Knee Defender Device Forces Diversion of United Flight
Jeff Edwards August 26, 2014
An argument over the use of a Knee Defender device on a United Airlines flight escalated to the point where the aircraft was forced to divert to Chicago.
The Associated Press reported that two unnamed passengers were removed from a United Airlines aircraft traveling from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Denver International Airport (DEN) on Sunday. The aircraft diverted to O’Hare International Airport (ORD) after an argument between the two 48-year-old passengers escalated.
The melee began after a female passenger complained to the flight crew that the male passenger seated behind her was using a Knee Defender, a device which prevented her seat from reclining. The male passenger reportedly refused a flight attendant’s request to remove the device before the woman took matters in to her own hands and threw a cup of water at him. The flight diverted to ORD, where it was met by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials and police who escorted the two passengers from the plane. Neither passenger was arrested.
The Knee Defender in question is a simple gadget available online for $21.95. The lightweight device is designed to wedge into the seat-back in front of passengers who wish to prevent fellow passengers from reclining their seats toward them. Gadget Duck, the company that produces and sells the Knee Defender, claims to have shipped the product to “savvy travelers on all seven continents.”
On their website, Gadget Duck notes that “as long as Knee Defenders are being used as they are designed to be used in flight, their use does not violate any U.S. aviation law, rule or regulation.” The device itself is stamped with the admonishment: “Use only as needed — Do not hog space. Comply with flight attendant’s directions. Be polite to fellow passengers.”
The FAA does not regulate devices like the Knee Defender, but instead relies on airlines to set their own policies governing the gadgets.
United spokesman Charles Hobart told USA Today that the use of Knee Defenders is prohibited on the airline’s flights. “We do not allow customers to use devices that prevent seats from reclining,” Hobart stated.
The Knee Defender appears to be as much a movement as a product. Gadget Duck’s website contains a manifesto titled “The Limits of Etiquette.” The document, which quotes both Winston Churchill and former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, begins by stating, “The subject is travel, inadequate legroom, airplane passengers lacking good manners and the airlines looking the other way…”
Every Knee Defender comes with a “courtesy card,” which owners can offer to passengers who take issue with the use of their device. The courtesy card reads:
Maybe working together we can convince the airlines to provide enough space between rows so that people can recline their seats without banging into other passengers. Thank you for your understanding.
It is not clear if the courtesy card was provided during Sunday’s incident.
[Photo: GadgetDuck.com]
First on those occasions that I do find myself in coach, I never recline the seat as a consideration for the person behind me. When in first, I recline my seat slowly ensuring no surprises to the passenger behind me. As another poster commented, there really isn't really much more room in first class - the seats are just wider. I can see where someone might want to use the gadgets though because of all the idiots that slam their seats back rather than gently reclining them. But use them only to prevent damage to your laptop or knock your drink from your try into your lap. Once the intention of the person in front of you is made, you remove the devices. You've ensured you're computer won't be damaged or you won't be wearing your drink. They both deserved being thrown off the plane (he for not abiding by the FA's request, she for a totally uncalled for reaction) and billed for the inconvenience to all the other passengers.
I should add that at six foot 1 and over 200 pounds my legs are often more than sufficient to prevent full recline. It is,hilarious, the pax in front tries and tried to recline all,the way and nothing budges. As for buying first class or business class, the pitch on US domestic F and all domestic business class of European airlines is no better than economy. Finally I never understood the principle that says every row but the rear most row in economy has the to recline in the other person's face. Which is why I don't fully recline if there is a row behind me. The emergence of seats that recline at the cost of seat itself sliding forward and thus staying of the space the pax behind paid for results in the most fair situation.
That card is not the least bit useful. It blames "The Man" (i.e. the airline) and deflects responsibility from the rude person who uses this device. I disagree with COMMONC3NTS. I often recline my seat. The "point" is to attempt to sleep.
If everyone reclines, everyone has the same amount of space. The developer of knee defender (Ira Goldman) did so because he is 6"3". Does that entitle him to more space? NO Buy a FC or EC seat if you need more space. Fly a carrier with more space. You have options, and stealing someone else's recline should not be one of them. I would wager a bet that Ira reclines his seat.......
Yeah, these should be banned. If legroom is really getting bad, we as paying customers need to take that up with the FAA and express the discomfort and dangers there. Not by being douchebags.....especially if they really were in E+! There's PLENTY of room up there! What an ass hole.