did, his skills over the years would surely kick in and he'd have a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a second to realize everyone was about to die
ArtyMacFly@reddit
Terrain ahead…
zarathru@reddit
Tenzipper@reddit
I like the relevant Calvin and Hobbes instead of the relevant XKCD in this case.
T1Demon@reddit
But someone is going to drop a relevant XKCD right? We deserve both
Dlatch@reddit
Bit of a stretch I guess, but the pilot just reached stage 9 of his priority list: pollinating
Tenzipper@reddit
I did a brief search, shockingly, I didn't find one right away.
Doesn't mean it isn't there.
JustGimmeSomeTruth@reddit
r/CalvinDidIt
wurm2@reddit
BTW there are actually planes that go over and into the Grand Canyon but they're much smaller, I think the one I was on held like 20 people.
iBaires@reddit
Where is the co pilot?? This is what Nathan is trying to solve
flume@reddit
Selfish pilot just did a lot of damage to the copilot's career
P0Rt1ng4Duty@reddit
What is the copilot supposed to do in this type of situation? I'm not a pilot so I have no idea.
ErraticDragon@reddit
I'm reminded of those dramatic scenes in Star Trek where the captain (I'm picturing Picard specifically) tells his officers to object now because he's about to break orders, and he'll note their dissent in his log.
And then of course none of them do, because everyone trusted the captain more than they trusted the orders.
kingtiger3@reddit
I'll repeat it for those in back, a lot of damage.
chebysilberader@reddit
this case legitimately would have been perfect for his show
RedditLIONS@reddit
He flew over an airport runway.
So, it’s not right over people’s homes, but it’s definitely still not a wise move.
SnoozerDota@reddit
First Officer Blunt would never
IlIlllIlllIlIIllI@reddit
Captain blunts now
Drunkenaviator@reddit
That fuckstick was trying to solve the existence of CRM, which he neglected to mention, was solved in the 1900s.
Former_Farm_3618@reddit
I guess you missed the part he really only referenced accidents from decades ago and mostly foreign carriers. I think you can learn something from Captain Ahlears and pay attention to all the facts before making a hasty assumption.
Also, that show was hilarious. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
_--_--_-_--_-_--_--_@reddit
Nasty.
josherman61791@reddit
Ew
Paolito14@reddit
That season is perfection
Dot_Infamous@reddit
The copilot would have reacted but he didn't think they were so low, hard to judge when you're rolling on molly
monkeypan@reddit
I already have enough issues to solve! Don't put that on my Ricky Bobby!
PingCarGaming@reddit
Apperantly I'm trying to solve this now
Bumkin007@reddit
Copilot: “I was in the bathroom “
JBR1961@reddit
Kinda reminds me of that cruise ship in 2012 that hit the rocks doing a “sail-by salute.”
DoReMiDoReMi558@reddit
Literally just thinking the same thing. The Costa Concordia. And then 32 people died.
ButteredPizza69420@reddit
The audio of the Italian Coast Guard/Navy to the Captain is insane. They're infuriated at him for abandoning his ship, and the captain was a HUGE pussy. They kept telling him to get his ass back on his boat
Milton__Obote@reddit
Vada a bordo, cazzo!
Sassy-irish-lassy@reddit
He's still in prison for that
agha0013@reddit
great video about that case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9KBwqGxTI
Asheville_Cat@reddit
Internet historian did a great video on that!
DynamiteWitLaserBeam@reddit
The Costa Concordia.
Chicago_Blackhawks@reddit
Wow
spency_c@reddit
Bro let his intrusive thoughts win and took his Ferrari for a spin
_Volatile_@reddit
With hundreds of passeners in tow, too
EconomicalJacket@reddit
And I support it
breakingthejewels@reddit
G-d forgive a man have hobbies
ArctycDev@reddit
Make it all the way to retirement just to ruin it with an idiotic stunt like this... crazy.
Aarxnw@reddit
Baffles me that anybody who’s switched on enough to be a commercial pilot for a major airline, and do something this stupid.
How would you expect not to get caught or reprimanded?
PourLarryaCrown@reddit
Guy I knew many years ago was a check airman for National (the 757 operator based in Vegas). He was flying the last flight back to LAS when they were in the process of shutting down and asked the tower for a flyby over the terminal, which (obviously) was denied. On short final to what was rwy 25L at the time, he called a go around and banked right over the terminals anyway, which anyone who's ever flown into LAS knows is about as far off the published missed as you can be. That stunt followed him around for quite awhile after that, so much so that he wound up taking a job in India flying for a small boutique airline.
This same guy was only flying for National because he got fired from his job at a major U.S. carrier after getting into a bar fight in Puerto Vallarta, spending the night in jail, and no-showing for his trip home.
Never conflate someone being an airline pilot with that person having any sense.
Zapatos-Grande@reddit
An American Airlines pilot got into hot water flying a 777 over his house in Spruce Creek (small fly in community South of Daytona Beach) en route to Miami from Dallas.
Phiddipus_audax@reddit
Seems like exactly the sort of community that would appreciate it.
Zapatos-Grande@reddit
The people not living in Spruce Creek apparently didn't. Daytona Beach ATC got a bunch of calls about a large jet crashing.
-_-Yeeter@reddit
I’m sure he knew there would be consequences but he won’t be jailed, or lose his pension. He’s retiring anyways, so they’ll take his license and issue him a hefty fine. I guess he figured it worth it
vishnera52@reddit
If he figured the fine is worth it then the fine isn't big enough.
Shadow_Ass@reddit
What can happen to him after retirement? Lose his whole pension?
Zealousideal-Towel11@reddit
Uhmmm you could go to jail?
memostothefuture@reddit
not America.
Throckmorton_Left@reddit
Icelandic jail very nice, good food, many channel television, arts, crafts, and no Mrs. Pilot nag nag nag all day.
blastradii@reddit
So an upgrade to his original retirement plans?
CheapWeight8403@reddit
It's prison. He'll go to prison. Jail is where you go when you get arrested for the crime and when you're in court.
He'll go to prison. I bet prison in Iceland is pretty nice though.
m0viestar@reddit
He will likely not go to prison.
CalculatorClicker@reddit
It's only recklessly endangering the lives of hundreds of people and negligently risking millions of dollars in property damage, no big deal
KS_Gaming@reddit
And putting him into prison for his retirement after his last flight would serve everyone so well from preventing him from doing it again, right(:
CalculatorClicker@reddit
Others have been pointing out your fallacy here so I'll leave it as is.
KS_Gaming@reddit
I'm well aware justice system exists to prevent others, not only him, from committing crimes to society, what i mentioned is simply a factor that would likely be taken into account to give him a lighter punishment in court.
CalculatorClicker@reddit
You're clearly an experienced lawyer.
KS_Gaming@reddit
It's bare basics of any justice system in any democratic country and you should know that if you intend to discuss this topic rather than callibg everyone out for now knowing specific laws of iceland lmao
CalculatorClicker@reddit
Lol you just double down
entered_bubble_50@reddit
It might discourage others to do the same though. Otherwise, as others have said, you might as well go out with a bang on your retirement if there's no consequences.
__Gripen__@reddit
That's not how law works.
m0viestar@reddit
Please explain what Icelandic law he's breaking that would put him in prison.
AltrntivInDoomWorld@reddit
You aren't icelanding so why do you want us to quote laws you won't understand?
m0viestar@reddit
Similar incidents with European based carriers have had zero penalty. Easy to make that corelation
AltrntivInDoomWorld@reddit
That's how society works in 1st world countries.
__Gripen__@reddit
No, it’s not. Judges can’t invent prison time based on the public level of emotional distress. If prison time is not a punishment explicitly indicated in the law broken, a person can’t go to prison. And even if so, in most countries there are huge sentence reduction possibilities, especially for people with no criminal record, that make it incredibly unlikely to actually be sent to jail instead of a short period of house arrest and/or community services.
Cilia-Bubble@reddit
You could argue that it’s not how the law should work, but it absolutely how it does work, almost everyone. Deterrence is one of the main functions on legal punishment, and arguably the most significant one. And for deterrence, you have to demonstrate that the legal punishment will actually be enforced in actuality.
Principles like justice, reformation, or even just protecting society from dangerous individuals are all ultimately secondary to the goal of deterring future crimes.
ListRepresentative32@reddit
well, the consequences are dying, so there definitely are some
This_Elk_1460@reddit
It would prevent other people from doing it in the future
__Gripen__@reddit
You actually think somebody with whatsoever no criminal record is going to prison for something like this, without causing any injury and any form of property damage? In Iceland? lol
CalculatorClicker@reddit
Iceland is part of why I think it's a possibility in fact. If it was the US nothing would happen.
__Gripen__@reddit
I disagree. The Icelandic aviation authority is going to suspend or revoke his license, and that will be it. Serving prison time for something for someone at retirement age with no criminal record is in practice not happening. Perhaps some form of probation, or community service, or even a short period of house arrest, or a combination of all, but not prison. And this may be after months or even years of judicial trial.
