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United Airlines: Ticks on a plane!
Here's a plane delay story that I am not sure is covered under any contract of carriage.
The Denver Post is reporting that a United Airlines flight yesterday from Denver International to Des Moines was delayed more than five hours after three ticks were found in the cabin.
Let me repeat that: Three ticks. Or rather, three ticks.
Apparently passengers found the little buggers and brought them to the attention of flight crew members, who promptly evacuated the plane, had the cabin cleaned and replaced all the seat cushions on board. The airline even decided to load the passengers onto another plane for the trip to Des Moines.
That's when another delay took place...this time due to weather. Passengers were supposed to be on their way around 12:20 p.m., pre tick discovery; they did get airborne until a little before 6 p.m.
No word yet whether the movie version of this little debacle will star Samuel L. Jackson.
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brenda Jul 9th 2008 2:36PM
That seems pretty crazy, doesn't it? But if United had continued the flight and one passenger got bit by a tick, or heaven forbid, contracted Lyme disease, the airline would be sued for that, plus mental distress, - and anything else that the passengers and lawyers could think of.
Anonymous Jul 9th 2008 3:00PM
As someone who has been fighting chronic Lyme for nearly 3 years now, I find this article's tone completely inappropriate and appreciate the actions taken by United. Lyme disease is a rapidly expanding disease where the true transmissions of it are not limited to purely deer ticks and all modes of transmission are not yet known. A small step like this is well worth the time that people have to lost to prevent dealing with Lyme disease or one of the many other infections ticks can carry.
jeff.gadling Jul 10th 2008 5:05AM
Dear "A,"
I'm betting that the scores of passengers significantly delayed in this incident probably at one point or another thought to themselves, "all this because of a tick!" Let's face it, we think of significant airline delays in terms of mechanical foul-ups, not something the size of a match head. That being said, I certainly did not mean for my breezy tone here to cause offense to those out there suffering the very real and serious effects of Lyme Disease. If I have, I apologize.
Best,
Jeff
eric Jul 9th 2008 3:02PM
I get around by using Mapquest a great deal. The concept of an in car system would be a nice change to doing the homework on the web first . The ability to do the searches on the road as you go would be a good thing .
Kay Jul 9th 2008 6:09PM
The tick probably jumped off one of the passengers pets brought on board ther plane on one of the flights that day. They will never be able to determine where the tick came from. But more than likely it was brought in by a pet that ticketed inside the cabin.
Teri Jul 9th 2008 9:51PM
Extreme or not; I would be happy to get the hell off this plane!
Jessy the Cowgirl Jul 10th 2008 8:34AM
One of the American teachers I knew in Africa died of a strange tick bite behind her knee. So you think oh its just a tick who cares no biggie but it is a biggie when you are dead from it. No one knows where the ticks came from or how they got on the flight it was a good idea to clean the cabin. Delays suck but when they are in the best interest of safety then get over it.
Jason Jul 11th 2008 9:49AM
THere is a funny You Tube video called Ticks on a plane. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Wyc4eiLoc