Freaking out passenger forces plane back to gate
Feb 12, 2013, 10:39 am
#16
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And my personal o2 based on the op it was the right thing to return & get her off.
Feb 12, 2013, 12:25 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 81
As someone who has had panic attacks (not on planes thank goodness), no you can't control how or when you react - my problem spot is heights and I work in a tall building. I'll go months being okay and then all of a sudden I can't handle being on the 4th floor of a building - unable to breathe, feel like I'm going to pass out, I usually get very quiet as I'm trying to focus and calm myself (doesn't always work). A friend though starts hyperventilating, then screaming, grabbing other people, and gets very demanding - she is a very quiet person normally; her reactions during panic attacks are completely different than her normal personality. Very probable this woman either had no idea she would react this way or thought she had worked through the problem (there are lots of fear of flying courses/therapy programs out there).
As to the luggage, I don't know about you but if somebody is to the point of screaming "we're all going to die" and forces her way off the plane, then I definitely DON'T want her luggage remaining onboard with me. For an international flight, it would be required to remove her luggage, for a domestic flight it would be the smart thing to do as well.
As to the luggage, I don't know about you but if somebody is to the point of screaming "we're all going to die" and forces her way off the plane, then I definitely DON'T want her luggage remaining onboard with me. For an international flight, it would be required to remove her luggage, for a domestic flight it would be the smart thing to do as well.
Feb 12, 2013, 1:02 pm
#18
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As someone who has had panic attacks (not on planes thank goodness), no you can't control how or when you react - my problem spot is heights and I work in a tall building. I'll go months being okay and then all of a sudden I can't handle being on the 4th floor of a building - unable to breathe, feel like I'm going to pass out, I usually get very quiet as I'm trying to focus and calm myself (doesn't always work).
Mike
Feb 13, 2013, 8:12 am
#19
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Posts: 3,098
Panic attacks are generally involuntary and nasty when triggered.
Who are 'people like this'? People who get ill on board planes? People who inconvenience you? While it is a shame that no-one on board was able to help her through the attack, if it was caused by being on board, you may find she bans herself, so she doesn't need to go through that again.
Who are 'people like this'? People who get ill on board planes? People who inconvenience you? While it is a shame that no-one on board was able to help her through the attack, if it was caused by being on board, you may find she bans herself, so she doesn't need to go through that again.
Feb 13, 2013, 8:53 am
#20
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Feb 13, 2013, 10:47 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2002
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I don't think there is anything unreasonable about banning her. She was unreasonable enough to think she wouldn't have a problem flying once, but if she should happen to forget that and try to do it again that would be a way to remind her it's not a good idea. To that effect, I'd say the airline is helping her.
Feb 13, 2013, 11:46 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
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Feb 13, 2013, 12:01 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Australia
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If it was up me I would have let the woman off the airplane as per what occurred but left her luggage on board. Her luggage could have been returned to her at a later date.
The delay in searching for her luggage afterwards clearly caused further disruption to countless passengers / staff. Or am I being too harsh?
The delay in searching for her luggage afterwards clearly caused further disruption to countless passengers / staff. Or am I being too harsh?
Feb 13, 2013, 12:33 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 135
Its definitely cheaper to burn a little gas back to the gate then burning gas to divert. I do have some sympathy for people who suffer from panic attacks. My wife is one of them. Its not pretty.
We don't know this woman's story. It could have come on suddenly, without warning. People dont get banned from airlines for having medical conditions. They do, however, need to get treatment for their condition so it doesn't happen again.
We don't know this woman's story. It could have come on suddenly, without warning. People dont get banned from airlines for having medical conditions. They do, however, need to get treatment for their condition so it doesn't happen again.
Last edited by NFeldberg; Feb 13, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Feb 13, 2013, 3:14 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Yes. If I were running an airline her personal situation would certainly receive my sympathy, but unless she was willing to pay for the overnight stays, meals, and alternate transport due to missed connections each time she decided to book a flight at the risk she might panic once she got there then I don't think I'd be taking that risk. Maybe I wouldn't ban her for the first offense - but certainly if it happened twice she's outta there.
Feb 13, 2013, 3:17 pm
#26
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I think it would be harsh to ban her but I wouldn't blame the airline for insisting she gets some kind of help with whatever's causing the problem before she gets on one of their aircraft again.
Feb 13, 2013, 3:49 pm
#27
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What's the difference? You'd ban her and if she gets help and can demonstrate she is better you lift the ban. Same thing.
Feb 13, 2013, 8:28 pm
#29
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If they left baggage on the plane, someone who wanted to bomb a plane could use that loophole. I think the key is for the passenger to believe that their luggage could very well be on a plane with them.
Feb 13, 2013, 8:39 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,796
All luggage is supposed to have advanced screening, so (for domestic flights at least) positive bag matching is not required. A few years ago I had a bag leave without me (there was a huge backup at security), to DCA no less.
And there's various operational issues where your bag may miss your flight and take another one.
On the other hand, they still frown on "voluntary" separation -- you don't fly with your bags due to conditions under your control, rather than from actions of the airline. So out of an abundance of caution, they may remove your bags if they have reason to be suspicious of you.
As for the original issue, the point is that when you're travelling with hundreds of strangers, eventually someone is going to have a medical condition that requires immediate attention. It's just part of flying, just like weather and mechanical cancellations/diversions.
And there's various operational issues where your bag may miss your flight and take another one.
On the other hand, they still frown on "voluntary" separation -- you don't fly with your bags due to conditions under your control, rather than from actions of the airline. So out of an abundance of caution, they may remove your bags if they have reason to be suspicious of you.
As for the original issue, the point is that when you're travelling with hundreds of strangers, eventually someone is going to have a medical condition that requires immediate attention. It's just part of flying, just like weather and mechanical cancellations/diversions.