T1Demon@reddit
Do you think they introduce new regulations to ensure stiffer punishment if someone else tries this as a result? Not pushing back on your assessment just curious
__Gripen__@reddit
I guess it will depend on the reaction the Icelandic government and/or parliament, if there is any.
This_Elk_1460@reddit
You let this guy get away with a slap on the wrist you invite every other retiring pilot to do the same bullshit because there aren't any real consequences.
__Gripen__@reddit
That’s not how laws work.
nakedgum@reddit
It’s settled then, I am moving to Iceland.
Zealousideal-Towel11@reddit
Yes
21five@reddit
TIL that a lightly used Icelandair 757 is worth $7 million (!)
CalculatorClicker@reddit
So it could be over $10mm then
Upset-Basil4459@reddit
Oh no the retired guy can never fly again 😔
T1Demon@reddit
I don’t think it’s enough punishment to just revoke his license, but just because he’s never flying a commercial plane again doesn’t mean he’s never flying any plane again. His license should still be revoked because he’s shown his decision making puts lives at risk no matter the size of aircraft he is flying
cat_prophecy@reddit
You can serve a sentence in jail. At least in the US if your charges are from the state/county and the sentence is under 1 year, you'll generally serve that in jail not prison. Federal sentences go to prison.
HorseCojMatthew@reddit
Not all countries follow the same convention as the US
CheapWeight8403@reddit
Most countries have a short term criminal housing area and a long term criminal housing area after someone was found guilty.
He'll be held in a remand facility, likely with very low security. Then if he is found guilty he will be held in a different more secure section of the facility or a different more secure facility. Basically the same thing as I said.
StaticUsernamesSuck@reddit
Right... But we don't all differentiate them by the terms "jail" and "prison".
CheapWeight8403@reddit
In the language I am speaking, our remand facilities are called jail.
In the language I am speaking, our more secure long term facilities are called prison.
Iceland calls them different things. We have difference in language.
We're not talking about language.
StaticUsernamesSuck@reddit
In the country you are speaking about, and the country that the person would be being held in, there is no difference between jail and prison. Your correction is useless pedantry, which is bad enough, but the fact that it's irrelevant pedantry makes it so much more insufferable.
Zealousideal-Towel11@reddit
Oh ok never knew the difference! English is not my first language :)
StaticUsernamesSuck@reddit
Ignore them, that's only really a distinction in the US.
Jail and prison are synonyms elsewhere - and in fact even colloquially they're also synonyms in the US, so the other guy is just being uselessly pedantic.
2020havoc@reddit
Tell me you're American without saying you're American
Mugweiser@reddit
We got a prison expert here guys.
wosmo@reddit
I wouldn't even say expert. That distinction is very US-centric, and Iceland .. is not in the US.
fellipec@reddit
A prison in Denmark? Gosh have you seen then? Looks better than the apartment I live. Worthy it!
partdopy1@reddit
Isn't jail in the country in op just like spending a couple years in a slightly subpar apartment, but with no bills or responsibilities? Sounds great tbh.
Primary-Shoe-3702@reddit
No.
Nordic countries don't use the weird American system where your employer keeps the pension you already earned. They pay it out on each paycheck to an independent pension fund.
Bulbajamin@reddit
Why on earth are people downvoting this? It’s literally how pensions work over here.
ChillFratBro@reddit
Probably because the way the commenter described it isn't how it works in the US either.
The American approach to retirement is certainly questionable, but the way that commenter described it is not how it works for basically any US workers - partially because pensions essentially do not exist outside of government jobs in the US. Furthermore, companies have zero ability to takeo money out of 401k or IRA accounts.
He's not getting downvoted for describing how it works in Iceland, he's getting downvoted for just randomly making shit up about the US.
samosamancer@reddit
Yeah, I always assumed pensions were provided by the government, because those are essentially the only remaining jobs that grant you one in the US.
menace313@reddit
...but that's exactly how pensions work in the US. Just because there aren't many places still doing it, doesn't mean that's not how they work.
biggerty123@reddit
That isn't how it works. At all.
ChillFratBro@reddit
No, it isn't how they work in the US. Companies set up separate legal entities to invest and administer their pensions. The only place it's arguably true that it's the same entity you work for taking your salary is government - but that'd be true for a European government administered pension too.
It is a bald-faced lie that companies in the US have the ability to take vested pensions from employees.
https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c6026/c6026.pdf
What has happened in the US is pension funds operating as separate legal entities have invested in things they definitely shouldn't have and the pension fund losing a tremendous amount of value that the company wasn't able to make up. That's bad and we should criticize it, but it's also not relevant to the commenter's false assertion that companies in the US are allowed to confiscate portions of employee pensions.
Both-Buddy-6190@reddit
Something I learned long ago, people upvote what they like and downvote what they don’t like. It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong, correct or incorrect.
BrewCityChaserV2@reddit
I'm old enough to remember the original intention of the voting system on this website.
https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439-Reddiquette
Grenache@reddit
Yeah but people who used to use the site understood enough to know if something contributed or didn't and if they didn't know they didn't vote as opposed to now with whatever the fuck we have.
BrewCityChaserV2@reddit
That's a fair point.
Both-Buddy-6190@reddit
This place has unfortunately become a shadow of its former glory. We’re just a more anonymous version of twitter at this point.
globalartwork@reddit
I really think they should publish reddiquette more. I think the only publicity they get is from r/angryupvote with people questioning why you would do that. If we don’t upvote good content that you still might disagree with it goes the way of all other social media, a big echo chamber. It’s mostly there now, but still has a bit of it left.
TheOneTonWanton@reddit
reddit itself won't push proper reddiquette because they're ever afraid of scaring people away from the site and losing money. This place was already on a downward spiral as they started "cleaning up" for the IPO and trying to become more and more like every other social media site. Now that it's been public for a while it's just a shell of a shell of its former self.
Bulbajamin@reddit
Surprised nobody has commented “this” yet… (/s so the bots know)
incpen@reddit
Magnets /grrrr
Mist_Rising@reddit
Reddit removed that portion sometime ago.
Shanga_Ubone@reddit
Truth. If you want to see this in action, mention AI in a post in any context and watch the downvotes roll in.
MikeAndAlphaEsq@reddit
They downvote it because it’s not accurate as to American pensions.
gefahr@reddit
correct, but it's highly upvoted now because /r/AmericaBad
Th1s1sChr1s@reddit
I downvoted you because you're right and I don't like it
sunsetair@reddit
It’s at 154
Bulbajamin@reddit
It was -16 when I made the comment. The humans might now be outnumbering the bots.
aviation-ModTeam@reddit
Your post has been removed for breaking the r/aviation rules.
If you post in this subreddit, you are expected to engage in the discussion. Do not post images, links, or videos just to karma farm or drive engagement. Questions with simple or easily-googled answers are not permitted.
If you believe this was a mistake, please message the moderators through modmail. Thank you for participating in the r/aviation community.
sunsetair@reddit
Yaaaaay
Cant_figure_sht_out@reddit
And as it should work everywhere
GeorgiaPilot172@reddit
Incorrect. Ask pilots in the 2000s how those pensions worked out before making dumb comments like this.
Proper-Raise-1450@reddit
What lol? You don't know what you are talking about, that is part of the issue separate pensions funds avoids, if the company goes under the money is still safe.
GeorgiaPilot172@reddit
So a 401k? Lmao
Proper-Raise-1450@reddit
No, 401Ks are very different in many ways to how European pensions work, it's too many things to list really but the wikipedia page will show you some of the distinction:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensions_in_Iceland
leondz@reddit
because it's not how most pensions work in the us
_145_@reddit
It's how they work in America too. Lmao.
moment-momentum@reddit
The American mind can not comprehend a social support system
partdopy1@reddit
Because no company recoups retirement payments. My pension and my 401k retirement account are fully owned by me.
SuperChingaso5000@reddit
They are downvoting the factually incorrect editorial jab at American retirement systems. Obviously.
Why are you pretending like you don't understand?
TheGreatestOrator@reddit
It’s also how it works in the U.S….
alkali112@reddit
They’re downvoting it because it works exactly the same way in America. The upvotes are from people who just choose to believe any made up nonsense about America.
notadoctor123@reddit
Probably because the USA has multiple different pension systems with different rules.
MikeAndAlphaEsq@reddit
Not sure where you heard it, but American companies don’t keep its employees pensions. The lone exception would be non-qualified deferred compensation, but those are only for the very high earners.
Primary-Shoe-3702@reddit
When asked, Google AI gives several high profile examples of employees losing billions of future pension payouts due to bankruptcy / chapter 11. Enron, United, Delphi, Bethlehem Steel, etc.
May these examples do not technically constitute "keeping the pensions", but the effect is the same.
samosamancer@reddit
Stop using AI. A standard search gives way more accurate feedback with a fraction of the energy wasted.
