Sacramento-Bound Woman At Center Of Public Twitter Battle With TV Producer
PHOENIX (CBS13) - There was no holiday cheer from one passenger after she threw a tantrum to US Airways flight staff. TV producer Elan Gale started tweeting about it from his seat and got into a note passing battle with the woman.
He says the woman worried about missing Thanksgiving dinner in Sacramento was incredibly rude to the flight attendants.
We can all get a little impatient at airports, but you might think twice about acting out on a flight after hearing this one.
"It's crazy all the flights are full, but everyone's in a good mood, everyone's happy," said a flight attendant.
Gale started tweeting from his seat.
"Our flight is delayed. A woman on here is very upset because she has thanksgiving plans. She is the only one obviously. Praying for her," he tweeted.
"She's not the only one out here waiting to get home!" said an airline traveler.
Clearly. But she was losing it over missing her connection to Sacramento, allegedly saying, "Today is Thanksgiving! I'm supposed to be with my family. Not with you people I barely know!"
They finally took off from New York, but this flight feud was just getting started. Elan sent her a little present.
"Dear lady in 7a -- It has come to my attention that today is your "Thanksgiving"! It must be hard not to be with your family. Please accept this glass of wine. It is a gift from you to me. Hopefully if you drink it, you won't be able to use your mouth to talk. Love, Elan"
"She needed to chill out and i think the glass of wine might've helped!" said an airline traveler.
He even dropped off two travel-size bottles of vodka. It made her even madder, as she fired back:
"Dear 'Elan'
The wine wasn't funny. The vodka wasn't funny. You're an awful person with no compassion. I'm sorry for your family that they should have to deal with you.
Diane"
Elan tweeted: "this means war"
"She was rude and he had a sense of humor!" said.
His response, in part:
"Dear Diane, the person who lacks compassion is you. We all want to get home, particularly the nice men and women who fly you around. I hate you very much."
He ended it with something we can't repeat.
Diane shot back:
"Elan this is inappropriate beyond belief. I will be speaking to the authorities when we land."
When they touched down in Phoenix things really escalated.
"She walked right up to me and slapped me immediately in the face," he tweeted.
"She should have had her medicine before she left home (laughs)," said an airline traveler.
Elan handed her one last note:
"Diane, allow me to introduce myself. I am @theyearofelan... look me up online. Read every tweet. Read every response. And maybe next time you'll be nice to people who are just trying to help"
And apparently he has lots of supporters. He went from 35,000 to more than 90,000 Twitter followers literally overnight.
In a blog about the incident Elan admits he can come across as abrasive, but he wanted to make a simple point: don't be rude to people doing their jobs, especially on a holiday.
US Airways told us they've reached out to both parties, but have not heard back from either.
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