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Another unruly family kicked off plane

by Iva Skoch (RSS feed) on Jul 8th 2008 at 2:00PM

Oh boy, oh boy. Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a family with an autistic child being booted off an American eagle flight for "out-of control" behavior.

Today, another "unruly family" hit the news.

A woman, her 5-month-pregnant sister and four kids were kicked off a flight after they were misbehaving on a Southwest Airlines flight to Phoenix. As they were getting off the plane at Phoenix, airport police were already waiting for them and prevented them from boarding their connection to Seattle, CNN reports.

You can watch the video here. Yeah, emotions definitely ran high here. Glad I wasn't on that flight!

The interesting thing is that this family, like the one from two weeks ago, also traveled with an autistic child. On top of that, they had one child with cerebral palsy. It seems to me that airlines need to better prepare for more and more families traveling with special-needs children. (And other passengers need to start realizing that in times of cheap mass air travel, there is no divine right to a quiet flight. Hmm, I'm sure that will go over well.)

What strange things have been found on planes?

Click the image to read the bizarre story...

Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

SFJenn Jul 8th 2008 4:05PM

I agree, 4 kids is alot to deal with, especially with special needs children. She could have gotten a prescription for a tranquilizer for the child (herself too lol) and notified the flight attendant.
The mother could have had somebody with her to assist in the children's travels. I know she would have had to pay for that person, but look at it this way, she got kicked off the flight, so how much does it cost her now to rebook?

Julie Jul 9th 2008 9:51AM

Granma paid Alaska Airlines $2000 to fly the 6 to Seattle.
The police gave them food and a hotel gave them a room, down in Phoenix, cause they were also traveling with no money.

rob Jul 17th 2008 6:11PM

yeah, tranqualizer is the term for it I suppose, Maybe it should be an entire can of ether or a phaser2!! That would give the guests some kind of entertainment!! Keep the mean ones from bitching and the flight attendants from working!!

Jen Jul 8th 2008 4:09PM

Four kids is alot to deal with. Perhaps a tranquilizer for the kid(s) is one idea, and having someone else fly with you to assist is also another idea. She would have to pay for that person, but look at it this way, she got kicked off the flight, so how much is it going to cost her to rebook?

Martin Jul 8th 2008 4:11PM

How can an airline be specially prepared for obnoxious, unruly and out of control kids on their flights. It's not someone else's fault when you are a poor parent who can't control your children. She admits the kids were out of control...so she admits it was her fault, end of story.

Moody75 Jul 8th 2008 4:12PM

You said:
"A woman, her 5-month-old sister and four kids were kicked off a flight"

In actual fact her sister was 5 months pregnant, not 5 months old.

As a side note: Also in the video we can see the 5 month pregnant sister getting ready to light a cigarette (18th second of the video).

Dick Jul 8th 2008 4:23PM

Is "unruly" a new code word for excited children? The video shows excited, enthusiastic children, not unruly.

As for the "lighting a cigarette" above, what does that have to do with anything?

OSURoss Jul 8th 2008 4:55PM

Sure...and autistic just means "hyper"...not a screaming mess. I earnestly hope you get to fly 8 hours with a couple "excited" kids sitting behind you.

crabby Jul 8th 2008 8:13PM

It means that smoking when you are 5 months pregnant is probably not something that most women would do. It endangers the fetus.

Siggi Jul 9th 2008 10:07AM

You are asking what the smoking issue has to do with anything. Well, it has to do with the fact that these are obviously people without any common sense and regard for others. If a pregnant woman smokes, the fetus suffers the consequences. Smoking during pregnancy is one of the dumbest things a woman can do. I'm sure she knows that, but she obviously doesn't care. If she doesn't care about her unborn child, why would she care about other passengers on the plane? It's simply a matter of attitude toward mankind.

Fred Jul 8th 2008 5:33PM

Compensation? If I were on this fligth I would consider a law suit against the mother for the bother her children caused all the other passengers. My only regret is the mother will never see the comments of the others on the flight.

eugene Jul 9th 2008 6:11AM

No, I think it's FAR more likely that it's idiot parents who can't control their idiot brats in public that make the rest of the world hate us.

Oh, and when some spoiled brat is throwing food, or kicking the back of my chair or screaming his lungs out, it's kinda hard to read a book, take a nap or watch the inflight entertainment.

Vicki Jul 8th 2008 5:48PM

Years ago I was on a flight from Atlanta to Chicago. The kid sitting behind me persisted in kicking the back of my seat. I finally flagged down an air hostess who made the mother have him sit in her lap on the other side of the aisle. Of course, the mother sat and glared at me for the rest of the trip LOL

tedito Jul 8th 2008 5:44PM

OH NO.....Now they'll miss the Wal-Mart Greeters Convention!

david Jul 8th 2008 5:44PM

This is outrageous that people who pay just as much to fly have to be irritated by obnoxious and disruptive children. If the children are normally out-of-control use an alternate means of transportation.

Big Sister Jul 8th 2008 5:54PM

MOOOOOOOO!!!!!

tme Jul 8th 2008 5:51PM

Have any of you tried to fly with a "Normal" child? It's hard enough to keep them entertained and behaved, and that's when you've actually been a "good, attentive parent" all along. Autistic children can run a very wide range of abilities and control-abilities... the parents of these children may have no other option but to fly somewhere. I am tired of people assuming that an autistic child can be controlled, any better than a normally well behaved child can be, when required to be ANYWHERE where they can't burn off their rather overwhelming amount of energy. Would it kill someone to try their hand at helping the mother out, since they're sitting right next to the kids anyway?

Anita Jul 9th 2008 1:06PM

Just because you have a special need child doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. Just as a healthy child you have to give boundaries. EVEN WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN. I am a RN and at the age of 10, as this boy was, he should have been taught what is acceptable. I for one have raised 3 boys and have flown with them multiple times and they would have never acted like that. I made sure they had toys and things to do so they wouldn't get bored. They never got up at a restaurant and ran around or start screaming. BOUNDARIES folks.

kathleen horne Jul 8th 2008 5:52PM

This is more about the parents and thier lack of courtesy and responsibility than the behavior of the children. Any child who is excessively loud, disruptive and running in the aisles is out of control. Special needs are not an excuse for a parent to remain inactive while a child runs rampant. It was up to the parent to provide a safe and calm environment for the child by being prepared and proactive. They mother complained about not having money and needing compensation...what would have happened if the flight was canceled or delayed due to mehcanics or weather? How would she have taken care of her family?