Doug Parker: Assaults on Flight Crew Must Stop
Joe Cortez October 28, 2021
The video message from Doug Parker was posted to Instagram hours after a flight attendant was assaulted on American Airlines Flight 976, breaking the employee’s nose and forcing the flight to divert.
“This type of behavior has to stop”
The incident happened on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, aboard a flight departing New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for Orange County John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, California. Los Angeles CBS-affiliate KCBS reports sometime during the flight, a passenger punched a flight attendant in the face twice.
Witnesses aboard the flight say the accused passenger was restrained aboard the flight with duct tape, while the pilots diverted to Denver International Airport (DEN). Although the incident was originally reported to be about wearing a face covering, a spokesperson for American told KCBS they do not believe that was the case.
#BREAKING: Passenger duct taped after breaking flight attendant’s nose for refusing to wear a mask in first class, according to those on @AmericanAir flight #976 from @JFKairport to @JohnWayneAir. Man arrested, flight attendant hospitalized, @fbi investigating. pic.twitter.com/m0qqSamnw5
— Robert Kovacik (@RobertNBCLA) October 28, 2021
On the ground, witnesses posted pictures of a handcuffed individual sitting in the terminal. Denver Police and the FBI were called to meet the flight and the passenger was arrested. Authorities have not yet released the flyer’s identity.
Hours after the assault, Parker recorded a plea to stop the violence and posted it to Instagram. In the two-minute video, the chief executive announced that the flyer would be permanently banned from flying with American and they would work towards full prosecution.
View this post on Instagram
“Let me assure you – American airlines will not tolerate airport or in-flight misconduct of any kind, particularly towards our crewmembers or airport team,” Parker said in the video. “This type of behavior has to stop, and the best deterrent is aggressive criminal prosecution.”
In a statement on Instagram, the airline said the crewmember is recovering and are working to ensure all affected have the amount of support they need. The extent of the injuries or the employee’s current condition is not known.
Unruly Passenger Events Hit Record Highs, but Enforcement Cases Low
Although the Federal Aviation Administration has the ability to levy fines against poorly behaving passengers, the latest data from the agency shows only four percent of reports end up with enforcement cases. The FAA has received over 4,900 unruly passenger reports, but sought over $1 million in fines from 216 cases.
Honestly Doug is the one who should be getting punched in the face.
Get rid of the mask mandate, enforce a vaccine mandate and this type of behavior goes away.
We shouldn't tolerate this behavior in the first place, no matter how bad one perceives it.
The airlines themselves need to take sanctions against the miscreant. Including if the miscreant was one of their "best customers" i.e. top elete top frequent flyer. No waivers, no favors for the miscreant, and/or his/her employer in the case of a business trip.
There are plenty of existing laws that need to be enforced. Pleading with criminals never stopped crime. They're not listening. You're just alienating the law-abiding folk.
Goodbye American Airlines.
Hello Greyhound bus!