While We're Talking About Emergency Landings...

[JTWood]

LIMA, Peru — Pilots of a chartered jet carrying 289 Gambian soccer fans faked the need for an emergency landing in Peru so passengers could watch their nation's team play a key match, officials said Wednesday.

The plane, claiming to be low on fuel, landed Tuesday in Peru's northern coast city of Piura, where Gambia played Qatar in the FIFA Under-17 World Championships later that night.

Emergency crews were scrambled ahead of the Lockheed L-1011 Tri-Star's unscheduled landing. It was to have landed in the capital, Lima.

The fans were allowed to watch the soccer game in Piura, which Gambia won 3-1. The fans apparently would have been late or missed the game if the flight had first gone to its scheduled destination of Lima, 550 miles to the south.

"It truly was a scam," said Betty Maldonado, a spokeswoman for Peru's aviation authority, CORPAC. "They tricked the control tower, saying they were low on fuel."

Maldonado said the plane, owned by Air Rum, flew directly to Piura, entering Peruvian airspace "without permission," instead of approaching Lima. She said the flight was chartered by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.

Kinda funny, but mostly disturbing...

[acsguitar]

LIMA, Peru — Pilots of a chartered jet carrying 289 Gambian soccer fans faked the need for an emergency landing in Peru so passengers could watch their nation's team play a key match, officials said Wednesday.

The plane, claiming to be low on fuel, landed Tuesday in Peru's northern coast city of Piura, where Gambia played Qatar in the FIFA Under-17 World Championships later that night.

Emergency crews were scrambled ahead of the Lockheed L-1011 Tri-Star's unscheduled landing. It was to have landed in the capital, Lima.

The fans were allowed to watch the soccer game in Piura, which Gambia won 3-1. The fans apparently would have been late or missed the game if the flight had first gone to its scheduled destination of Lima, 550 miles to the south.

"It truly was a scam," said Betty Maldonado, a spokeswoman for Peru's aviation authority, CORPAC. "They tricked the control tower, saying they were low on fuel."

Maldonado said the plane, owned by Air Rum, flew directly to Piura, entering Peruvian airspace "without permission," instead of approaching Lima. She said the flight was chartered by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.

Kinda funny, but mostly disturbing...

Um....Note to self don't fly in south america

[Madison]

Hang them!

[WharfRat]

A) This was an under-17 match?? So it wasn't even the real national team? That makes it even worse. B) I see the flight had been chartered by the Gambian president. Tells you all you need to know about their government right there.

At least they didn't crash in the mountains and turn to cannibalism.

[Lofunzo]

That's terrible.

[HiddenIdentity]

That's awesome

[mweir145]

Shows you how important soccer is down there...

[PlayingWithFire]

Shows you how important soccer is down there...

here we go, the post I've been waiting. What happen if 60 American with SuperBowl ticket living in England get on a plane to LA when the SuperBowl is in Detroit and that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

[mweir145]

Shows you how important soccer is down there...

here we go, the post I've been waiting. What happen if 60 American with SuperBowl ticket living in England get on a plane to LA when the SuperBowl is in Detroit and that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

Well, for me personally, I wouldn't be dumb enough to go aboard a plan to LA, I'd go to Detroit.

[Madison]

Shows you how important soccer is down there...

here we go, the post I've been waiting. What happen if 60 American with SuperBowl ticket living in England get on a plane to LA when the SuperBowl is in Detroit and that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

I would expect the military to shoot that plane down.