Captain Steeeve listens to the radio calls of Saudia 021 Heavy, a Boeing 777 on a flight of about 14 hours from Saudi Arabia to JFK. He expects four pilots on board. A passenger in the back has got out of control, and the crew wait until they are within radio range of JFK to ask for security at the gate. He points out that the pilot is working in a second language and struggling for words, and that being rude to someone in authority can be an offence in Saudi Arabia, which may colour how the crew describe the passenger.

Approach, ATIS and seat 58 Bravo

As the flight sets up for arrival, the crew ask which approach is in use for runway 22 left. The controller assigns the RNAV X-ray approach and asks them to verify Delta. Captain Steeeve explains that X-ray, Yankee and Zulu are variations of the same approach and that Delta is the current ATIS, the automated weather and airport information that is updated at least every hour. He also explains what normally happens at the gate: everyone stays on board while security comes on, the crew point out the passenger and security escorts that person off. The crew then report an unruly passenger at seat 58 Bravo. That surprises him, because the 777s at his own company did not have 58 rows.

The threat level question

A controller asks for the threat level of the passenger. Captain Steeeve is not sure whether these levels are an ICAO or a US matter, and the pilot does not seem to know what is being asked. After asking the controller to say again, the pilot answers that the passenger is awake but very rude to the cabin crew. Captain Steeeve suspects there is more to it, because a passenger who pushes back against the crew and ignores their commands is what turns rudeness into a threat level. The aircraft rolls out and taxis to the gate, where security meets it.

His own drunk passenger on the way to India

He then tells a story from a long flight from JFK to India. A passenger kept drinking after the flight attendants cut him off, got other passengers to buy him drinks and argued with the crew until one flight attendant was in tears. After several calls to the flight deck, Captain Steeeve put on his hat and coat at the start of his break and walked back. He asked the man whether he wanted to go to India, then told him that if he heard about him once more he would drop him in one of the stands, meaning Kazakhstan. The passenger called him a man of respect, promised no more problems and slept for the rest of the flight. Captain Steeeve closes by saying that the Saudia crew handled their situation very professionally.