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Frustrated passenger beats up airline "employee" - breaks its screen
So, instead of yelling at it, like any normal frustrated passenger would do, he beat the poor thing up.
His anger caused $15,000 in damage to the kiosk, and in addition to being taken into custody and being charged with a felony, both the airport terminal authority and Delta Airlines have barred him from any contact with them.
So, let this be a lesson to anyone that thinks the check-in kiosk does not have feelings that can be hurt - that may very well be true, but beating it up will still land you in the slammer.
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
brian Oct 4th 2009 12:14PM
I don't blame him. As a frequent traveler who's flown on many airlines, I do have to say that Delta's kiosks are the slowest ones where amazingly something will always go wrong. This article did not surprise me in the least.
jay Oct 5th 2009 2:33PM
I'm sure i would have done the same.
Angie Oct 5th 2009 2:39PM
As a frequent traveler, one should check in before your scheduled flights, most airlines allow passengers check in 24 hour and receiving boarding passes prior arriving to the airport. It would save times and bon voyage.
sadgalinsd Oct 5th 2009 2:51PM
Sounds like this guy needs to go to some anger management classes!
michael dean Oct 5th 2009 3:17PM
Well kind of don't blame him..Out of Spokane Delta cancelled mostly all flights going into Minn.St.Paul by first saying it was do to Weather,,which was a Lie..a woman with a computer checked and in Minn.St.Paul they were working on the Runways. They made it out like we was all ready to get on board and we were leaving, then they said it wouldn't leave intil for a few hours. Me and many others stood in line for over 4 hours to be Re-Booked for them only to tell us we had to get a Hotel for the night at are cost. Even although it was raining at Minn.St.Paul they used the act of God thing to not pay for are Hotel. But I couldn't spend the night because I had to be in Chicago the next day at a certain time. So I just had to cancel my trip and come home. Although the plane did leave but they said they couldn't get me to Chicago that day, they said I would have to stay at a Hotel in Minn.. I was on my way to a Dog show,,and they don't wait for the plane and me. The Dog Show goes on with or without me. They still have my 20.00 for my suit case that didn't get on,,I know its not much,,but they owe me..Did get my airplane ticket paid back,,but will take a week or so to get that back. But Delta could have called or emailed to tell us this,,so we could get things changed to go a different way around Minn.St.Paul. But they didn't. Alot of the people in the line that got on to get to Minn. were there from the day before. That was along time to stand in this line for over 4 hours, that barely moved to just be turned away. I have to say,,that I was very depressed over it,,,well, I will never go on Delta again, thats for sure.
Dave Oct 5th 2009 3:26PM
morons, I dont blame him? are you crazy. it is inexcusable behavior. the big bad airline was rude me. grow up people
ms04121966 Oct 5th 2009 3:31PM
I understand getting frustrated with modern technology, but this man really needs to get a grip. What good did it really do him to destroy the thing?
Brat Oct 5th 2009 3:33PM
I think Delta Airlines should be shut down. They are totally incompetent. My nieces flew recently to see their Great Grand father before he passed away. They didn't make it but the attitude of the stewardesses was totally uncalled for. Another person who was blind was left to find his own way because another incompetent employee refused to take him any further. Shut this airlines down permanently.
michael dean Oct 5th 2009 3:32PM
Well of course he shouldn't have done that..would I have done it,,no..I might have thought about it although.
Wanda Oct 5th 2009 4:16PM
Now if only someone can let him have at those automated telephone voices
Fred Oct 5th 2009 4:44PM
The airlines are all a joke. They really do not care about the passengers. A bunch of us went to Canada a couple of years ago. We flew into Mineapolis in a large plane, and on to Interntional Falls where we had Hotel and Car reservations in addition to the resort. The plane to International falls was smaller, they did not have enough room for all the bags, and decided to leave 2 of our 3 person group with out fishing rods for the trip. They said they would put them on a plane the next day, but by then we would be at a boat in resort in Canada. We learned from a taxi driver there he drives stuff to the resorts all the time, except since ours was boat in he could not get there. We never even got an, we are sorry for the trouble from the airline.
wil kokke Oct 5th 2009 5:02PM
Delta is certainly not my favorite airline. I try to avoid Delta.
