DRUNK IN 'PLANE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 129, 3 June 1930, Page 8

DRUNK IN 'PLANE.

PILOT FIGHTS PASSENGER.

LUCKY BLOW SAVES SIX LIVES

"I HAD TO HIT THE GUY."

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14,

One of the most terrifying experiences ever chronicled in the new method of air transportation was that which occurred in the environs of New York, when for two minutes two men fought fiercely with fists in an -aeroplane a half-mile above Long Island City.

Then the man whose victory meant life for the six won. with a knockout punch to the jaw of the man whose triumph would have sent them all crashing.

The first fight for the hair-trigger stick of the big Bellanca passenger carrier left two women spectators in hysterics and two men speechless. . The hero, Tex Andling, a stripling with a slow Texas drawl, explained ,later: "I had to hit the guy after he damn near sent us into a foop—and if I had had a hammer I would have hit him with that."

Andling had taken off at 2 p.m. with two women and three men. As soon as they were in the air the man seated directly behind Andling hiccoughed: "Lemme fly—l can fly." The pilot paid no attention to the drunken man," whose fellow passenger yelled, "Cut it out, Guiseppe." Lurching forward, while the women screamed, the alcoholic reached for the stick. Andling hunched over and tried to push him back. The drunk swung at the pilot, crying, "Get out of here and let me fly."

The Texan held the stick with his knees as he shot his fist to the head of ,his opponent, who returned the punches and began climbing over the pilot. By this time the aeroplane commenced swinging unevenly, and Andling, yelling the women to calm themselves, sent a lucky blow to the drunk's chin, laying him out, and succeeded in landing his ship immediately. The unruly passenger was ejected from the aeroplane, and while Andling prepared to take off again with the other four passengers the drunken man began throwing stones at the aeroplane." Two mechanics seized him and turned him over to a policeman. But when Andling refused to press a charge against the offender the policeman drove him off the field and permitted him to disa-" w ?ar.