In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Years ago I was on a United flight from DEN-PHX. A woman had a panic attack in the gate area complete with sobbing, hang wringing, hyperventilating etc. This somehow led the gate agent to move her from the back of the plane into the exit row next to me. I told the flight attendant about this, that my seatmate had had a panic attack and was now in the exit row. The F/A said "we are only allowed to ask people if they're willing to assist, if they say yes, we have to let them sit here".
Thankfully the odds of a passenger needing to assist are relatively low, but it's still worrisome.