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Did A British Airways Flight Attendant Threaten to Throw A Crying Baby Out of the Window?

AP Pathak has alleged that he and his family were removed from a recent British Airways flight from LCY to Berlin in late July because their three-year-old child would not stop crying. He has accused the airline of racist behavior and his allegations have spurred some to urge a total boycott of BA.

An Indian family was allegedly deplaned from a recent British Airways (BA) flight because their son would not stop crying, Sky News reports. The incident occurred on a BA flight from London City Airport (LCY) to Berlin on July 23.

Speaking out about the incident, AP Pathak, the father of the child, alleges that a member of crew threatened to throw the boy out of the plane’s window if the three-year-old did not cease crying.

Pathak has written a letter of complaint – excerpts of which have been quoted by the outlet – regarding his experience to Suresh Prabhu, the Indian aviation minister.

Pathak explained that the boy began to cry when the child was placed in his seat in preparation for departure. The boy’s mother then held him in an attempt to comfort him.

At this point, Pathak explained that a member of staff approached the family and began to shout at the child, who was described as “terrified” and “crying inconsolably.”

He added that, as the plane began to taxi, “The same crew member came again and shouted at my son that ‘you keep quiet otherwise you will be thrown out of the window’ and we would be offloaded.”

The plane then turned back to the terminal and the Pathak family were deplaned along with another Indian family who had been seated behind them, members of whom had attempted to comfort the child. Pathak also said that he was forced to endure “humiliation and racial behavior” and added that, “The crew member made racist remarks and used words like ‘bloody’ about Indians.”

The incident has divided Indians on social media, some of whom are urging a boycott of BA.

However, the carrier has explained that members of staff had repeatedly requested that the child be seated and fasten his belt so that the craft could departCommenting on behalf of the airline, a BA spokesperson told Sky, “It is a safety requirement for all airlines that passengers are seated and have their seatbelt fastened for take-off. We are investigating the complaint and will liaise with our customer.”

[Photo: Shutterstock]

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6 Comments
K
kkua August 22, 2018

If the unruly kid will not fasten up, then the plane will not take off. It's simple as that!!! So, to pull the racist card tells me the family is trying to deflect their poor parenting skills to blame the airline.

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Rexy52 August 17, 2018

But the windows don't open...

M
mvoight August 10, 2018

It is NOT racist to kick them off the plane if they cannot keep their child in a seat for takeoff.

R
rishib August 10, 2018

It is my experience that every person of Indian origin that travels on British Airways invariably ends up having an experience where they are treated rudely relative to other customers. My parents and I had this when I was a teenager and we decided to never travel BA again. My wife didn't believe me and took BA once coming back from India - after the trip, she said I should have listened to you. Friends have said the same - even ones who were born in the US like me and don't have Indian accents. From my eyes, it looks like an institutional issue.

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SarcasticMisanthrope August 10, 2018

Unless there is a audio and/or video recording of this, it is this families word against BA.