Originally Posted by
Stranger
I doubt that. My suspicion is that that group was actually the problem. Groups tend to behave like mobs and the crew may have been under the perception that they might not have been able to handle them later during the flight. Especially rowdy Brits, I suppose. :-)
But perhaps the captain, who has the last word, overdid it, and dded an extra row because there were some of them in that row, or he made a mistake. Taking into account that there would be a bunch of people who might miss their connection etc., perhaps it is understandable that he decided to be conservative and overdid it somewhat.
Yesterday, we heard from someone who was on a YYZ-FRA flight (earlier one) that the plane went back to the gate and that an older lady was removed from the plane.
We had a similar experience a few weeks ago on a FRA-YYC flight.
Anyway, until hearing the side of the crew, I am willing to give AC the benefit of the doubt at this point. We all know that lately the issue of passengers misbehaving has been left and centre. Unfortunately many folks don't seem to be aware/understand that crews have the authority to give them orders. And that serious incidents including cases when an unplanned rerouting to get rid of issue people, is a major hassle for well-behaved passengers.
I for sure normally give the crew the benefit of doubt. But they seem to have overdid it ?
Too many random people got tossed to be given much benefit of doubt.
A Doctor on another F1 team. Some from Motorsport magazine. Elderly couple who were not affiliated with F1. Pregnant woman.
But perhaps the captain, who has the last word, overdid it, and dded an extra row because there were some of them in that row, or he made a mistake. Taking into account that there would be a bunch of people who might miss their connection etc., perhaps it is understandable that he decided to be conservative and overdid it somewhat.
Punishing innocent people (pending more details) is not acceptable nor is collective punishment. They were not even all sitting together. None of us would like to be tossed from a plane for sitting next to someone who may deserve it.
And the possible reasons - drinking, not mask wearing, possible theft of food vouchers.
Possibly some needed to be tossed and that's the benefit of doubt to the crew. But so many people that had nothing to do with anything ?
I almost feel that a 30 person list required some work. Perhaps even the pilot needs some training for signing off on ejecting 30 pax without checking. And where was Sr AC Station Mgmt ?
I would like AC to do better. I have had some great AC flight crew recently and incidents like this tarnish the work they do.