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Police haul HBO executive, husband off Delta Airlines flight
A high-profile couple from New York was recently hauled off a Delta Airlines flight after the man allegedly verbally abused a flight attendant because his television in first class didn't work.Sheila Nevins, the president of HBO Documentary Films, and her husband Sidney Koch are considering legal action against Delta, the New York Times's Caucus Blog reports. Their lawyer, John Horan, tells the Times: "They were detained at JFK in a public space for two hours and were humiliated by the experience. It was ghastly and unnecessary."
What happened, you ask?
The couple was traveling back to New York from the Sundance Film Festival on Inauguration Day, in first class. Apparently they had confirmed ahead of time with Delta that live television would be available in first class, so that they could watch President Obama's speech. But upon takeoff many of the TVs in first class malfunctioned, including Sheila Nevins'. Compounding this, the pilot reportedly kept pausing the entertainment system -- therefore interrupting Obama's speech -- with announcements about various landmarks the plane was flying over.
This was all enough to send Sidney Koch into a rage, says the Times. Delta claims Koch became "verbally abusive" to a flight attendant. Koch admits that he lost his temper, and he says he apologized to the flight attendant.
Nevertheless, local police met the flight at JFK and removed the couple from the plane. They were not issued any summons after their questioning at the airport.
What do you think about this? Did the flight attendant overreact? Does the couple have a case against Delta? In our post-9/11 world, do flight attendants at times appear a little too quick to get law enforcement involved? I mean, the guy was pissed about his TV, so he turns around and, what, pledges to bring down the plane?
Obviously a lot has to do with what was actually said in this case, and maybe we'll never know that.
I for one find the word's of Delta's spokesperson, Betsy Talton, interesting. Speaking to the Times, she says specifically that Koch was "verbally abusive" to the FA. She doesn't use the word "threat."
No one has the right to abuse a flight attendant, verbally or otherwise. But what constitutes actually threatening a flight?
Launching into a name-calling, profanity-fueled rage against a FA is wrong, but do you put me in cuffs? Is it tantamount to physically endangering the flight by, say, charging the cockpit or attacking someone?
Aside from snooty cable tv execs, what other odd things have been found on planes? Click the images to find out!
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 35)
Ken Jan 28th 2009 3:47PM
I find that the way people treat Flight attendants, waiters and other minimum wage earners tells a lot about their character and management style. Anyone who abuses a Flight attendant or waiter is just an idiot who, I am sure, habitually abuses people in general. If this abuse is serious enough then yes, have them hauled off = maybe they will learn a lesson! In the awful Bush years the mantra was "you are with me OR you are against me" - resulting in abuse of people and all our freedoms in general. In the rational Obama period I think the mantra is "Lets all be rational and work together" which will create a more productive atmosphere?
Greg Jan 29th 2009 6:16PM
And these nasty liberals are the worse.
Daniel Jan 30th 2009 1:42AM
They were Obama supporters trying to watch an Obama speech. So much for being rational.
Rock Jan 31st 2009 8:27PM
Well, this couple ARE typical Obama liberals, which shows that your whole diatribe against Bush and FOR Obama is totally backwards.
799999999999999899999999998
+===+Ken said...
In the awful Bush years the mantra was "you are with me OR you are against me" - resulting in abuse of people and all our freedoms in general. In the rational Obama period I think the mantra is "Lets all be rational and work together" which will create a more productive atmosphere?
cboeman Jan 28th 2009 6:41PM
we have a 1st amendment right to be angry and complaintive without being criminalized, so that we can communicate our problems clearly. period. this couple has a great 1st and 4th amendment case under a usc 42, 1983 civil action
ken Jan 28th 2009 7:32PM
Agreed, it is one thing to complain, another to abuse. In this case, it reads to me that the passenger was abusive - well beyond the boundary of what would be considered appropriate for a TV not working. TVs not working happens to me on every other flight (United and American Airlines) and 1) I complain and 2) I never get arrested. Must be that I am exercising my rights in civil and appropriate manner?
Chris Jan 29th 2009 2:17PM
Sorry Charlie on this one. The judge will through it out of civil court and maybe even lecture this couple to grow up and act like adults. They (airline) certainly could have pressed charges against this couple for interfering with a flight crew. A jury would not be sympathetic to them....
kitty Jan 29th 2009 2:48PM
is there some other amendment that says you should be courteous to people who have absolutely NO control of the situation you are complaining about?
if there isn't, there should be.
would you want to be spoken to in a vile manner like that?
