Fernseh-Produzent schickt Live-Tweets von Streit in den Lüften

Los Angeles (US-Bundesstaat Kalifornien) – Wir alle kennen die Situation: Ein Zug bleibt mitten auf der Strecke stecken, ein Flugzeug steht stundenlang auf der Startbahn und kann nicht abheben. Und immer ist ein Passagier dabei, der deswegen den Zug- oder Flugbegleitern die Arbeit zur Hölle macht. Als ob diese etwas an der Situation ändern könnten.

Der amerikanische Fernsehproduzent Elan Gale (“The Bachelor”) hat am Donnerstag eine ganze Reihe an Live-Tweets von solch einer Situation verschickt. Er war auf dem Weg von New York nach Phoenix mit einem Anschlussflug nach Los Angeles. Donnerstag war in den USA Thanksgiving – der wichtigste Feiertag für Amerikaner. Mittwoch ist deshalb der verkehrsreichste Tag in den USA. Wer erst am Donnerstag fliegt, hofft, noch rechtzeitig heim zu kommen.

Genau dies war die Situation auf dem Flug, als eine Passagierin namens “Diane” völlig durchdrehte. Gale berichtete davon in einer Reihe von Live-Tweets, die Diane zum Gelächter in social media in den USA machte.

Aber es gab auch kritische Stimmen. Der Fernsehproduzent habe zwar Recht mit seiner anfänglichen Kritik gehabt, die Frau aber anschließend bewusst provoziert.

Schlimmer noch: Wie ein Blog später schrieb, soll “Diane” Lungenkrebs im Endstadium haben. Sie sei so unbeherrscht gewesen, weil sie ihr Thanksgiving ein letztes Mal mit der Familie habe feiern wollen. Das war ihr nicht vergönnt: Sie verpasste ihren Anschlussflug und musste das Fest in einem Hotel verbringen. Und normalerweise sei “Diane” ganz anders – sie sei die Lieblingstante all ihrer Nichten und Neffen.

Hätte Elan Gale also anders handeln müssen? Hätte die Frau sich trotz ihrer Krankheit benehmen müssen?

Ein Protokoll der Live-Tweets

Our flight is delayed. A woman on here is very upset because she has Thanksgiving plans. She is the only one obviously. Praying for her

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

She's telling the flight attendants that it is Thanksgiving. She wants them to know she wants to have dinner with her family

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

The male flight attendant said "I understand ma'am. I'm looking forward to seeing my family too." She responded "This isn't about you"

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Her family is very important to her, she says. Her family has a special recipe for stuffing. She needs to be there to help. It is crucial

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

She has a connecting flight. Why doesn't anyone understand she has a connecting flight? Why do people not understand her needs?

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

"Today is Thanksgiving! I'm supposed to be with my family. NOT with you people I barely know!"

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

She had to sit down because we took off. She has been muttering "about DAMN time" and I can hear her breathing from 5 rows back

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I sent the lady a glass of wine and a note pic.twitter.com/GttnmQI25P

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

She's pushing her call button a lot

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

The male flight attendant is giving me the "let's just pretend this never happened" face. Shaking his head a lot

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

He gave me two little bottles of vodka but he won't hand them to her. He says I have to do it myself

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Oh my God I did it I walked as if I was going to the bathroom and I leaned over and put them on her tray table and walked away Oh my God

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

She just stared at me like REALLY hard. She was breathing through her teeth and I think she just couldn't believe I was doing that

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I'm not going to lie I am shaking this is so terrifying she is so angry at me it's kind of incredible

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I don't really know what to do now I'm afraid to get out of my seat. This is like being on a roller coaster I'm scared and super excited

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

The male flight attendant just handed me a note from 7A

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

From 7A pic.twitter.com/OEaCWw5mz3

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

This means war

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Well I don't know what I'm going to so next but I've got two hours left on this flight and I'm going to retaliate

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Diane is in her late 40s or early 50s. She is wearing mom jeans and a studded belt and she is wearing a medical mask over her idiot face

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I'm writing a note as we speak

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I just walked by her and said "I'll be back shortly." Then I stopped and took this picture and smiled at her pic.twitter.com/dNWMMXE2cc

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I have delivered the note

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

My response to "Diane" in 7A pic.twitter.com/cRN2togLdq

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I can hear her breathing

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I have received a response from 7A

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Diane has responded #TeamElan #7A #DianeCanEatMyD pic.twitter.com/vYFyGtGMZl

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I am working on my response at the moment

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Landing in 15 minutes!

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

My final (I think) note to Diane in 7A pic.twitter.com/SLrOug9U4d

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I have landed in Phoenix. No sight of authorities yet

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Well, "Diane" just slapped me

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Okay guys I'm up in the air. Here's how it all played out…

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

When I got off the plane I waited for her at the gate. I was holding another note in my hand and I was going to give it to her

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

She walked right up to me and slapped me immediately in the face

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

The gate agent for the next flight actually grabbed her and held her back. He asked me if I wanted to have the airport police come over

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I said no

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

He said "no"

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

I laughed. And then the gate agent said "Are you sure you don't want to talk to the police? You can if you want to"

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

And I said "No. It's okay. I understand. But I do have a note for her." And I handed it to her and I walked away

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

The note said…

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

"Diane, allow me to introduce myself. I am TheYearOfElan…"

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

"Look me up online. Read every tweet. Read every response. And maybe next time you'll be nice to people who are just trying to help"

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Let me just say this: What started off as an annoyance became a pleasure because of you people. Seriously. More than anything. I love you

— elan gale (@theyearofelan) 28. November 2013

Update: Wie Elan Gale später betonte, war die gesamte Auseinandersetzung erfunden.