Senator takes a hands-on approach to battle ‘air rage’

Benjamin Grove

Monday, June 5, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

Benjamin Grove

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, author of "air rage" legislation in Congress, stepped in to break up a nasty marital spat during a recent cross-country flight.

Reid was sitting in coach with wife Landra on an America West flight from Baltimore to Las Vegas on May 25 when a couple seated across the aisle from the Reids were drinking alcohol and becoming intoxicated, Reid chief-of-staff Susan McCue said.

The two then began arguing, McCue said. Reid told the couple to calm down, with little effect.

"It started as a verbal argument," McCue said. "They were both drinking, and the man started hitting the woman."

Reid tried to call for an attendant, but none appeared.

So Reid, a former amateur boxer and boxing referee, intervened and separated the two and sat down between them.

"He sat between them for the remainder of the flight," McCue said. "All was quiet after that. The gentleman either fell asleep or pretended to be asleep. The fighting stopped. After they landed she quickly took off ahead of her husband."

McCue said the two likely did not know Reid was a U.S. senator.

Reid sponsored a bill, now law, that stiffens punishments for unruly airline passengers. The legislation increased the civil penalty to $25,000 for anyone who has posed a threat to the aircraft or passengers through their behavior.

The incident involving Reid was first reported in today's issue of Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper. Reid could not be reached for comment today because he was flying from Nevada to Washington.