Anyone been caught up in one of these, or similar incidents?

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...101-28m0q.html

Nope, but these stories are credible and believable. And I agree that it's fairly common.

Yes, sadly, it appears to be the case -

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...101-28m0q.html

Flying with a crew under duress is not exactly an appealing prospect.

I'd say!

Fairly common???? On what do you based this opinion?

Media reports in Hong Kong. At least few times a year, where there are small riots at various airports due to flight canceling. So, totally no surprise. Well, at least a lot more common than in US or Europe, since I cannot remember hearing a single case of this.

Last August on our way back from Hangzhou to Macau we experienced a very long flight delay with Air Macau. NO announcement of the delay and the passengers, mostly main landers going on a gambling trip, were confused. Eventually 3 hours after the departure time the local Air Macau agent showed up and was immediately surrounded by about 50 passengers. 2 more local airport staff joined the Air Macau agent but the crowd got more and more angry. Eventually one of the passenger threw a punch at the Air Macau agent and all hell broke loose. Airport security came but strangely the man who threw the punch was not arrested.

Eventually we took off after a 6 hours delay. Once onboard I was able to speak to the crew who spoke English to explain that we have missed our connecting flight in Macau back to Bangkok. The crew did not know what to do so I spoke to the chief purser and showed her the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau rules and regulation, which I had downloaded while waiting for the delayed flight. I told the purser that if Air Macau did not take care of me and my family then I have grounds to claim HKD $300,000 from them. Well as soon as we landed in Macau, two ground staff met us and we were given HKD $100 each for taxi, voucher for 2 rooms at a 4 star hotel and 3 business class tickets back to Bangkok the next day at a time of our choosing.

Lesson here is that the law is more powerful than a punch!

IMO the news story is accurate and very possible and does happen.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...107-2cbvr.html