MikeAndAlphaEsq@reddit
All of those pensions were underfunded. And the company’s bankruptcy meant they could not contribute more to make up the underfunded amount. The money in the pension isn’t used for payment towards the creditors of the company.
anandonaqui@reddit
I don’t even think American companies can recoup money that’s been paid to into an employees 401k
LA_Nail_Clippers@reddit
It would be extremely difficult to do that unless it was spelled out in a signed agreement.
I worked at a company and a VP got arrested for SAing his stepdaughters for years and he obviously was fired, but the company still had to pay out his stock awards/options because he wasn't fired for misconduct at the company or similar as stated in his contract. He also was eligible for a bonus based on when the quarter ended and his arrest and firing. Not sure if he got it or not.
Within about 3 months the company issued new agreements for everyone which included loss of various types of deferred compensation for multiple situations, including misconduct outside of the company.
I don't know all the nitty gritty details but clearly stocks m that he owned and were vested were still his but the company lawyers couldn't find a clear path for him to be denied a number of other compensation avenues even though he did some despicable things.
donutello2000@reddit
401ks and pensions are different things. Pensions were usually owned and managed by companies. 401ks are owned by the employee.
YOURE_GONNA_HATE_ME@reddit
Not if you’re in a union.
GooseDentures@reddit
Not universal. Some unions operate pensions themselves, but plenty of unions just bargain for their members to receive 401ks.
Attilashorde@reddit
Some companies require a certain amount of time before the employer contribution is vested. Some companies you are vested from day one. In regards to the employees contributions the company cannot touch it.
Brutally-Honest-@reddit
That's only a few year (usually 3-5). It's long vested by retirement.
ExpiredPilot@reddit
Yeah my old company required 1 year before they would match then it was only vested money 1.5 years after that
Bananas_are_theworst@reddit
Mine has a 5 year vesting period but only matches $2000 per year lol it’s the worst 401k I’ve had
Primary-Shoe-3702@reddit
I just remember stories from when some of the big three auto companies were close to folding in 2008/9 that employees lost their pensions during bankruptcies/restructuring.
ChillFratBro@reddit
The problem there was that many pension funds were heavily invested in subprime mortgage backed bonds because they'd been fraudulently sold as a "safe" investment. The pension funds lost a ton of value in the crash and the companies did not have the assets to backfill that huge a drop.
RentAscout@reddit
America is huge with tons of different retirement systems. Guess it's easier to not grasp that when your country is smaller than most states.
WildeWeasel@reddit
They can, but only in specific arrangements. The most common I've seen is companies will remove their contribution if an employee leaves within a certain time frame like the first two years of employment.
Kermit_the_hog@reddit
I believe the term is “cliff vesting”
OneLorgeHorseyDog@reddit
That’s only for the matching contributions. Your own contributions are always your money and your company never has recourse to that.
WildeWeasel@reddit
That's what I said. The company can remove their contribution.
Random-Cpl@reddit
TIL that’s the system in America ^(it’s not)
leondz@reddit
it's generally not, nordic pension and usa 401k/ira systems are very similar (source: have both)
Spr1ng_Snow@reddit
Retard comment moment.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
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trash-_-boat@reddit
Yeah, but you don't receive your pension if you're in Prison.
FaZaCon@reddit
The USA doesn't have some lawful system that denies a person their pension. Go blow your dumbass Reddit knowledge of the USA out your ass. Idiot.
TheGreatestOrator@reddit
You mean like American social security?
_mister_pink_@reddit
Wait what? The US companies manage the pension funds themselves?
jackofnac@reddit
No they do not.
afops@reddit
why would you lose your pension? You don’t trust companies to keep the pension money. They pay it into funds which pay it to retirees.
Otherwise things like companies going bankrupt could just make your pension disappear. And no one would accept a system like that I hope…
Mammoth-Clock-8173@reddit
Hullo! From Canada. Ask former employees of Sears Canada, Nortel, Eatons how stupid it is.
GooseDentures@reddit
This is why I dont understand people whistling Dixie over pensions. My 401K meand my retirement is MUCH more secure if my employer ever goes out of business.
dman928@reddit
Had happened many times in the US
afops@reddit
Yeah I know my comment was a little Swipe at Americans some times accepting something obviously bad as the only way something could work.
Either because they don’t think it could work any other way (ignorance), other times because they think it’s impossible to change (resignation).
dman928@reddit
As an American, feel free to take swipes
We deserve it all.
afops@reddit
As a non-American, do vote in November :) Thank you
dman928@reddit
I’ve voted in every election for the past 35+ years
afops@reddit
Thank you for your service
dubya98@reddit
A big fine I hope. Bye portion of pension.
CarminSanDiego@reddit
Yup.
elchasper@reddit
What? While the stunt is crazy, I’m pretty sure they can’t just take his pension as it’s not the company’s money but rather invest in the employees pension fund.
Thu66@reddit
Too bad. Hopefully 10 years in prison but it’s Iceland so nothing will happen
thissexypoptart@reddit
If it’s not contractually stipulated that you lose your pension for risking so many people’s lives on the job then it sure as shit should be
elchasper@reddit
I understand your point about safety, but legally, how in earth would it be allowed to take someone’s pension? I can understand that you can be fined and go to jail for gross negligence, but your pension is your money and no one can take it from you. The company pays your pension fund every month along with your pay, and once the money has left the company, they can’t touch it…at least that’s how it works in Denmark, and I’m pretty sure it’s no different in Iceland
hamsternation@reddit
I'm in Canada and if I get fired from where I work they will give back what I put in and they take back what they put in.
Evilbred@reddit
That's an unusual structure for pensions in Canada.
There's usually a vesting period, like you get return of contributions if your employment ends before X years, but after that you get all the value.
elchasper@reddit
That’s….a really bad deal?
Ares__@reddit
Pensions are also usually very protected. The Goldmans for instance couldn't take OJs pension even though they won that civil suit against him.
0100001101110111@reddit
If it’s a pension fund he’s paid in to from his salary you can hardly just confiscate it, it’s his money.
Bigger issue will be potential criminal proceedings.
Iplay1965jaguar@reddit
“Risking”
usrnmz@reddit
r/confidentlyincorrect
accidental-nz@reddit
Confidently American
Holocene98@reddit
Christ that’s stupid
DBHOY3000@reddit
And not something the company can do.
In the Nordic countries pensions are handled by third party pension funds or directly by the individual on a pension account with a broker of your own choice
CreativeParsley8967@reddit
Lmao, kind of doubt it? I’m not familiar with the laws on Iceland but how can they take a way the funds you’ve invested into your pension fund for entire career?
Thomski_@reddit
Guess who pays into the employee’s pension fund
0100001101110111@reddit
…the employee?
Bobcat-2@reddit
Both. I work in the UK and even in private sector my employer pays in 12% of my annual salary to my pension. Even tho I match it, they’re still paying 50% of my pension, so perhaps could remove their contribution if it was legally possible.
Kjartanski@reddit
You obviously dont know icelandic labour laws, the Pension fund is paid into by the employer, on behalf of the employee, once deposited it CANNOT be touched by the company in any way
elchasper@reddit
The company of course. But the company has nothing to do with the pension fund - it’s the employee’s fund so once the money is there, no one but the employee can touch it. Is it different where you’re from?
Primary-Shoe-3702@reddit
Only in America...
Ares__@reddit
Not even in America, OJ got to keep his pension even though the goldmans won a civil suit against him.
Chalky_Cupcake@reddit
The juice stayed loose.
Ares__@reddit
You cant lose your whole pension for getting fired, at least not automatically. They could maybe sue him for this stunt and try and recoup some monetary amount for it but they cant just fire you and say no pension for you. Thats not how that works.
Shadow_Ass@reddit
Ouch. He probably thought that nothing can happen because he isn't working there anymore. Well...
USCJets@reddit
You can't fire me because I am leaving!... waitttt... what do you mean I am getting arrested?!
MeanCat4@reddit
Why? What his pension have to do with that?
keithstonee@reddit
Can't joy ride an airplane just cause you know how to fly it lol
badkapp00@reddit
Not his whole pension. Not the part he's getting from the government required pension.
But if Iceland Air is making additional payments for his retirement he could loose this part. They can fire him for this stunt immediately and stripping him off all future payments and benefits from the airline.
LateMonitor897@reddit
I mean, everyone on his home island witnessed his action and like almost anyone in Iceland will know about it. For me, this would surely be punishment enough.
CalculatorClicker@reddit
Well you see, the thing about doing crimes is that you can be arrested.
In most countries, recklessly endangering hundreds of peoples lives is a crime.
Drunkenaviator@reddit
He'll lose his pilot's license. That's probably it.
Dracogame@reddit
He will get fined for sure for thousands of euros in the best case.
horrorpizza@reddit
*her
CarPhoneRonnie@reddit
sometimes you gotta buzz the tower
damn_near_rectum@reddit
Maybe he already had the number to a truck driving school.
