UA Pilot Diverts to Remove Autistic Child From Plane for Safety Reasons
#286
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See below. In actuality they are required to provide a reasonable accommodation. And the "passenger safety" argument is invalidated by their failure to do so.
This is where UA fails and this is why they were wrong. Taken from http://www.ada.gov/qandaeng.htm
This is where UA fails and this is why they were wrong. Taken from http://www.ada.gov/qandaeng.htm
#287
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Scratching doesnt mean violent
She most probably meant the kid was going to start scratching herslef. That's what nervous or kids with special compulsions do. They don't go looking for someone else to scratch in other rows. If everyone in charge stopped looking for drama, then they would understand that. as I have said, the mother does seem to be a little bit of an self entitled lady judging by her facebook postings. Still, I keep reading throughout this thread about "threats". Give me a break.
And it seems obvious the FAs were ready to kick them out as they were serving the hot meal. Again, my question to the mother was what if the airline didn't have a hot meal. So I am not letting her off the hook fully. But the way things unfolded, no matter what I think of the mother's behavior, the airline overreacted and wasted a lot of people's time.
EDIT: Looks like they meant scratching others too judging by her scratching of her father. Still, I don't think she would have scratched someone in a different row. If I am sitting in the next row, my preference would be to reach Portland ASAP, not worry about some kid trying to get out of her row to come scratch me.
And it seems obvious the FAs were ready to kick them out as they were serving the hot meal. Again, my question to the mother was what if the airline didn't have a hot meal. So I am not letting her off the hook fully. But the way things unfolded, no matter what I think of the mother's behavior, the airline overreacted and wasted a lot of people's time.
EDIT: Looks like they meant scratching others too judging by her scratching of her father. Still, I don't think she would have scratched someone in a different row. If I am sitting in the next row, my preference would be to reach Portland ASAP, not worry about some kid trying to get out of her row to come scratch me.
Last edited by saneman; May 13, 2015 at 1:52 pm
#288
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Anyone else remember the thread a while back when a deaf passenger claimed that the airlines would be in violation of ADA because they wouldn't let him sit in an exit row?
#289
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I don't think ordering a special meal in advance would have been an option. First of all, hot isn't a category that one can pick. Secondly, you can't request a special meal for a flight that doesn't have meal service in your confirmed cabin. Finally, AFAIK USA carriers now only offer special meals on especially long, primarily international (and maybe Hawaii? maybe the nonstop transcon p.s. flights?) routes, not on normal domestic flights.
#290
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She most probably meant the kid was going to start scratching herslef. That's what nervous or kids with special compulsions do. They don't go looking for someone else to scratch in other rows. If everyone in charge stopped looking for drama, then they would understand that. as I have said, the mother does seem to be a little bit of an self entitled lady judging by her facebook postings. Still, I keep reading throughout this thread about "threats". Give me a break.
And it seems obvious the FAs were ready to kick them out as they were serving the hot meal. Again, my question to the mother was what if the airline didn't have a hot meal. So I am not letting her off the hook fully. But the way things unfolded, no matter what I think of the mother's behavior, the airline overreacted and wasted a lot of people's time.
And it seems obvious the FAs were ready to kick them out as they were serving the hot meal. Again, my question to the mother was what if the airline didn't have a hot meal. So I am not letting her off the hook fully. But the way things unfolded, no matter what I think of the mother's behavior, the airline overreacted and wasted a lot of people's time.
#291
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Frustrated I said, after she has a melt down and tries to scratch in frustration, will you help her then?
I think one paragraph in Mom's FB post is really telling:
This was a sheer case of ignorance. Prejudice, ignorance and mistreatment are all too common toward people facing poverty. The parallels between special needs and poverty are striking in that both are causes for judgement, misunderstanding and mistreatment.
Greg
#292
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She was quoted as saying in one of the articles the child may scratch someone. That is a direct threat that the child could start hurting someone else. And in the article some people were on the families side and others were on UA's side. I am not going to take sides as I wasn't there and most likely you weren't either.
#293
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correction on scratching
OK, I need to expand the scratching to include the family around her. I still doubt she would have been seeking people outside her immediate vicinity to make physical contact with. She probably considers her and her parents to be of the same "space".
EDIT: I just saw the video. Looks like she did scratch her dad.
