Canadians come to air rage chip man's rescue

OUR ANDREW THOMAS may have upset some Canadians , but it seems that Intel's employee David McAuliffe's spot of bother may have been worse had he landed somewhere other than Manitoba.

For the local Irish Association of Manitoba heard of McAuliffe's plight and came to his aid.

McAuliffe was charged with air rage after a cocktail of alcohol and Valium caused him to lose it mid-air, forcing a Phoenix-bound British Airways plane to make an unscheduled stop in Winnipeg a week ago Saturday.

After three nights in clink and facing a $15,000 bill for causing the plane to divert to Winnipeg, McAuliffe would no doubt have been relieved to see representatives of the Association turn up and take him into their care.

"It's been a long two days," Association board member John Keely told the Winnipeg Free Press (sub required) after taking McAuliffe on a tour of the locale and helping out with his administrative bother.

McAuliffe, he said, was in a "highly emotional state".

The newly-promoted, somewhat anxious flyer was facing more nights behind bars before the Association stepped forward and offered to take him under its wing. An Association member offered to put the unfortunate up and, no doubt, keep an eye on him.

And, with help from the Association's members, ha was able to fly home thanks to Air Canada. "British Airways probably doesn't want to see him again, but we've spoken to Air Canada and there's no problem. They'll take him home," said Keely. µ

See Also
Chip man faces fear and loathing in Winnipeg

L'INQ
Arizona Central