Bruce Jan 29th 2009 2:52PM
Mark Twain was right. "LETS KILL ALL THE LAWYERS"
It might make the world a lot better place with out all the B.S. lawsuits you folks bring to waste our time. Clearly what this animal needed was a time out and that is what he got. Maybe if he had learned his lessons in preschool than he wouldn't have been humiliated as he had humiliated the flight attendant. He asked for it and got his just rewards.
TJS Jan 29th 2009 11:05PM
Where have you been since 9-11? This attitude is not acceptable in this or any other work place. Any "attack" on plane or the personel must be dealt with severly so that it will not happen again.
Babs Jan 29th 2009 5:53PM
Actually it was Shakespeare who said "kill all the lawyers" (Henry VI). Mark Twain wanted to kill adjectives.
Euroman Jan 29th 2009 6:20PM
There is a time and a place to complain. Abusing a F/A is not the way. Writing a well written letter to the appropriate authorities will more likely get you more than causing a problem on the flight. The flight lands you then talk to someone. F/As are there for the safety of the flight #1.
Kelli Jan 29th 2009 8:00PM
How Ridiculous! What a sue-happy society that you obviously endorse. "As the Prop Turns and the rich get bitchier" s..t happens...bring a good book on the plane...travel earlier/later...and above all-the flight attendant is not a tv repairman...if you have a complaint, then submit it online or by phone to Delta's customer service department. I am sure the "executive couple" was able to see at least the highlights of the event on later newcasts and they are too prissy to have to go through the trouble, then why didn't they just fly a luxury private aircraft or do those not have tv either? Get a life...some people don't even have tv you spoiled brats!
jo Jan 29th 2009 9:33PM
I didn't realize abuse and abusing someone else was a constitutional right. Wow! You must be quite an astute attorney-NOT! I would definitely avoid obtaining advice from the likes of a deep thinker like you.....
God Jan 29th 2009 10:20PM
Disorderly conduct is NOT a constitutional right
carol Jan 29th 2009 11:08PM
Baloney!
Mary Jan 29th 2009 11:19PM
I am a flight attendant and we get passengers like this couple every so often. If they wanted to be treated like royalty then they should have chartered a flight. Secondly I HARDLY think the Captain was doing a sight seeing tour. When the Captain uses his PA it will always interrupt the video...why, you ask? Because his announcements supercede all others including the videos...if there is an emergency then EVERYONE needs to be able to hear him. So if the video is playing it has to be interrupted.
Secondly this couple had no business taking this out on a flight attendant. If they were unhappy they could have acted like ADULTS and written a complaint letter stating that the video system was inop. Well guess what..it's electrical..sh*t happens.
Secondly IF the inaugural was so d*mn important they should have booked a different flight..there are NOT that many airlines who currently have Direct TV access so this couple should NOT feel this is expect. I highly doubt they booked Delta for their TV service..give me a break.
My advice to everyone is to realize WHY a flight attendant is onboard. We are not minimum wage workers...(I am paid $42 an hour) and I have to not only serve food and drinks but also have to jump at a moments notice when an emergency arises (yes medical emergencies happen nearly weekly on my flights)
My good friend recently used the defibillator on a passenger and saved his life. And for this we get yelled at about a stupid TV not working, the fact we don't serve vegetarian meals or have pillows for everyone.
We are an airline NOT a hotel. We can't provide your particular meal requirement nor can I fix a TV in flight.
I CAN, however, get your rears off a burning aircraft in under 90 seconds, defibillate you if you are having a heart attack, give you CPR, tend to your wounds, burns, broken bones, diabetic shock and administer oxygen if needed.
I hope the next time these spoiled brats get on a flight they will say "please" and "thank you" and learn to use a DVR and record the Presidential Inaugural if it was that important to them.
susan Jan 29th 2009 11:23PM
Being verbally abusive is not protected under the constitution, deary. By apologizing to the flight attendant he is admitting as much. When someone is being verbally abusive, you have no idea if they will cross the line and resort to physical violence.
Jen Jan 30th 2009 2:03AM
I agree plus he was in first class I would have been mad no matterwhat was on. You pay for the first class ticket you have the right to complain if your unsatisified!
Joanne Feb 1st 2009 12:50PM
You have a right to peacefully demonstrate your view on public property which doesn't include abusing other people or violating their rights in doing so. Way to use the constitution in order to justify people who should lawfully have been arrested.