I agree that newspapers would have picked up this story -- but not sympathetically toward the passenger! Let's face the facts: Most of the American sheeple LIKE this kind of thing; it makes them feel more "secure." When an airline throws someone off a plane, it's a GOOD thing. Better safe than sorry, right? Only frequent flyers like us recognize how ridiculous this is -- and suffer the consequences of absurd security procedures much more frequently than the average man on the street (or newspaper reader).

Regarding the right to a fair trial: You indeed have that RIGHT, but getting one may be quite another matter. Does anyone seriously believe that a judge or jury today would side with the passenger in this instance? If you believe that, I've got a great bridge to sell you. "Security" -- even misdirected, ineffective and incompetent security -- trumps everything today.

Just my 2 cents.

Bruce

Worth more than 2c I think. I got the same reaction from a dinner group of non-flyers. "Should have obeyed the FA" "Good" "Need suspicious people to be thrown off" "This is a special time" "They need to keep dangerous people off planes" and so on. And I was trying to effectively explain the error of the flight crew in this instance....

Speaking on behalf of those who have had one of the last remaining seats in the aircraft next to them, with the crew beginning to tighten up the ship, with the cabin door juuuuust about to close....

But then, "he" arrives. That last passenger bumping his way down the aisle, carrying assorted bags, wearing a wool sweater that hasn't been changed in two weeks. You know what you're in for even before you get that first whiff. You try to hold your breath when he sits down next to you, but then realize that you can't hold your breath the whole flight...

On behalf of those who have experienced this exquisite noxious indignity, the following doesn't sound all that bad!

Hedoman, it's called speaking in the First Person and it's also about being responsible. If you say "you" or "they" rather than "I", you are passing responsibility for your words to someone else. I'm expressing my opinion and taking responsibility for my words which is why I say I alot.

Sorry for the English and Ethics lesson, back to the main topic.

As others have said, the crew is subject to the laws of the land, especially when they are on the ground with the door open. The Captain has much more leeway when the door is closed and the plane is in the air. I would never defy a Captain's orders in the air.

But on the ground, if I am totally sure that I'm in the right, I would stand up for myself and fight the good fight.