Flight Diverted After 'Unruly' Duo Demands Champagne

German couple says they were never served food, drinks ... or even water
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 16, 2012 6:53 AM CST
Flight Diverted After 'Unruly' Duo Demands Champagne
In this Thursday, Aug 4, 2011 photo, a Delta Airlines plane sits at a jetway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in Atlanta.   (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A Delta flight en route to Costa Rica was diverted to Florida last night, after a German couple allegedly became "unruly," demanding champagne and food. Officials say Peter and Gabriele Strohmaier, who had flown into the US from Germany earlier in the day, were first-class passengers and refused to sit down during the argument. The Strohmaiers tell the AP the situation has been "exaggerated enormously" and they simply had concerns about the food and beverage service, and were never served food or even water.

"No, we were not standing," says Mrs. Strohmaier, adding that she and her husband feel "terribly insulted." She says the trouble began when her husband asked for champagne and was told it had run out; the flight attendant then reportedly just walked away. Her husband says he "did nothing except to say I would like to have the meal and so on ... all normal things." The plane, which had taken off from Atlanta and landed in Tampa, went on to Costa Rica after the Strohmaiers left; the Strohmaiers say they will "take another airline, naturally not Delta" to get to their destination. (More diverted flight stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X