United, based on pax complaint, calls police on false report of child trafficking
Apr 18, 2017, 11:20 am
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Neither UA nor the FA's did anything incorrect here. In the ordinary course of events, the complainant would have called the cops, but that doesn't work mid-air.
The rest is about how CBP and the Port Authority handled the situation. We only have one side of that story. But, if the situation was handled improperly, it is for CBP and the Port Authority to discipline and train the personnel.
Imagine the howls on FT had UA not even notified CBP and the complainant posted here that he suspected human trafficking, notified the FA, the FA did nothing and now the child is off being abused.
UA doesn't need proof and it isn't UA's job to conduct an investigation. When someone reports their suspicion of a crime, UA calls the cops. Period.
The rest is about how CBP and the Port Authority handled the situation. We only have one side of that story. But, if the situation was handled improperly, it is for CBP and the Port Authority to discipline and train the personnel.
Imagine the howls on FT had UA not even notified CBP and the complainant posted here that he suspected human trafficking, notified the FA, the FA did nothing and now the child is off being abused.
UA doesn't need proof and it isn't UA's job to conduct an investigation. When someone reports their suspicion of a crime, UA calls the cops. Period.
Apr 18, 2017, 11:23 am
#47
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
This is a tough situation. There is very little cultural tolerance for (potential) crimes against children, including trafficking or abuse. There are professions that are legally obligated to report any suspicion. While the aviation industry is excluded, they take human trafficking seriously and there are many occurrences where a flight attendant's report has led to traffickers being caught.
It is not appropriate for United to validate or dismiss a passengers suspicion. Their responsibility is to pass the report on to the authorities so the situation can be investigated on the ground.
It is not appropriate for United to validate or dismiss a passengers suspicion. Their responsibility is to pass the report on to the authorities so the situation can be investigated on the ground.
Apr 18, 2017, 11:27 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
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Many people, myself included, do not have the same last name as their children. I've gotten suspicious (and insensitive) questions when traveling internationally with my children. That's why it's a good idea to carry original birth certificates and a notarized letter and from your spouse.
Apr 18, 2017, 1:00 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Shouldn't the passport be enough? IIRC my passport contained the full names of both my parents back in the day (long, long time ago). But back in the day, you could still travel on your parents passport as well. That option's gone for a couple years (or decades?) now.
Apr 18, 2017, 1:11 pm
#51
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
I might add one further detail, which is that you can't get a passport with only one parent, DOS needs to personally see BOTH parents to issue or reissue a passport.
I have no doubt that UA's computer systems had all of the proof this was not child trafficing, no one bothered to look, instead acting on racial stereotyping.
Apr 18, 2017, 1:11 pm
#52
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,436
Some sick racist used the flight crew's prejudicial stereotyping against their target.
The day I read a case where this happens on an American carrier to a white American family on the word of a foreigner is the day I'll abandon my sense of the dynamic at play here.
The day I read a case where this happens on an American carrier to a white American family on the word of a foreigner is the day I'll abandon my sense of the dynamic at play here.
Apr 18, 2017, 1:37 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 416
it may not be racial stereotyping, if the child did look different, I can sort of understand, but if they had all the documents, why the need to call police?
Apr 18, 2017, 2:25 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 781
Many people, myself included, do not have the same last name as their children. I've gotten suspicious (and insensitive) questions when traveling internationally with my children. That's why it's a good idea to carry original birth certificates and a notarized letter and from your spouse.
Apr 18, 2017, 2:41 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
Once a question of Child Trafficking entered the FA's minds, they had no ethical/moral choice other than pass it on to the appropriate authorities to investigate. The FA's have no knowledge of the other passengers prejudices/motivations. Hard to believe they are being slammed by many for erring on the side of caution.
Apr 18, 2017, 3:29 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,941
Why would you comment before reading the specifics? 
Again, I stated I did not read the specifics of this case (I will now). I just want to reiterate that Human Trafficking using airlines is a BIG problem. The knee jerk reactions from many posters that IT (Human Trafficking) is none of UA's business just rubbed me the wrong way.
Reading any story written during this "slam" UA period is getting tiresome.
All the media outlets concentrate on is the negative slant to any story about UA. Maybe the writer could include some of the background information on the Human Trafficking problem to bring context to the situation. They might also list the protocols that airline personnel are REQUIRED to follow when this happens. At least then the reader can make an informed decision about what they are reading.
Reading any story written during this "slam" UA period is getting tiresome.
All the media outlets concentrate on is the negative slant to any story about UA. Maybe the writer could include some of the background information on the Human Trafficking problem to bring context to the situation. They might also list the protocols that airline personnel are REQUIRED to follow when this happens. At least then the reader can make an informed decision about what they are reading.
Apr 18, 2017, 4:04 pm
#59
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
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Posts: 7,182
Apr 18, 2017, 4:41 pm
#60
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Interesting and timely article here:
http://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/...for1-1701.html
There are laws requiring medical professionals to report possible/suspected cases of child abuse, and it appears that these laws have been amended to include child trafficking. It may well be that similar laws apply to airline personnel in possible/suspected child trafficking as well; I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me.
In this case, the airline personnel were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The nosy passenger reported what he/she thought was possible child trafficking to the FA. Was the FA supposed to then perform the function of a LEO and make the determination of whether the allegation was true? I don't think anyone would want that. Once the allegation was made, I don't think the airline had any choice but to involve LEOs.
As in child abuse mandatory reporting, innocent people got caught up in the web until they could be cleared by investigation. I've witnessed a couple of cases of this in possible abuse cases.
Safe travels,
Doc
http://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/...for1-1701.html
There are laws requiring medical professionals to report possible/suspected cases of child abuse, and it appears that these laws have been amended to include child trafficking. It may well be that similar laws apply to airline personnel in possible/suspected child trafficking as well; I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me.
In this case, the airline personnel were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The nosy passenger reported what he/she thought was possible child trafficking to the FA. Was the FA supposed to then perform the function of a LEO and make the determination of whether the allegation was true? I don't think anyone would want that. Once the allegation was made, I don't think the airline had any choice but to involve LEOs.
As in child abuse mandatory reporting, innocent people got caught up in the web until they could be cleared by investigation. I've witnessed a couple of cases of this in possible abuse cases.
Safe travels,
Doc