Excellent point-- regardless of who would be injured in this scenario, B6 would probably end up with a lawsuit in their hands.

Medication is the solution, it just happens to be "the pill."

You're right, sometimes things do happen with kids. Like they act up, become a safety risk, and are removed from the plane. That's part of the obligation of being a parent, dealing with consequences when "things happen."

+1 - Not one of the critics has come up with a solution for the Captain, other than the one he exercised.

I think we need more info before rushing to judgment. If child was squirming in seat (as parents claim) that is not a safety issue. My toddler has squirmed before and we held her down in the seat. Why couldnt the parents do that? Yes its not easy but it can be done unless you are weak (though the child will express its displeasure. The article does not report that the toddler was climbing over seats (I agree that would be unacceptable).

As a parent of 5 and 2 I sympathize but there are always ways to calm down your child except perhaps autistic. Milk does the trick, as do games etc. We also have a preflight chat to discuss behavior expectations and the consequences using incidents like this as examples.

Alas insufficient detail to say what was tried or whether the FAs just got PO'd too quickly. Too bad no video, another casualty of the nonsensicdl "electronics off" rule.

I've heard that if the kid had been having a tantrum while seated and belted in it wouldn't have been a problem. It was the fact that the kid was running up and down the aisle. No airline lets adults wander the aisle during taxi, so why should a kid be able to do it?

Agreed!

That the family spent $2,000 on overnight accommodations has to be complete bs, too!

As someone that has to travel every week for work, I (and I'm sure many others on this board) get stressed enough when we're stuck next to a screaming/crying kid on a 2-5 hour flight. I love the explanation that it's not the parents fault, though. If that's the case, then who is responsible? It makes everyone on the plane on-edge and stressed out and we all have our own problems. I'm glad that JetBlue did this--maybe now parents will come on-board with the expectation that they need to control their kids...or else! :D

What happens when the aircraft has to wait, the crew times out an an entire aircraft full of people are stuck overnighting overeas. Some people might actually have jobs and work to return to.

In the end, at worst, this decision inconvenienced one family and the rest presumably got home OK.

This isn't about temper tantrums. Those are part of life. This is about safety of pax.

That info makes it even more interesting. I agree that had it been a 35 year old they wouldn't have tolerated it. Safety is safety. What about all the other passengers? Must the majority suffer?

Other articles online has additional information....

-The toddler wanted to be held by her mom, but since she just turned 2, she had to be in her own seat. She was not running up and down the aisle
-The parents got her safely buckled into the seat

I don't think any of us were there to witness the event, so we don't know for sure. However, they did have the toddler safely buckled into the seat.


I think those who don't have kids, or those with kids who are always well-behaved, will never understand, and will applaud JetBlue for their actions. But those who have kids and been in these situations will find this event horrifying.

JetBlue could've turned this into a positive event, showing the public that they are a family friendly company. But for some odd reason they took the opposite stance. They will win some fans, but will lose some for sure....

I've seen adults throw temper tantrums and be removed from airplanes in my time. I don't think it's just kids. The kids are not a safety risk in most cases, that's just plain bull$hit and you know it.

I never said it was just kids. My point is if we're removing adults from the plane these days for totally asinine, minor things, then to not do so for children screams of age discrimination. Thus, my point that just because the kid is 2 doesn't excuse them from following the rules.

After reading the article, this is the quote that explained it to me:

"We were holding them down with all of our might, seat belt on. And I said, 'We have them seated. Can we go now?" Colette, a pediatrician, told Rhode Island's NBC 10.


I do not think this is a tantrum that was under control. This was two parents holding the children down with all of their might. I think the pilot was correct.

Get your snarling brat off my flight...and stay off!

Saw them on the TV in the gym; all cherubic blonde kids with no hint of the tiny terror these brats were, parents blissfully clueless as to WHY US?

Shameless attitude; shameful behavior.

Without going too far off topic, we've seen this all around us: restaurants, grocery store, the mall, etc. etc. Society has become very lax and overly tolerant with little monsters who are not made to behave and are allowed to get away with their tantrums because the parents ignore it or give in. I've witnessed on more than one occasion a parent giving in to buying candy or a toy because the kid was screaming and they wanted to take the easy out and shut them up. That's the wrong way to do it! Hello??!! IF they behave and show some manners in public THEN YOU REWARD THEM, however, they should understand that the expectation is that they show manners at all times.

Now, some of you will jump on the "you don't have kids" statement with me. Well, you're wrong. I've got two that are now 26 and 24 and they traveled from the age of 4 months onward. Did they cry on the plane as a baby--yes, but they were controlled with a pacifier, games, Cheerios, etc., it is not hard. They traveled in business class once they were old enough (around 11 or so) and were better behaved than many of the adults.

It's all a matter of how you bring up the child and set the proper boundaries and expectations of their behavior. Once they are taught that properly they will follow the guidelines.