I was speaking with a friend of mine who is still flying for the same company I flew for and he said he had to have his 5th passenger removed this year from his plane for misconduct and causing a disturbance with the flight crew, which is an FAA violation and that makes it a Federal matter. In this case, the passenger may end up facing a state judge and a federal judge because of the different charges, but the state court may handle both charges.
I was told that the act took place in the first class cabin when a rather large man wanted to take his seat in an aisle seat. In first class, there are two seats side by side with a divider between the two seats in the middle section of seating. When the man went to sit down, the other passenger objected strenuously. The passenger was so out of control that the passenger ended up shoving the flight attendant at which time, she signaled for a pilot to come to her aid.
When he arrived at the seat, he told the lady she would have to leave the plane. He told her he recommended that she do so voluntarily to keep from facing federal charges, She refused. The airport police was called and she was removed in cuffs. The man that wanted to sit did show his electronic ticket as proof that the seat was purchased. Her objection was that he had a king size pillow and a shopping bag and she thought his things would overlap her seat.
He told the pilot that he had to have his pillow for sleeping and the bag had food and drinks in it for the long ride to Rome from New York. He said it was a 9 hour flight to Rome and he needed food due to an illness. The pillow did not go over onto her side.
When will people on planes learn that not to ever engage with the passenger with a problem they may be having, but instead, let the flight attendant handle it if it really is an issue. If you decide to handle it yourself, you will be taking a risk. Airlines have been told not to tolerate disorderly passengers.
I was told that the act took place in the first class cabin when a rather large man wanted to take his seat in an aisle seat. In first class, there are two seats side by side with a divider between the two seats in the middle section of seating. When the man went to sit down, the other passenger objected strenuously. The passenger was so out of control that the passenger ended up shoving the flight attendant at which time, she signaled for a pilot to come to her aid.
When he arrived at the seat, he told the lady she would have to leave the plane. He told her he recommended that she do so voluntarily to keep from facing federal charges, She refused. The airport police was called and she was removed in cuffs. The man that wanted to sit did show his electronic ticket as proof that the seat was purchased. Her objection was that he had a king size pillow and a shopping bag and she thought his things would overlap her seat.
He told the pilot that he had to have his pillow for sleeping and the bag had food and drinks in it for the long ride to Rome from New York. He said it was a 9 hour flight to Rome and he needed food due to an illness. The pillow did not go over onto her side.
When will people on planes learn that not to ever engage with the passenger with a problem they may be having, but instead, let the flight attendant handle it if it really is an issue. If you decide to handle it yourself, you will be taking a risk. Airlines have been told not to tolerate disorderly passengers.
