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HUNTINGTON
LI man arrested in air rage case
By Alfonso A. Castillo
Staff Writer
September 16, 2004
A spirited debate on presidential politics aboard an Alaska-bound airplane has turned into an international incident, and left a Huntington Station retiree locked up in a Canadian jail on criminal charges, authorities said yesterday.
Michael Husar, 58, was arrested Friday after allegedly having an alcohol-induced bout of air rage aboard a Northwest Airlines flight to Anchorage, which was diverted to Winnipeg, Manitoba, because of the incident.
Husar, a retired registered nurse at the Northport VA Medical Center, faces local Manitoba provincial charges of causing a disturbance and criminal mischief that caused damages over $5,000 Canadian, the latter of which is punishable by two years in prison. He also faces a less serious federal charge of violating federal aeronautics regulations.
"He's mad as hell," said Husar's Canadian attorney, John Corona, adding that Husar plans to sue the airline.
Husar boarded Flight 849 in Minneapolis on his way from New York to visit some friends in Alaska, his wife, Linda, said yesterday. Officials said Husar, a supporter of Sen. John Kerry, was engaged in a discussion on the upcoming presidential election with a woman seated next to him - a President George W. Bush supporter - when she became turned off by his belligerent attitude and complained to the flight staff.
The woman also did not like that Husar would touch her leg and shoulder when he spoke to her, authorities said. Corona said Husar had "had a few drinks."
Russell Ridd, supervising senior crown attorney for the Manitoba Justice Department, said that when flight attendants approached Husar, he became enraged, deliberately spilling a container of alcohol and engaging in "the boisterous behavior of a drunk."
Ridd said the pilot deemed the situation "a minor emergency" and called for an abrupt landing. An armed marshal sat next to Husar until the plane reached a Winnipeg airport, where Husar was kicked off and promptly arrested.
"It strikes me as a bit of an overreaction," said Corona, adding that Husar quickly calmed down on the plane after being reprimanded. "There was no threat or no violence. Certainly nobody was at risk safety-wise."
But Northwest spokesman Thomas Becher said the emergency landing was necessary. "Safety and security is our top priority," he said.
Husar posted $4,300 Canadian bail yesterday on the charges and was free to return home, on several conditions, including that he not fly or possess any alcohol. Corona said the airline is also seeking $10,000 in fuel costs from Husar.
At Husar's home yesterday, his wife said she was very concerned and upset over the incident, adding that she had only heard once from her husband, shortly after he was arrested. Linda Husar said it sounded as if he may "have had a little too much to drink," but she believed authorities overreacted. She said her husband, who worked at the VA hospital for 25 years, is a "very patriotic" Air Force veteran, who's recently been "disappointed" with President Bush. She also said Husar tends to be "animated" in conversations.
"I'm disappointed that his vacation got messed up," she said.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
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