Originally Posted by
Scubatooth
yes autism is covered under ADA.
I really think this is a case of the crew being really insensitive and it came to bite them back and it end up in the news, and the airlines are gonna have to do a bit of CYA and payouts to quiet this down as the ADA groups tend to not let things slide under the radar.
I hope the pilot is aware that he could be held accountable for slander and the FA could be charged with child endangerment and assault for making a comment like that.
Sorry Tooth, can't agree with you at all.
If a parent is unable to make their child sit in their seat with seat belt fastened when it is time for the plane to leave (and it is their responsibility to make that happen, regardless of any medical conditions the kid may have), the child is unable to travel by commercial air. It is unacceptable to allow a child to roll around on the floor when the plane is taxi-ing... period. As it was a one class plane, everyone on the plane had to already know there was a situation brewing in the first row where the kid was. The pilot did the right thing by complying with the FAA rules of being properly seatbelted into the seat (the FA checking and tightening the belt is not all that uncommon... have you ever seen the FAs when there is a UM?). The mother has the entire responibility to make her kid sit, and bring a carseat if necessary. No doubt, if there was an injury and the kid was "rolling on the floor", the mom would have sued.....
In real life you don't get "extra time" or "do-overs"...