Hell's Flight: How a Wall Street Banker Turned an Airplane into a Public Restroom (6 photos)

In the 1990s, safety measures in passenger aviation were not particularly strict. Passengers were forgiven many liberties that today might easily lead to an emergency landing and police being called. And unpleasant situations were less frequent—people were more disciplined and simpler. That's why the incident that occurred on Flight 976 from Buenos Aires to New York on the night of October 19-20, 1995, shocked the crew and outraged the public.





An Uneasy Passenger

Events began unfolding even before the plane took off. One of the first-class passengers decided to indulge in a couple of glasses of champagne. The alcohol quickly took effect, and by the time the plane taxied to the runway, the bubbly drinker was demanding to be moved to the crew rest area. He refused to sit in his designated seat, claiming it was "smoky."



The flight was operated by a Boeing 767-300.

The flight attendant politely refused the passenger, to which he reacted inappropriately. He began pacing the cabin, cursing at the flight attendants. While passing, the troublemaker snatched a bottle of champagne from the cart, and the flight attendant's attempt to retrieve it was unsuccessful. As the plane took off, the passenger seemed to be calmed down. He handed over the bottle and even took his assigned seat.

But the peace in first class was short-lived. Soon, the passenger demanded red wine. The crew members were wary of giving the troublemaker alcohol, but they were even more afraid of starting another row. So they brought the man wine. But the glass didn't satisfy him—the hooligan snatched the entire bottle from the flight attendant and placed it next to himself. No one responded. Thanks to the crew's restraint, silence finally reigned in the cabin.

Fecal Confusion

Lunchtime arrived, and the troublemaker ate calmly. He washed it down with wine from a trophy bottle, which quickly escalated. Suddenly, the passenger jumped up, ran across the cabin, and, pushing aside the galley curtain, disappeared into the service area. The flight attendant, rushing after him, saw the troublemaker climb onto the drinks cart, pull down his pants, and spill a whole bunch of poop.





A passenger seat in first class on a Boeing 767-300

After the incident, the rowdy passenger calmly climbed off the trolley, stepping in his own excrement, and headed for the first-class restroom. Locking himself inside, he refused to come out, despite the crew's entreaties. While one crew member argued with the man through the door, the other cleaned up the aftermath of his performance. They cleaned up the feces, and attempted to mask the terrible smell by spraying perfume throughout the cabin. Eventually, the rowdy passenger was coaxed out of the restroom and led by the arms to his seat. There he immediately fell asleep, bringing a sigh of relief to all the first-class passengers.

The captain had already requested an emergency landing in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, but was denied. Portuguese President Mário Soares and Argentine Foreign Minister Guido Di Tella were on the flight. They were in a hurry because they were heading to celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Furthermore, San Juan believed they couldn't ensure the politicians' safety.

Why the President is to Blame

By the time they landed at New York Airport, the troublemaker was fast asleep. As soon as the plane came to a stop, security officers and FBI agents burst into the cabin. They quickly and roughly restrained the troublemaker. Now it's time to reveal who this troublesome first-class passenger was. No, he wasn't a punk rock star or an eccentric, hard-drinking artist.



Gerard Finneran (left)

The "asshole" turned out to be respectable 52-year-old banker Gerard Finneran. An impeccable family man and executive director of a Wall Street investment firm, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and a prestigious business school, Finneran had never been caught doing anything like this before.

At the police station, Finneran offered elaborate and absurd excuses. By this point, most of the alcohol had cleared from his system, and the banker was incredibly ashamed of his behavior. At first, he flatly denied any involvement in the crime. Then he changed his story and said diarrhea was to blame.



Portuguese President Mário Soares

Finneran blamed the Portuguese president for his outrageous behavior. According to the detainee, the politician's security guards prevented him from using the nearest restroom, prompting him to allegedly go to another one in the cabin, but "failed to report it." These excuses were ridiculous, and the businessman himself knew it.

Expensive Entertainment

Gerard's case was referred to court, and, as expected, he was found guilty. Finneran was fined $5,000 and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service. He also had to pay for dry cleaning of the plane's interior and reimburse passengers for their tickets. The total cost was a hefty $50,000.



Unfortunately, history is silent on Portuguese President Soares's reaction to the incident. Gerard Finneran became a celebrity, although, as you can imagine, his fame did not bring him joy. He died in 2004 from Alzheimer's disease. In his final years, the banker was actively involved in social and charitable activities.

This story is a striking example of how one immoderate weakness can have serious consequences. Today, a similar incident would likely cause even greater public outcry, given how stringent in-flight safety regulations have become. Do you think modern aviation security measures are justified, or do they sometimes go beyond reasonable limits? Share your opinion in the comments!