EDIT: I just saw the video. Looks like she did scratch her dad.
#294
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OK, I need to expand the scratching to include the family around her. I still doubt she would have been seeking people outside her immediate vicinity to make physical contact with. She probably considers her and her parents to be of the same "space".
EDIT: I just saw the video. Looks like she did scratch her dad.
EDIT: I just saw the video. Looks like she did scratch her dad.
That's what happened. The captain then made a decision to divert. In the world of air travel, when there's any potential of danger to passengers, you err on the side of caution.
The fact that you feel the child probably wouldn't have scratched others is totally irrelevant. If the FA or captain did, they need to act.
#295
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She most probably meant the kid was going to start scratching herslef. That's what nervous or kids with special compulsions do. They don't go looking for someone else to scratch in other rows. If everyone in charge stopped looking for drama, then they would understand that. as I have said, the mother does seem to be a little bit of an self entitled lady judging by her facebook postings. Still, I keep reading throughout this thread about "threats". Give me a break.
"Juliette was beginning to cry," Beegle said. "I said, after she has a melt down and tries to scratch in frustration, will you help her then?"
Self-injurious behavior, such as scratching, is often exhibited by people with developmental disabilities as a result of frustration, according to the Autism Research Institute. The attendant eventually brought Juliette a hot meal from First Class. The plane then made an unexpected landing in Salt Lake, where two paramedics boarded the plane.
Self-injurious behavior, such as scratching, is often exhibited by people with developmental disabilities as a result of frustration, according to the Autism Research Institute. The attendant eventually brought Juliette a hot meal from First Class. The plane then made an unexpected landing in Salt Lake, where two paramedics boarded the plane.
Beegle said she told flight attendants that her daughter was about to have a tantrum, and that she could scratch someone.
#296
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Even if the kid just injures herself, it could become a medical emergency if sufficiently severe.
#297
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So in different articles the Mom says she indicated the daughter would self-injure via scratching or would scratch others (unprovoked physical contact that causes pain/wounds, however superficial, is considered assault + battery & could leave UA liable to claims from other passengers) if her tantrum continued.
The mother herself, in the links you provided, isn't clear. In an unclear situation, you can either a) ignore it and wait for clarity, or b) take the most cautious approach to avoid an escalation.
As a customer, I always want United to take the cautious approach in safety situations. Sometimes that means you upset a few people.
#298
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Lol this possibly the dumbest thing I've read on here in a long time. Special needs not the sole responsibility of those afflicted with them or caring for them. You are saying in effect that wheelchair ramps are the problem of the person in the wheelchair... What you have said completely flies in the face of the ADA.
In some accounts, the Mom states that the family had dinner before the flight but that the daughter was unwilling to eat anything. If Mom decided that daughter should not get on the plane until she had a meal, would United have accommodated them on a later flight from Houston? -- Suzanne
14 CFR Part 382.11 does not require airlines to provide food as a service to passengers with disabilities on an aircraft. United's policy is that special meals require 24 hours notice. If a hot meal was a requirement for safe transportation, then the parents should have requested it in advance with appropriate warning for United to accommodate, asked for a later flight, or taken hot food from the terminal on board the aircraft.
There's no special meal for "hot meal" listed on their website, so I'm not sure UA could even provide one.
I don't think ordering a special meal in advance would have been an option. First of all, hot isn't a category that one can pick. Secondly, you can't request a special meal for a flight that doesn't have meal service in your confirmed cabin. Finally, AFAIK USA carriers now only offer special meals on especially long, primarily international (and maybe Hawaii? maybe the nonstop transcon p.s. flights?) routes, not on normal domestic flights.
#299
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Link
Link 2
So in different articles the Mom says she indicated the daughter would self-injure via scratching or would scratch others (unprovoked physical contact that causes pain/wounds, however superficial, is considered assault + battery & could leave UA liable to claims from other passengers) if her tantrum continued.
Link 2
So in different articles the Mom says she indicated the daughter would self-injure via scratching or would scratch others (unprovoked physical contact that causes pain/wounds, however superficial, is considered assault + battery & could leave UA liable to claims from other passengers) if her tantrum continued.
The Mom did everything wrong and continues to do so. UA was correct. The more I read about the woman the more I feel sorry for her family.
#300
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