Throckmorton_Left@reddit
Try that again and he'll be flying rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong.
somedude456@reddit
I mean his best friend did dare him to do it.
birkir@reddit (OP)
RÚV reported and included two videos of the flight from the ground.
Vísir just reported that the pilots' conduct has been reported to local police.
Flightradar screenshot I took earlier today:
birkir@reddit (OP)
Vísir further claims the altitude was around or less than 100 meters above Vestmannaeyjar.
Social media was ablaze with comments "with many describing their homes as literally shaking." Some people knew what was going on but others "were out of their minds with fear that a catastrophe was brewing."
CodeCleric@reddit
Of course he's from fucking Vestmannaeyjar, the Florida of Iceland.
samosamancer@reddit
I feel so bad that US cultural hegemony and insularity are such that the world knows they need to use our references when speaking to us.
Also that Florida is a global standard of any sort.
danit0ba94@reddit
As a Florida man, I know the first place I'm visiting when I go to Iceland!
EntityDamage@reddit
They got gators in Vestmannaeyjar?
FixMy106@reddit
They have belugas.
danit0ba94@reddit
They will once I go over there!
Need to find me a big suitcase...
Right_Letterhead_120@reddit
TIL there is a ‘Florida’ of Iceland
hell2pay@reddit
Pretty sure there is a 'Florida' of anywhere.
Jibber_Fight@reddit
What’s the Florida of Florida? Only Floridians should answer.
Gadshill@reddit
Jacksonville.
danit0ba94@reddit
Melbourne.
mberto85@reddit
The pan handle is for sure the Florida of Florida
hell2pay@reddit
I haven't lived in Florida since I was 6 or 7, but Tallahassee or Panama City.
Everglades City held the title in the late 70s, early 80s for sure tho.
T-Bills@reddit
Nah I'd say somewhere like Palatka or somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Both Tallahassee and Panama City are pretty nice.
EntityDamage@reddit
Palatka
Jibber_Fight@reddit
I’ve been there a whole bunch of times so I have some opinions. Just got back from Key West and thought it was actually really nice in general. Panama City was spring break forever ago so it’s probably not a good experience to analyze. I actually really dislike Orlando unless you’re doing the whole Disney thing. Just a sprawling, inland, boring city filled with huge hotels and conference centers. No thanks. West Palm Beach was interesting because it’s obviously a touristy spot and rich, but once you get to the outskirts… oh boy. That’s like every city there tho.
Garfunkeled1920@reddit
Would love to start a list! That would be a great reference for travelers. If you see this and you what “the Florida of [your country]” means, tell us!
T1Demon@reddit
What would the Florida of our universe be?
_gonesurfing_@reddit
Vestmannaeyjar man flies plane too low…
danit0ba94@reddit
Doesnt have the same ring to it. At least not to my American ears.
Perryn@reddit
There's a Florida of my apartment; it's where my dog likes to sleep. Lots of dumb decisions start there.
netopiax@reddit
I'm honestly curious if anyone wants to chime in: what is the Florida of Japan? It's probably the country where I have the hardest time imagining a Florida but I bet it still has one
Kitchen_Swagger@reddit
I'd say Okinawa
WhyModsLoveModi@reddit
Because of all the Americans?
Kitchen_Swagger@reddit
it's also a big, convenient warm holiday place to go in Japan. All that warmth, a bit more laid-back lifestyle. A lot of money tied up in resorts and stuff.
I was there in February last year and it was t-shirt weather, while Sapporo was drowned in snow.
tazerlu@reddit
Not on the moon tho.
muck2@reddit
That's what Musk is trying to do, give it time
Repulsive_Target55@reddit
The moon's all Florida, all the time.
Inevitable-Level-687@reddit
The Florida of Australia is Queensland.
Repulsive_Target55@reddit
*Northern Territory
maxehaxe@reddit
But do they have gators and pedophile golf playing felons?
account_not_valid@reddit
How did he even learn to fly? Do they learn anything there?
CodeCleric@reddit
Some combination of nepotism and corruption, like everything in Vestmannaeyjar.
Mr_bushwookie@reddit
By moving to Reykjavík
CAH1708@reddit
This the best thing I’ve read today.
BIKF@reddit
The same Vestmannaeyjar as where people go to be chief of police after disgracing themselves in Klaustur Bar?
FOKvothe@reddit
Thought that was Grindavíkm
vitki@reddit
That was my first thought as well. Auðvitað er hann úr eyjum.
birkir@reddit (OP)
UPDATE: A former member of parliament Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir who happened to be on the flight said it was a truly amazing experience with loads of applause from passengers.
Icelandair's Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, Arnar Már Magnússon, had different comments:
koshgeo@reddit
Vestmanneaylar is off the southern coast of Iceland and is pretty famous for a volcanic eruption back in the 1970s that started covering the town and almost blocked the harbor.
Checking the map, the highest elevation of the mountain in the background is a little over 200m (!). The ground elevation of the town below is maybe 20 or 30m above sea level.
I think that estimate of "around or less than 100 metres" is correct, leaning on the "less than" side. Wow.
Phiddipus_audax@reddit
Eldfell volcano. Fascinating story in Nat Geo, that's how I learned about the island as well.
FutureHoo@reddit
As is tradition?
firstLOL@reddit
I assume the tradition is to allow for minor variations in route, not this buzz the tower routine.
bardghost_Isu@reddit
Yeah, fly over the hometown at a reasonable altitude makes sense, 100m off the deck in a hilly region is pure idiocy.
TheRealistoftheReal@reddit
I believe about 150m is minimum in U.S. Not sure about Iceland.
Swoop8472@reddit
The 150m only applies above unpopulated areas.
This was above a town thought, so he needed to stay 300m above the highest obstacle within 600m.
Substantial-End-7698@reddit
Just playing devil’s advocate… looking at Google Maps there appears to be an airport on this island. It’s possible he was doing the low pass over the runway. That doesn’t justify it but it does change the context slightly.
BIKF@reddit
The video was taken facing away from the airport. The aircraft passed about half a mile north of the airport fence, over the middle of the town and not moving in the direction of the airport.
Stevethepinkeagle@reddit
“Except for the purposes of taking off or landing.” Was he intending to land the 757 there? If yes, this actually makes it much worse (he wasn’t)
koshgeo@reddit
In the direction he was going it is pretty flat and then there's ocean, so ... yeah, it's still pure idiocy.
BIKF@reddit
It's not even the tower that is being buzzed. The airport is behind and south of the camera that shot this video facing north. He's buzzing the middle of the town.
koshgeo@reddit
Yeah, he was heading west across the town. There wasn't any terrain in front of him, but plenty behind to the north. Wild.
https://www.google.com/maps/@63.4325795,-20.2765239,14.12z/data=!5m1!1e4
luvsads@reddit
A beautiful day for Canada, and therefore, the world
cobbelstoneminer@reddit
Isn't she ravishing.
So pure of heart,
So strong in body,
So hot in the face.
Fl_Funky_Jam@reddit
Winnipeg Drummers playing the "March of a Thousand Farts" as is tradtional for the Canadian Royal Family
whywouldthisnotbea@reddit
People now tossing Captain Crunch as the prince passes by. As is, of course, tradition.
Tenzipper@reddit
"So I tied an onion to my belt, as was the style at the time."
canadaonstryke@reddit
as is tradition
sneijder@reddit
Yes, Icelanders have been operating B757s ever since the ice cap receded enough for paved runways 20,000 years ago apparently.
/s
Worst justification for it.
MauschelMusic@reddit
Since the Vinlandsaga at least, although I think the B stood for Boat back then.
dougmcclean@reddit
And one Admiral's daughter.
Conscious_Quality803@reddit
Penny Benjamin?
JamsHammockFyoom@reddit
Wait, was this a plane full of passengers?
Holy shit 😂
Dont_Care_Meh@reddit
How can these people who were "so scared" possibly be descendants of Vikings? Just go hide under your bed until the scary airplane goes away.
roguemenace@reddit
Somehow I don't think the Vikings ever had to worry they were about to be 9/11ed
Dont_Care_Meh@reddit
Come on, neither do Icelanders. That stunt would be cool to see. Most I ever get are fighters zooming over the house.
CompetitiveSky6605@reddit
Oh yes, plane crashes where dozens of people die are always "cool to see".... honestly, how lame is your life?
reddituseronebillion@reddit
You would think at that AOA the pilots aren't seeing much
sneijder@reddit
…I see it now, he buzzes that island on the South coast ..
https://fr24.com/data/flights/fi521#3f2bfc31
Phiddipus_audax@reddit
I don't think this flight line is accurate since it has him flying over the airport and no houses, unlike the video. There, it looks more like a north-to-south flight over the harbor.
raptorraptor@reddit
You mention two videos in the article and then another third video, but the third video is in the article?
birkir@reddit (OP)
the third video cuts into the third one (it's a two-in-one)
ToddtheRugerKid@reddit
Interesting, pretty sure I've worked on that bird.
inappropriately_long@reddit
I don't know too much about aviation. But did he fly so low that the plane disappeared from the radar map?
TinyDemon000@reddit
Wait this is fucking TODAY?! I thought with the poor camera quality and the fact it was a 757 and the pure insanity of this, that this occured in the 90s
Free-Pound-6139@reddit
Surely they have to report it.
waltur_d@reddit
That second video in the article. “Huh” 😂
Emotional-Ad-6494@reddit
Oh Wowa this happened today!?!
Immediate_Matter9139@reddit
"gone are the good old days, I can't believe I'm being cancelled"
alexos77lo@reddit
Lol I thought this was an old video of like early 2000 when people was more crazy and the video quality was terrible
ts737@reddit
Wtf this happened now? I thought this was from like 20 years or so ago
Smooth-Reading-4180@reddit
bro you should report your own NAA/CAA not goddamn fucking police. p.s. they are also EASA member state. bruh.
clancy688@reddit
I'm wondering about the copilot's role in this...
Did he disagree? Did he go along? If he did I suppose his career is in deep trouble as well.
Far_Gift6173@reddit
Sorry, I'm not a pilot, so I'm asking, can he do anything about it?
What would have been the protocol? switch over the controls to himself (no idea how that works) and forcibly do what?
Worldly_Cap_6440@reddit
The issue is that there isn’t a good protocol, which is why we have men like Nathan Fielder pushing for reform in this industry.
nic-sfr@reddit
Voice his objection and then try to take over by clearly expressing "my controls", and if the captain doesn't comply, there's nothing more he could do that wouldn't make the situation even more dangerous, despite what people might suggest. Physically fighting over flight controls at this altitude would be the exact opposite of "saving" the aircraft.
JanEric1@reddit
Pretty sure you should object WAYYY before you get to that altitude, right? (Still probably not the best thing to physically fight for controls regardless)
boris_keys@reddit
Yeah the decision to go off course like that must have been made still in cruise if not earlier, assuming they programmed the deviation in the box. I wonder where ATC was on this?
For the first officer, the only realistic course of action would have been to clearly object (to protect him or herself in the inevitable investigation). After that I’d go along with the captains plan for safety’s sake if it’s obvious that he didn’t have anything nefarious in mind. Fighting over the controls is insane and shouldn’t happen unless the captain is actively trying to crash the plane.
UnhingedCorgi@reddit
Clearly say no, and then yell it, and then take control. If he’s actively fighting for the controls at this point I’m thinking he wants to crash it, so he’s getting hit.
Far_Gift6173@reddit
Sounds reasonable
anon-mally@reddit
Start flying the plane
blastradii@reddit
Maybe he got tied up?
Any-Calligrapher2866@reddit
I’m waiting for the Mentour Pilot video on this before I get mad
Speshal__@reddit
Ha ha Mentour Pilot just started popping up in my nightly listening feed.
FLABANGED@reddit
Or an Admiral Cloudberg write up.
Actually since she works for Mentour Pilot either one will suffice.
penywisexx@reddit
Somebody had to hold the pilot’s beer.
028247@reddit
Yeah this could very easily have been a planned suicidal flight, only disguised as a retirement stunt. It was their responsibility to prevent that.
sevaiper@reddit
Extremely easily. Honestly copilot deserves serious repercussions for this has to be crystal clear this is absurdly out of the acceptable.
njsullyalex@reddit
CVR will reveal all
Far_Gift6173@reddit
How does the protocol look like in such cases? How can he switch over controls?
Drunkenaviator@reddit
He can't, these people are talking out of their asses. Getting into a fistfight over the controls of an airliner at 100m is ACTUALLY suicidal, rather than letting the guy do his low pass and letting the authorities handle it later.
Far_Gift6173@reddit
Well most of them simply don't knwo better and neither do I.
Some of us remember https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanwings_Flight_9525 so quite honestly this should result in jailtime.
This is like driving a Truck on the sidewalk.
Drunkenaviator@reddit
This is wildly irresponsible, but it's not attempted murder or suicide. Let's calm the fuck down here. If the guy wanted to kill himself he could without issue in any number of ways as the captain of an airliner. There's literally nothing anyone could do to stop him.
Far_Gift6173@reddit
If a truck driver drives at 100mph on the sidewalk, wouldn't you want him to go to jail as well?
Just because noone was hurt, doesn't mean this shouldn't be severly punished.
But are there any legal repercussions? What does the law say to "reckless flying"
AlcherBlack@reddit
Chill out a bit, this is not the same. Is he flying low? Yes. But airliners fly exactly as low, when landing. The only difference is that folks around airports expect this and the folks in this town didn't. The visibility was clear. It's definitely something that should be treated seriously, but nowhere near as "driving on the sidewalk at 100mph".
astralseat@reddit
The copilot must have been terrified AF when the guy started lowering and the nav started screaming to pull up
Elean0rZ@reddit
I'm not defending the pilot's actions, but I think the "this could have been a planned suicide" angle is taking things a bit far. As we've seen, planned suicides don't require ruses like "retirement stunts" to pull off, if a pilot is determined, and they flew even lower than this a couple of minutes later when they, you know, landed. If the pilot wanted to kill everyone, it would have been easier to say "I want the controls for my last landing" and the FO would have happily complied.
It was an unnecessary risk and against protocol. On that basis the pilot shouldn't have done it, and the FO should have talked him out of it (who knows, maybe they did voice their objection). But I don't think there was a unique risk of suicide, or greater responsibility on the FO's part to prevent suicide, here.
JobAnxious2005@reddit
It’s just Sim jockeys talking out of their asses
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Cornul11@reddit
The reddit mindhive strikes again with an uninformed and ignorant opinion
TurbinePro@reddit
Newsflash, if your pilot is suicidal, he can kill you at any time during takeoff and landing. All it takes is a little pull of the lever.
Corona21@reddit
It’s Iceland, it’s the size of a larger town, they know each other.
This is not to excuse his actions or diminish your point. You are right. But it probably didn’t cross the FOs mind like it would in other countries or carriers.
IntoTheCommonestAsh@reddit
Damn, that didn't cross my mind. In his hometown, it's even easy to aim on a specific neighbourhood/house in a murder/suicide attempt.
FiberApproach2783@reddit
Yall need to go outside more often, wtf.
IntoTheCommonestAsh@reddit
How does that relate to what I said? If you think my worry is misplaced then explain why. It's not gonna come to me if I go outside more often.
CessnaBandit@reddit
Prevent it? How? Wrestle with the controls? You’d only end up making it worse
lopsided-earlobe@reddit
No you’re right he should sit there and not act to prevent disaster.
Far_Gift6173@reddit
The issue is seems is: he can't
I mean he is the copilot and you can't switch over controls just like that if the flight pilot has control for safety reasons. I mean it makes sense since a copilot can be just as suicidal as the flight pilot.
And wrestling with the flight pilot over controls is a really bad idea.
I assume the flight pilot announced his plan, copilot voiced hios objection and the flight pilot described what he would do, so that the copilot would not act out. But that's jsut speculation from my part.
I'm not a pilot or involved in air traffic in any way
1aranzant@reddit
that's just... wrong.
Far_Gift6173@reddit
Maybe.
I don't know better.
But I read a reasonable action what to do. No idea what transpired
ActivatingInfinity@reddit
Then why are you commenting?
Far_Gift6173@reddit
Ok, then you tell us what course of action should have been taken
JobAnxious2005@reddit
👀
CessnaBandit@reddit
Didn’t say that at all. What would you think the FO could do?
lopsided-earlobe@reddit
“My aircraft”
drdipepperjr@reddit
Sorry, but my name is First Officer Blunt. Should've expected that.
lopsided-earlobe@reddit
“Pull up!”
CessnaBandit@reddit
Captain won’t let go of the yoke and you aren’t strong enough to overpower him and pull back. Now what?
itsPolarisRadio@reddit
Pull his pants down. He’d be embarrassed and have no choice but to let go of the controls. Your move.
narfel@reddit
Two clowns enter the cockpit and replace the yokes with bananas. Now what?
lopsided-earlobe@reddit
Clock that fucker in the face repeatedly.
patiofurnature@reddit
Disaster?
ThisWhomps999@reddit
You should watch season 2 of The Rehearsal.
warredtje@reddit
Hey David, I’m gonna need you to close your eyes for a few minutes, okay?
RiccWasTaken@reddit
I mean... even for a VFR flight that's kinda too low. Anything above 500ft AGL would be "ok" strictly in flight rules terms, but that seems really too low.
BIKF@reddit
For context, the hills in the background have an elevation of 700ft above sea level. The video is shot from about one nautical mile south of the hills, so with this perspective it seems likely that the peak falls within the 600m radius. In any case, the \~300ft AGL we see here is not close to being legal even if the peaks are sligtly further away.
theyoyomaster@reddit
As someone who is used to flying a large jet at 300 feet, that looks like 300 max.
