"Don't eat Mabel's baked beans before a September 11 flight," was the response given by Willy Grey to officials after an American Airlines flight was escorted to Atlanta by F-16 fighter jets.
Flight personnel alerted the pilot after noticing two passengers making several trips to the bathroom during a Burlington to Atlanta flight.
Grey and his wife Sally Grey of Harfold, Vermont, had enjoyed Mabel's delicious, but potent baked beans at a church supper the night before. With no time to hit the facilities before boarding their early morning flight to Atlanta, the Greys could all but wait until the pilot had turned off the fasten-seatbelt sign.
"Either it was 'get to the bathroom'," said Sally Grey, "or go right there in my pants."
Flight attendants grew particularly uneasy at sounds similar to fire crackers emanating from the bathroom while Willy Grey occupied the stall.
"Mabel's bean farts," said Grey, "are something wicked. There ain't no doubt about it."
