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Should this guy fly?

Last night in LAS, saw a scary (but certainly comical) incident on the jetway. Dad was pushing his baby in a stroller and gives the stroller a big push down the jetway and lets go. The stroller bangs into the wall and flips over. Luckily the kid is okay, but dad is really drunk because he's laughing all about it and talking incoherently.

The F/As don't see the incident, so no reaction from them, but if they did, would this guy have been ejected? Seems almost like child abuse to me, because this was no accident.

Quote:

Originally Posted by das

The F/As don't see the incident, so no reaction from them, but if they did, would this guy have been ejected? Seems almost like child abuse to me, because this was no accident.

Hard to make a judgement call without having actually seen it or the guy - but I think I'd be more concerned about the child than I would about him flying on the airplane. Was anyone else (soberly?) travelling with them?

If I let him on board, at least I can choose not to serve him if I think he's already drunk...increase the odds that he'll at least land sober. If it were obviously a problem, I might make some small talk with him and find out on the sly if he's driving at his destination.

If F/A saw him, could they report him to the cops for child abuse? Is this even abuse or negligence?

Quote:

Originally Posted by das

Dad was pushing his baby in a stroller and gives the stroller a big push down the jetway and lets go. The stroller bangs into the wall and flips over. Luckily the kid is okay, but dad is really drunk because he's laughing all about it and talking incoherently.

If I had seen that, I would have gone back up to the jetway and told the gate agent what I had just witnessed. If there were too many people behind me, I would notify the first FA I saw on the plane. I don't know if it qualifies as "abuse" but it sure does stink of negligence toward the child.

What did others do as I'm sure you weren't the only one who witnessed this.

Being drunk in charge of child is a criminal offence here in the UK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by das

Should this guy fly?

Oh, yeah, he should fly. Let's grab him and throw him off something tall and see how well he does.

What a jerk.

FAA regulations prohibit transporting "intoxicated" passengers.

If this was Southwest, according to the TV show Airline not only would he not be allowed to fly, but they'd kick off everyone else in the jetway because they might have inhaled some of his alcohol fumes. :rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doppy

Darn, you beat me to it! :D

I guess if FAA don't want intoxicated pax, then should they prohibit carriers to sell and serve alcohol onboard (beers, wines, etc)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rejunivated

I guess if FAA don't want intoxicated pax, then should they prohibit carriers to sell and serve alcohol onboard (beers, wines, etc)?

Most people are capable of consuming alcoholic beverages without becoming intoxicated.

I was going to ask how old the kid was, but I guess it doesn't matter being that he's in a stroller. Either way, this is so wrong.

Most witnesses to something like this wouldn't bother to say anything at all, expecting that someone else would say something. I guess I'm the same way. If myself and 20 other people saw this, I'd probably just go on my way. Then again, I wasn't there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bursa

If F/A saw him, could they report him to the cops for child abuse? Is this even abuse or negligence?

I think you'll find the offence is one of "reckless endangerment" given the potential major injuries the child could have suffered. It is certainly something he could have been arrested for and even if the child was not injured in certain states he could still have been jailed for his actions. In Massachusetts for example, the code says;

Quote:

Reckless Endangerment to Children:
Mass. General Laws chapter 265, section 13L.

Since 1993 it has been a felony punishable by up to 5 years in state prison for any person with temporary or permanent responsibility for the care of a child under age 14 to “wantonly or recklessly” permit such child to suffer substantial bodily injury (Mass. General Laws chapter 265, section 13J). As of December 11, 2002, it is a crime punishable by up to 2½ years in jail for any person (whether responsible for the care of the child or not), by his or her actions or failure to act when obliged to, to “wantonly or recklessly” create “a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse” to a child under the age of 14 (and in certain circumstances under the age of 18).

Of course in other places like Berlin, authorities tend to be a bit more lenient in cases of reckless endangerment as Michael Jackson will confirm.

I would have reported this jerk to the flight crew and most certainly the Police. I would have missed my flight to file a complaint and demanded Social Services be called to remove the child from this monster. I would even come back as a witness during court proceedings. Parents like this drunken jerk does not deserve such a wonderful gift as a child. What a shame. God help this child.

Should fly straight to jail :mad: