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Passenger Kicked Off Flight for Accusing Pilot of Drinking

Passenger Kicked Off Flight for Accusing Pilot of Drinking

Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:21 pm
  #1  
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Passenger Kicked Off Flight for Accusing Pilot of Drinking

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/lo...-99890364.html

"If you think someone is drunk, you owe it to yourself, your loved ones and other passengers to report it," said Aimer, who is also a retired United Airlines captain. "However, in this case, because the captain had not been drinking, Delta made the right decision by asking her to leave the plane."

Does this make sense to anyone? Why must either the accuser or the accused be forced to leave the flight?
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:23 pm
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Does this make sense to anyone? Why must either the accuser or the accused be forced to leave the flight?
I was wondering the same thing, actually...
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:25 pm
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I feel like we're getting only part of the real story.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:25 pm
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Sounds like she handled the situation in a calm and appropriate manner. It is not as if she was screaming her accusation for everyone to hear. If the incident really happened as described, then she was treated inappropriately and should be compensated.



But, there is always another side to any story....
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:29 pm
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Originally Posted by traveller99
I feel like we're getting only part of the real story.
Of course that's possible (even likely).

But the assertion (by an 'expert') that "If you make an accusation against a pilot and you are wrong, you deserve to be kicked off a flight" is the part I don't understand.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:33 pm
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"It's an either you or me situation," said Aimer. "She had to go because the captain has his crew and hundreds of other passengers to think about."

Um. What?

If the passenger was, in fact, calm, then I do not see why she should have been escorted off the flight. If she was causing more of a ruckus than she is letting on, then DL made the right move.

I doubt we'll hear from the pilot on this issue, but I would be interested to see if any other pax come forward with their account.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:33 pm
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It doesn't make sense to me, either. I'd say she's entitled to Involuntary Denied Boarding Compensation.

But now I know what to do if I want to stay somewhere an extra night at DL's expense.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:34 pm
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Originally Posted by janetdoe
"If you think someone is drunk, you owe it to yourself, your loved ones and other passengers to report it," said Aimer, who is also a retired United Airlines captain. "However, in this case, because the captain had not been drinking, Delta made the right decision by asking her to leave the plane."
Does this make sense to anyone? Why must either the accuser or the accused be forced to leave the flight?
Makes no sense at all. She didn't accuse the pilot of "being drunk" but simply volunteered to be the one to speak up based on the mutual concern of her and two others. If the facts are indeed as reported and the woman was as calm as reported, this woman is looking at some serious compensation from DL should she wish to pursue it. It's not just her word against the crew. She had witnesses that all thought they smelled alcohol.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:38 pm
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The passenger could have caused wide spread panic throughout the plane. If she stayed onboard she could still be questioning the ability of the pilots' ability and could have made a scene once in the air. I think it was handled correctly as you really don't know what motive the passenger has that acuses the pilots of such.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:43 pm
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Originally Posted by zsmith2
The passenger could have caused wide spread panic throughout the plane. If she stayed onboard she could still be questioning the ability of the pilots' ability and could have made a scene once in the air. I think it was handled correctly as you really don't know what motive the passenger has that acuses the pilots of such.
I can see the validity here, if she was in fact causing a panic. If she was not, this will likely be eaten up by the media as an attempt to scare passengers into "submission," so to speak.

Again, I need to know more details before formulating an opinion.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:44 pm
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Why would she want to stay on the plane if she was convinced the pilot had been drinking?
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:45 pm
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Let's be honest, what are the odd's the passenger went through this process calmly and respectfully. Speculation purely on my part but I'd bet the house money this person probably caused quite the scene and thusly did enough to warrant the exscuse that she was a distraction to the staff.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:46 pm
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Originally Posted by dd992emo
Why would she want to stay on the plane if she was convinced the pilot had been drinking?
Did you read the article? She suspected the pilot might have been drinking. After she was called into the cockpit, she was convinced otherwise.
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:49 pm
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Who made the passenger the arbiter of safe flying? Have to agree that this was disruptive and Delta took the appropriate action.

Sheesh - can't mouthwash smell like alcohol? Isn't alchohol in some mouthwash?
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Old Aug 4, 2010, 12:51 pm
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Originally Posted by hazelrah
Sheesh - can't mouthwash smell like alcohol? Isn't alchohol in some mouthwash?
Maybe, but did the FA upgrade #2 after #1 barked at her?
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