On this day in 2000, Bryan Ferry settled back in his seat hoping to catch a few winks.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

http://www.thisdayinrock.com/index.php/general/2000-roxy-musics-lead-smoothie-bryan-ferry-settles-back-in-his-seat/

2000 – Roxy Music’s lead smoothie Bryan Ferry settles back in his seat hoping to catch a few winks before his flight lands in Nairobi when the plane cockpit is stormed by a man intent on flying the British Airways jet into the ground. Fortunately, he’s overcome in a struggle and Ferry is free to make us swoon as he croons for another day.

British Airways Flight 2069

British Airways Flight 2069 was a scheduled passenger flight operated by British Airways between Gatwick, England and Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Nairobi, Kenya. At 5 am on 29 December 2000, a mentally ill passenger stormed the cockpit and attempted to hijack the aircraft. Captain William Hagan and his crew were able to apprehend the assailant while first officer Phil Watson regained control of the aircraft, quickly bringing the situation under control.
....

Incident

Around 5 am local time, the cockpit of a Boeing 747-400 on a British Airways scheduled flight from Gatwick to Jomo Kenyatta Airport was stormed by a mentally unstable Kenyan passenger named Paul Mukonyi. Grabbing the yoke, he tried to execute a route change, which resulted in a struggle between him and First Officer Phil Watson that caused the aircraft to stall and plunge towards the earth. This struggle was joined by Captain Hagan, who had gone for a rest break just before the attack. Two passengers in the upper deck were able to assist in wrestling Mukonyi from the yoke. Violent pitch changes were responsible for minor injuries among four passengers; one of the stewardesses broke her ankle. After landing in Nairobi, Mukonyi was transferred to the authorities. The actions right after the apprehension were recorded on a video camera by the son of the English singer Bryan Ferry; both were passengers on the flight. Mukonyi was in fear of being followed and was trying to kill those whom he deemed to be a threat, i.e. the entire complement of passengers and crew.

Brush with death: Bryan Ferry, left, looks on as BA hijacker is restrained.

Here's the minimum daily requirement of Bryan Ferry for the entire weekend:

[underpants]

1. Pre 9/11?

I wasn't aware of this.

[LisaM]

2. Wow, I don't remember this story at all.

Of course, I was distracted by the recount and all the horror associated with that, but still.