BIKF@reddit
I think you are right. I looked at some better maps and the camera car is at approximately 280ft MSL. We can see in the beginning of the clip that the aircraft is pretty much on the horizon or very slightly above. The ground elevation in that part of the town is around 100ft, and with the buildings added to that I think we end up close to the lower end of your 150 to 200 estimate.
Phiddipus_audax@reddit
I came up with the same \~200' AGL estimate by looking up the 757 and finding that it's 150' long, and in the video it seems a bit more than its own length above the houses.
theyoyomaster@reddit
Yeah, I didn't do any math or try to actually calculate it, but I've seen plenty of similarly sized planes flying at that approximate altitude and it was definitely low.
kursneldmisk@reddit
You have no idea if he has permission from the competent authority
macroturb@reddit
You don't think the fact that his own employer referred him to the police maybe suggests he didn't?
kursneldmisk@reddit
Of course. You spend 40 years flying professionally, then on your last day you dip a bit low and suddenly it’s a door-kicking police raid. Very believable.
nil_defect_found@reddit
I'm an Airline Pilot. The person you are responding to is quoting Annex 2 regs and their username is the ICAO code for Keflavik. I'm pretty sure they're more clued up than you.
theyoyomaster@reddit
This is not a "bit low" this is absurdly low. Like, military flying over Iran to avoid missiles low. The USAF isn't even allowed to come anywhere near this altitude with passengers unless it is in an active combat zone.
-Kerby@reddit
God damn you're stupid
BIKF@reddit
Since we are discussing things that are "very believable", please tell us more about the competent authority that permitted him to descend that low right next to those hills. Maybe you can squeeze it into the same novella as your door-kicking fantasy?
Gositi@reddit
It gets worse if you know how Icelandic terrain looks. It's all hills.
Rickenbacker69@reddit
Ok, yeah, that's... Not advisable.
thezentex@reddit
What can the police do?
Hourslikeminutes47@reddit
Charge him with public endangerment
thezentex@reddit
They won't. At least not any of the police I've worked with at the airports I've worked at. They would just leave it up the the FAA
bonzothebonanza@reddit
This is giving me flashbacks to the infamous Air Berlin A330 low pass over Düsseldorf Airport, where it flew dangerously near the air traffic control tower.
obalovatyk@reddit
Wasn’t there an Air France crew that did something like this and crashed in the woods?
TabsAZ@reddit
That was part of an actual airshow though and was planned - was the first flight of the A320 type carrying passengers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_296Q
Zhirrzh@reddit
Planned but not planned very well.
AdCheap475@reddit
Yup, in 1988
Tomislav_Stanislaus@reddit
Scetino way to say bye bye.
LowValueAviator@reddit
What are they supposed to do? Agree it was a good idea? If they don’t throw him under the bus, they’ll get in trouble with the aviation authority. He surely expected that.
Digger_Pine@reddit
Is this a translation ting? How can you be 'below altitude'?
subjec@reddit
there are minimum altitude requirements, so "below altitude" means he was below the required minimum altitude for where he was at.
Digger_Pine@reddit
Then say 'below altitude requirements' and say what that is.
As it is, 'below altitude' means nothing
subjec@reddit
i mean, you’re in an aviation reddit, people kind of figure you know some basic terms. 🤷🏻♂️
birkir@reddit (OP)
this is why I included a helpful video accompanying the headline
svt4cam46@reddit
It's time to buzz the tower Goose.
Fisherman_30@reddit
Well that's one way to throw your retirement away. Even though it's his last day, the company could still fire him, and then it's bye bye retirement money.
Funkytadualexhaust@reddit
Pretty sure most pensions dont vanish when your fired. Companies would be firing olds left and right.
JazzyInit@reddit
Yeah it's not the firing itself that'll strip him of his retirement funds, it's the clear-cut and easy-win class-action lawsuit by the city and the passengers.
Rilex1@reddit
Poor first officer.
ionised@reddit
There's low.
There's low.
Then there's... this.
Ok-Bar601@reddit
Dishonourable discharge lol. Fuck it, hope he only gets a slap on the wrist.
PmanquesManques@reddit
Right? Everybody here is so sensitive lol
PmanquesManques@reddit
God forbid men have hobbies
demroidsbeitchn@reddit
When Dad flew corporate out of Morristown muni. NJ in the 70's (about 15 miles from home) he would occasionally overfly our house in either the Falcon 20 or Convair 580 when he was coming home. I never asked what altitude, but looking back it was something like 2000 ft AGL, possibly a little higher. It was always a treat (I can see it right now) and I would bet all five of my limbs that he didn't come close to busting any FAR's. This 757 flyover, conversely, is mind boggling.
Vast-Charge-4256@reddit
Was the captain Francesco Schettino?
CalculatorClicker@reddit
As they should.
RedditLIONS@reddit
Just to be clear, he flew over the runway at Vestmannaeyjar Airport, which is meant for general aviation and small seasonal flights.
… though it’s definitely still a dangerous move.
RocketVerse@reddit
With passengers too
CessnaBandit@reddit
Self loading freight
The_Canadian@reddit
This gave me a great laugh.
Golden_Hour1@reddit
If I saw this as a passenger I'd assume the pilots trying to commit suicide
gefahr@reddit
rushing the cockpit to un-hijack it
RetroDad-IO@reddit
Yeah I don't see how they had a choice here, if they didn't I assume there's a bunch of problems that could cause.
seanconnerysbeard@reddit
"What are they gonna do, fire me?"
Hourslikeminutes47@reddit
"yeah, gonna fire you right into jail pal"
DiscoverySTS1@reddit
"You won't shot me"
bang
Jasminez98@reddit
John Travolta at it again
Secret_Account07@reddit
I know we freak out when it comes to this stuff but this is justified. What the hell was he thinking? That’s low low
os2mac@reddit
considering the fact that there was video of it, I doubt they had a choice. if the didn't report him they could have lost their license to operate.
gymbr02@reddit
All I can hear right now is "pull up"
demzrdumez@reddit
Hell yeah!
aintioriginal@reddit
Good thing he's retiring, or else he would be flying a cargo plane loaded with rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong.
MonsieurLartiste@reddit
He doesn’t have to worry too much about losing his job though.
-SideshowBlob-@reddit
Just his retirement package and his pilots licence
monsteradeliciosa11@reddit
Thats not how pensions work in Iceland and he will probably just get a big fine, prison.
Figure8712@reddit
And his ability to not be in prison. The airline reported him to the police. This was a crime, not some workplace fauxpas. He endangered who knows how many lives.
FiberApproach2783@reddit
If he's doing this, I doubt he wanted to keep his pilots license after retiring lol
Emotional-Ad-6494@reddit
Could someone explain to a newbie why this is so dangerous? Like it obviously looks terrifying but is the low altitude harder to stay level? Sorry if that’s a dumb question
Absulus@reddit
It's just if shit hits the fan there isn't enough altitude to get out of populated area
Emotional-Ad-6494@reddit
Ah thank you! So like if you lose an engine or bird strike?
NoDoze-@reddit
Woa! That is super low. We're people onboard?
avar@reddit
We're not, but they're.
NoDoze-@reddit
Huh!?! Trying to be like Yoda or be funny, none the less, you failed.
fishy_sticks@reddit
Fuckin narcs
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tameimpalarules92@reddit
He was just one day from retirement
Home_Planet_Sausage@reddit
I wonder if that's why he's called Captain Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeve...!
Appropriate-Row4534@reddit
Love this!
Full_Town_8345@reddit
Bunch of narks
helpamonkpls@reddit
https://www.visir.is/g/20262867809d/flug-stjorinn-verid-i-sinu-sidasta-flugi-og-malid-litid-grafalvarlegum-augum
Another angle
Ninjroid@reddit
Looks line an RV park he’s flying over.
Puzzlehandle12@reddit
Hi I am not familiar with aviation - please explain to me why this is a bad thing to do?
Smart_Quantity_8640@reddit
It’s a lot easier to crash into the ground when the ground is closer.
Elfshadowx@reddit
noise and 73,000 pounds of thrust.
WhatveIdone2dsrvthis@reddit
Pull up! Pull up!
z333ds@reddit
Why is it so frown upon?
Sad_Balance4741@reddit
Narc
hgtcgbhjnh@reddit
Pfff, rookie, this is how real pilots risk people's lives.
https://youtube.com/shorts/HNNP3VnR__w?si=_R_fYxSqiZ8FVD2v
Ok-Employment-7176@reddit
D2³2de2dd÷e÷deeeeedeeeeeeeeeedeeeeeed÷e÷ d÷d÷ddd3ee3de3ded3dd÷😀😀😀😀🙃🤫🤫🤫🤫🫥🤫🤫🤫🤫🫥🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫😜🤫🤫🫥🤫🤫🤫🫥🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫😜🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🫥🤫🤫🤫🤫
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AdCheap475@reddit
If my pilot flew this close to ground and theres no runway even remotely close im freaking out. Suprised no one on board filmed it.
dmav522@reddit
Jeez, FIRE HIM WITH CAUSE
ajs2294@reddit
Here’s retiring, doesn’t give a f.