A couple of years ago I had booked a Delta return flight from Schiphol to JFK. At the airport I started an argument with somebody smoking under a no-smoking sign. It turned out that the no-smoking signs were just decoration because no-smoking was not enforced. Delta had not warned me. I ended up in the airport police station, was fined, and missed my flight. By the time I got out of the police station there was nobody at the Delta counter to help me. I had to buy a walk-up ticket from another airline because I had to go to work the next day.
Youreanidiot Oct 5th 2009 5:24PM
What in the world did that have to do with Delta? That was between you and the airport security?! How can you blame an airline for you fighting over airport rules that land you in trouble with security? BTW, in many airports, once all flights have left... so do employees. They are no longer paid and therfore do not volunteer to stay around in case a passenger shows up hours later.
neilwied Oct 5th 2009 9:41PM
Next time, Wil, mind your own business. When you make the Bundespolitzei you can enforce the law.
poet Oct 5th 2009 5:11PM
He WHAT???? HAHAHAHAHAHA Too bad he had to go to jail & now owns a useless kiosk. LOL
Well, thank goodness he didn't that that aggression out on a human.
Hey, let us know if he ever gets it fixed! We'll use his. LOL
Myric6 Oct 5th 2009 5:55PM
Can't say I'm really sorry he did that, but I don't recommend doing it. I completely understand wanting to!! Since 9/11 airline employees SU*K SU*K SU*K! Have only met a handful of pleasant ones. They lie & make families wait HOURS without telling the truth "you ain't gettin outta here tonight" or trying to help. They have a mighty uppity attitude because they know you're scared of going to jail. I just PRAY they get treated the same way when they or their family travels. I pray for justice from the universe. So I understand totally why this person did this. The airlines should go back to service, service, service and pleasant trips. They'd start making money again.
michael dean Oct 5th 2009 6:14PM
And one other little thing about Delta and them not calling or email any of us that had tickets to leave last weekend to fly to Minn. and Chicago or else where..they wanted me to stay in a Hotel that night in Spokane but they had my suit case and it just about left to Minn.St.Paul. with me not on the plane or going to be there to pick it up. Me and a couple others were just lucky to get are suit case's. When I told the guy at Delta I needed my suit case he got a crappy look on his face like it was just going to killing him to get my suit case. Because when I told them that there is no need in me going to Chicago if I can't be their today, not tomorrow..I bought my ticket for the trip a month in advance. If my suit case would have went no telling were it would be at,,lost and found I guess. Delta and many other carrier's knew they were working on the runways and could only handle so many planes at a time coming in and going out. They said at the last minute they could get me to Minn. but not to Chicago. Well that didn't do any good.
Allisha Oct 5th 2009 6:51PM
I can understand his fustration, as I once was stuck in ATL, tring to get the damn thing to work, so then it tells me there is an error, go to check in, and by the time I got thru in line, they wouldnt allow me on the plane! I was so pissed..but I didnt beat the machine up, but if I had have known that was a option! lol...but seriously I understand he is wrong and should have to pay for it, but I think felonly charges may be abit harsh.
TIM, Oct 5th 2009 7:13PM
This is the problem with the airline industry today period. Flying, like customer service has gotten worse because the airlines are flying in the red. Seats are not comfortable, and on two occasions the back was broken and on one flight the stewardess wanted to move me to another seat because it wasn't upright. They fly the planes so why didn't it get reported and fixed by maintenance? It's very sad how the industry has gotten since 9/11, due to nineteen pieces os scum that has turned the flying public into "suspects" wherever you go along with the duration. I wish they could provide something nutritious instead of peanuts. I don't want a seatmate stranger telling me their life history and I'm smelling peanuts. Very sad the whole industry has deteriorated.
Marshall Oct 5th 2009 7:19PM
More ,new competing domestic and international airlines are really needed here
in the USA. I myself disagree with e-ticketing and self service checkin kiosks.
They wont read my passport for one thing. That sucks to say the least.
I prefer paper ticket coupons and the old fashioned way of checking in. The baggage
check in fees are a big rip off too. None of this frustrating crap existed 40 to 50 years
ago. I am discovering alternate airlines from other countries that treat passengers
like proper travelling human beings.