A mentally distressed ex-Marine who pointed a fake handgun at police in the Orlando International Airport and shouted "kill me" said he wanted to speak to the president, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday. Michael Wayne Pettigrew, 26, was arrested after the almost three-hour standoff that ended peacefully Tuesday night. Police have called it an attempted "suicide by cop." Pettigrew was charged with aggravated assault on a firefighter and was forcibly committed for short-term mental health observation under what is commonly referred to as Florida's "Baker Act." Court records show Pettigrew was denied bail Wednesday because of his mental health evaluation, but another bond hearing was scheduled for Thursday. The episode started Tuesday night when Pettigrew approached a cashier at a taxi company in the airport and showed her what looked like a gun. Pettigrew gave his cellphone to her and told her to call 911 because he wanted to bring the police and speak to the president, according to the affidavit. Part of the airport was temporarily evacuated and traffic going into the airport was halted for a short time. Story has details.<br/>
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The number of complaints against airlines from disabled travelers doubled in a decade to more than 30,000 in a year, according to a federal watchdog report Wednesday. But 12 carriers studied each demonstrated they have repeated training programs for helping passengers with disabilities, according to the Government Accountability Office. Airlines provide a combination of classroom and computer-based training. The training typically includes an eight-hour class with lessons in handling wheelchairs and assisting with boarding, according to the 34-page GAO report required by a law last year governing the Federal Aviation Administration. "Airlines place a high priority on meeting the needs of all passengers and regularly invest in training programs and processes, new and improved technologies and customer support staff to accommodate passengers with disabilities," said Kathy Grannis Allen, spokeswoman for Airlines for America, a trade group representing most of the largest carriers. "A4A and our members will continue to work collaboratively with all parties to ensure that our customers are provided with any support necessary and the highest levels of customer service." Since 2005, the department investigated 51 cases involving disabilities, according to GAO. From 2005 through 2015, GAO found the number of disability complaints filed with airlines grew from 13,584 per year to 30,289. The number of disability complaints filed directly with the department also rose from 511 to 944 during that period. Those increases occurred as the number of passengers grew from 746 to 806 million.<br/>
Greek development agency HRADF has accepted an improved offer from airport operator Athens International Airport SA for a 20-year extension of its concession to run the airport. AIA increased its offer to E600m, with net proceeds of E483.87m HRADF said. The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) expects revenues of approximately E894m from the 20 year extension. AIA will be called upon to make a total investment of about E2.35b to account for the estimated upward trend in passenger traffic and the expected increase in tourism, HRADF said. The completion of the transaction is subject to approvals by European authorities and the Greek Parliament.<br/>