ProteinPony@reddit
You surely do realise that there are more possible consequences than just being fired?
Potential_Seesaw_646@reddit
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
RockMover12@reddit
I was told several decades ago by an Icelandic friend that he had a friend who was a pilot of Iceland Air and was having an affair with a woman in a small village in Greenland. He said every time his pilot flew a plane to Greenland as part of his job, he always buzzed low over her house before landing. That was his message to her that he was in town briefly and she should meet him at the airport for a rendezvous.
Many_Answer7575@reddit
But did he waggle
q3triad@reddit
Send it boys. Hurrah!
Vintagefly@reddit
There goes his airline pension!
SteiniDJ@reddit
Oh he'll definitely keep his pension. Employers in Iceland can't touch it.
KWillets@reddit
That island has an airfield directly adjacent to the town, so I assume the objection is that this plane is a bit larger than the usual ones.
birkir@reddit (OP)
they tried to land a C-17 on that airfield with an orca inside back in 1999, and caused $1 million in damages to the landing gear:
it's unrelated to this entirely but who doesn't like a flying orca
SteiniDJ@reddit
Well, they did land it I guess.
raggedcrib@reddit
A true apex predator
KWillets@reddit
That could technically be her retirement flight as well.
Lalli-Oni@reddit
Seals.
ROBsINtheHOOD@reddit
Leave the guy alone , nobody got hurt , the aircraft was not in danger at any time and it’s great PR for icelandair. Everyone should come visit Iceland. For the views !
No-Program-5539@reddit
“It’s fine because nothing happened” that’s the most retarded way to approach risk management
kanechoz@reddit
There's no place for PR when it comes to breaking aviation safety rules. Never flying Icelandair if this is acceptable
daygloviking@reddit
Yeah but there’s something called acceptable risk in the airline world. He dragged his copilot into that piece of unauthorised showboating, so that’s his shot at command gone for a long time too.
I flew with a former fighter jock. In the airliner, he never went showboating, what he did do was aim to fly as accurately as possible in the recognition that the people down the back were paying to go from A to B and get there safely, and by the blessed Brothers Wright he was there to make that happen.
FutureHoo@reddit
That would’ve been terrifying to witness without context, wtf. What an idiot. Were passengers on board? How was this cleared by ATC?
birkir@reddit (OP)
Yeah this was a regular passenger flight from Frankfurt to Keflavík airport, passengers were notified by the pilot in advance:
1776cookies@reddit
"Tradition" is one thing. Involving passengers is nuts.
daygloviking@reddit
This isn’t tradition
SteiniDJ@reddit
About 25 years ago, I was on a flight with Flugleiðir, which is today Icelandair's domestic branch, where the pilot was flying his last flight before moving to international routes. He pulled a stunt not too dissimilar to this. Immediately after landing, he took off again and spent what seemed to me like an unusual amount of time flying very low over Reykjavík and the harbor before finally landing again. The stewardess informed us that this was tradition. I was young and enjoyed it, but some passengers were at their wits' end with fright, and I personally know someone who dealt with an intense fear of flying for years as a direct result. Ironically that fear was mitigated significantly following a course run by Icelandair where the participants flew an entire flight in the cockpit of a 757.
1776cookies@reddit
Hence the quotation marks
AbletonUser333@reddit
Yeah this guy is dumb as rocks and deserves jail time.
s0ul_invictus@reddit
iotw the passengers were having a blast
BUNNIES_ARE_FOOD@reddit
Oh I'm sure they loved it but they don't necessarily know any better. This was a stupid stunt
s0ul_invictus@reddit
GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT
oioioifuckingoi@reddit
Passengers were informed but were they given a chance to object?
TroublesomeFox@reddit
He did the "hey guys watch this!" But with a plane.
UpsideDownClock@reddit
Sæll, þú hér 😂
No-Program-5539@reddit
Good, he put a lot of people’s lives at risk for no reason.
ez2cyiwon@reddit
I'm guessing this was the finale, after years of bull shitting with his neighbor(s), he can walk down Main street with his head held high & a wink in his eye, " I told you I'd do it! "
sineofthetimes@reddit
How to scare the hell out of an entire town.
zibudotai@reddit
They are coming to land. Oh wait what? Oh no!!
Melodic_Occasion_325@reddit
My family and I were on the plane today, and what can I say? It was wonderful, and the passengers were absolutely delighted.
birkir@reddit (OP)
that I can belive, did you take any pictures or videos?
21MPH21@reddit
Guess it was Go Home Day
Straight to jail with that shit. Seriously, so many hills there. If you've never been you may not know, but that was extremely bad decision making.
cybot2001@reddit
Negative ghostrider the pattern is full...
Buzz407@reddit
Holy dragging it batman!
zippytiff@reddit
Let it go. A moment of totally fine, in a career of total fine. Peace 🙏
burn_ath@reddit
Nice pass, everyone safe after, no hazard done, we got bigger problems on the go.
babyraindrain@reddit
Wtf? Endangering an entire town AND a plane full of passengers is a no harm no foul thing for you? Please tell me you do not work in aviation!
burn_ath@reddit
Really? Read again. We got a rare footage, he was brought to justice, no one was hurt, period. Now, don't we have bigger problems happening? Geez, people are to triggered this days... slow down a notch, for Christ sake.
Ghost_Reborn416@reddit
Man how you get arrested one day before retirement?
thatwasfun23@reddit
oh no! what they are gonna do? ground him? lmao
based pilot
GalacticMe99@reddit
Meanwhile America when their Air Force pilots murder tourists on a joyride in Italy:
SenorNeiltz@reddit
Snitch
Ok-Rooster4713@reddit
This reminds me of the Costa Concordia.
Acrobatic-Peanut-419@reddit
Holy Macaroni! Thats…low…
mrwilliams117@reddit
That is good to hear
Longjumping_Heart658@reddit
I can't find any evidence online that the airline actually reported the pilot.
Can anyone else?
birkir@reddit (OP)
Two of the largest and most reliable news sites in Iceland have both reported it and were told by an Icelandair spokesperson:
https://www.visir.is/g/20262867809d/flug-stjorinn-verid-i-sinu-sidasta-flugi-og-malid-litid-grafalvarlegum-augum
https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2026-04-11-lagflugid-tilkynnt-til-logreglu-472486
Longjumping_Heart658@reddit
Thanks. It doesn't translate well to English. The first article also mentions the pilot may have permission from the tower, but not the airline itself. But again, that could be poorly translate.
Thanks again. Makes the post more legitimate.
Thatsidechara_ter@reddit
OMG i saw the vid and 757 in the title and thought I was about to watch 757 people die
Acc87@reddit
GPS signal cuts out and only connects again in this moment, so while it appears like they did a low pass over this airfield, they probably took a slightly more northern turn between that lighthouse and the sanctuary thing up on that island. Maybe they told ATC that they'd just do am earlier low approach and pass that airfield.
But it's not like the pilot hijacked the jet and took a tour around Iceland, it's on arrival to Reykjavik.
avar@reddit
To Keflavík (KEF), not Reykvík (RKV).
BIKF@reddit
It's much worse than that. The interpolation is not an accurate representation of the real flight path, which was much further to the north. The airport is behind and south of the camera that shot this video, facing north.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SFUvaa6WkrBpfhLLA
Acc87@reddit
that's what i meant with the turn between lighthouse and Beluga Sanctuary
This_Elk_1460@reddit
What a fucking idiotWhat a fucking idiot
zcubed@reddit
Costa Concordia vibes. Good thing it didn't end in tragedy.
Cheers_u_bastards@reddit
Who gives a shit? Let the man enjoy what was clearly a controlled flight for the last time.
marvk@reddit
inches from controlled flight into terrain
Quirky_lemonPie@reddit
Sorry many reasons to give a shit, sorry.
Airurando-jin@reddit
“What are they going to do, fire me ?”
Longjumping_Heart658@reddit
This actually makes the airline less safe, more than more safe.
First, I'm not saying that what the airline did was wrong.
What happens, though, is if there is even a hint of doubt in the best pilots minds about working for the airline, they're not applying and going elsewhere.
Also, seems like an "eff you" move to the pilot. If they did this to a pilot that continuing flying, there would be massive liability to keep him. So, knowing this was his last flight removes the possible liability and makes them look like the "good guy" with the public.
Though, like I said, probably going to make the airline a little bit less safe.
wordsfornobody@reddit
.
vartheo@reddit
Corporate America is overkill in that in finance they send you home early the day before your last. It would make sense here to let them off of their last flight if its a final retirement flight and yoi ain't got nothing to lose... makes sense here
ky7969@reddit
This guy is definitely losing his retirement and probably going to jail
Positive-Hat2127@reddit
What do you mean lose his retirement? I don't think that's likely or even possible.
ky7969@reddit
What would likely happen
FiberApproach2783@reddit
He will at least lose his pilots license, but that's really the only thing that's kind of a guarantee. Possibly jail time, but unlikely.
Positive-Hat2127@reddit
Idk but I don't think anybody can touch his pension. Probably he will get fines or prison. And I assume they will take his license
vartheo@reddit
I wouldn't necessarily say that. Icelandair isn't even American so its not going by the same standard. It all depends... if there were no passengers its less likely for him to lose his retirement etc etc
chillebekk@reddit
I don't think you can lose your pension in the Nordics. Probably not anywhere in Europe, but I can say for sure that it wouldn't happen in any of the Nordic countries.
YodaBMW1972@reddit
Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.”
DXTRBeta@reddit
Sucks to forget how to be a responsible pilot on your very last day!
WeAreAllGoofs@reddit
Does this Boeing 757 blast the pilot with warning alarms like in the movies if it's flying that low?
"Terrain terrain pull up pull up" is all I'm imagining and then the pilot just flips a switch to silence the alarms
headphase@reddit
Yes the 757 has guarded Ground Proximity Warning override switches.
Hot_Dog_Gamer24@reddit
“Let’s make our end memorable!“
Wildfathom9@reddit
"Hey buddy I'm gonna need you to watch for birds and drones, I've always wanted to do this".
Beneficial-Law-9645@reddit
I would let him off if I was in the jury he earned it
flttimehiketime@reddit
Nothing to see here folks
JagsOnlySurfHawaii@reddit
It's not like he didn't have the experience, give him a break, nah fuck it do a barrel roll
Cupcake_Nightmare45@reddit
Was he trying to park it on his drive? Damn that's insane
Beautiful_Nobody7155@reddit
Nothing to lose JOB WISE is a very nice moment in time🏝
BurningPosts@reddit
What a jackass
Dildo_Shaggins-@reddit
Flying is a privilege, not a right. Doesn't matter how long you've been doing it, you don't earn the right to do what you want.
If they weren't cleared to do this I hope they have the book thrown at them.
Alarming-Produce4541@reddit
"Minimums"!
bixtuelista@reddit
maybe I don't know what I'm looking at but it's really scary to see it appear in that nose up attitude and not obviously climbing.
DruPeacock23@reddit
Retirement to jail
justaheatattack@reddit
that could be any 757!
Cheeky_Banana800@reddit
The house cleaning appointments were through the roof the next day in that small town, so many people sh*t themselves hearing and seeing a jet flying so low
moocow38@reddit
Terrible. Your fini-flight shouldn't risk being everyone's fini-flight.
beeeeepboop1@reddit
GEE-SUS CHRIST.
Major_Boot2778@reddit
My grandfather was an army helicopter pilot in the US. My dad still quotes as one of the coolest days of his life, the day my grandfather landed on the playground during recess to bring my dad lunch or something.
Person0249@reddit
The southern coast of Iceland looks like another planet.
Stunningly beautiful country.
dj6586@reddit
Was this a scheduled passenger flight??
erlendursmari@reddit
Yes, from Frankfurt.
ZeneticX@reddit
The plane - Terrain! Terrain! Pull Up!
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Ok_Win590@reddit
I happened to be on the base and heard when a b-52 crashed; the pilot on his retirement flight tried to show off with a steep low turn that got him and his crew killed while his family watched. The notion that the rules can just be broken for the final flight is deadly, I'm glad the pilot got reported.
TheRealistoftheReal@reddit
Because local police has jurisdiction over commercial air traffic?
Drunkenaviator@reddit
I'm fairly certain you could be charged with reckless endangerment regardless of the method used.
_WeStErEq_@reddit
Yeah no, you don't fly a plane you don't own in a way the owner doesn't aproove.
SomeRandomSomeWhere@reddit
So does the copilot get into trouble for allowing the other pilot to do this?
chunt75@reddit
Where’s First Officer Blunt when we need him?
Mountainmanwannabe2@reddit
That’s cold
Due-Button-768@reddit
My friend was probably the flight attendant 😂
LeatherFruitPF@reddit
Tbf it’s a 757
scwol@reddit
Based on the height of a 757 tail, my dodgy analysis puts them less than 200ft AGL.
You would normally expect a minimum of 1000ft over a populated area.
mrholmestv@reddit
One drone in the air too and boom there goes an engine
Telepornographer@reddit
Or, more likely, birds.
cycles_commute@reddit
Terrain, terrain, pull up.
Turbulent_Swimmer900@reddit
That's one way to blow your retirement package
tony_et99@reddit
Like the captain of the Costa Concordia, he deviated from the route to perform a sail-by salute at Isola del Giglio. Then tragedy happened. At least in this pilot event, nothing other than his arrest happened.
Advanced-Net-8119@reddit
everyone hates fun
Golden_Hour1@reddit
Jesus fucking christ the headline did NOT prepare me for that. What kind of an idiot thinks this is ok??
Jim_Beaux_@reddit
I support this sort of piloting
TheOzarkWizard@reddit
Looks like a bit low for an approach. Hes on approach, right?.....right?
Zorops@reddit
Its not like something like this goes unnoticed
boobooaboo@reddit
Fuck yeah.
For legal reasons, feds, that was a joke
Rosomack_@reddit
BWOOP BWOOP. BWOOP BWOOP
mr_kangaroo@reddit
It's fine, it's a 757...
That70sShop@reddit
His throttle foot was tired.
yamthirdnow@reddit
Apart from FO input, shouldn’t there also be ATC input? Did he get permission from ATC?
CouchPotatoFamine@reddit
I know a dude who did this in his F-15 in Pennsylvania. I believe it cost him his career.
bernfranksimo@reddit
So does this get forgiven due to the situation or no?
Mediocre-Disk737@reddit
Even my five year old was like, "why?"
Elrabrel@reddit
One last buzz over the hometown perfect sendoff
arborck@reddit
Guys, let me hijack this thread for a second
I swear to god, I've seen a memo, I think, issued by Icelandair a long time ago regarding unstabilized approaches, and it was the funniest shit I've ever read.
Anyone have seen it, or am I crazy?
PosterAnt@reddit
https://www.aviation-accidents.net/iceland-air-boeing-b757-200-tf-fio-flight-fi315/ this?
arborck@reddit
Interesting read, but, alas no.
I thank you for the answer, though.
It was a memo issued by flight standards, I think, addressing a systemic problem within company ops, regarding an abnormal number of unstabilized approaches that were occurring for a time.
With a bunch of examples.
I remember one example being a flight that didn't stabilize the approach until well below 500ft or something like that.
One sentence that comes to mind was "Why can't we fly stabilized approaches?"
It was funny stuff. I've seen it maybe 10 years ago. Have been looking for it ever since, google, scribd, everywhere, but can't find it.
michimoby@reddit
Waiting for someone to put this to a Sigur Rós song
MEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Smart_Variety2262@reddit
Goose, it’s time too bust the tower
Original-Let8340@reddit
Jokes are not allowed on Reddit anymore. You're the one gonna be reported now.
Bolter_NL@reddit
*buzz.
Goose couldn't fly the plane though.
YU_AKI@reddit
Negative Ghost Rider, the þattern is full
PossibilityNo6206@reddit
Wasn't even that low??
caaper@reddit
At least he won't be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong
chebysilberader@reddit
worth it tbh
vaping_menace@reddit
TERRAIN!! TERRAIN!! TERRAIN!!
lol
daygloviking@reddit
TOO LOW GEAR
TOO LOW FLAPS
Secret_Section6280@reddit
Should have done a victory roll.
ACynicalOptomist@reddit
I'm sitting outside by my pool and I have Marine Corps helicopters flying over my house. I can see their faces as they have the door open, sitting on the side of the helicopter halfway in halfway out. Those fuckers are loud. Always gets your heart pumping. I can't imagine how it is in a war zone
I-LOVE-TURTLES666@reddit
Well that was fucking ballsy Jesus
RusticPotatoFan@reddit
I know that radio station! Iceland reggae was my main jam while visiting the island.
birkir@reddit (OP)
it's the song Lof by Hjálmar (around 2:40), fantastic chill vibes
RangerSad3081@reddit
When did this happen
PosterAnt@reddit
a few hours ago
beautiful-oblivion@reddit
Today lmao
matchooooh@reddit
When my upstairs neighbor is too loud, I would just bang on the ceiling with a broom stick. Never thought I could do it with a moving 757.
birdsword@reddit
I am stunned. Just sit back and Reykjavík all in.
slogive1@reddit
Ouchie. That sucks to be him.
Comfortable-Knee8852@reddit
Angels 0.15
ky7969@reddit
With passengers BTW
Acrobatic-Post9811@reddit
Too low! Terrain! Terrain! Pull-up! Pull-up! 😱
Craftofthewild@reddit
So they could have grounds to terminate him and seize his pension lol
Thossi99@reddit
The people in town were terrified cause it was so low and houses were shaking so hard that a lot of people thought the plane was crashing. They talked about it in today's evening news.
PoppedCork@reddit
A responsible airline
juanmlm@reddit
Show of force