Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.

Vegetarian passenger tosses meat at flight attendant

by Justin Delaney (RSS feed) on Mar 21st 2011 at 2:30PM

One of the simple truths about air travel is that the food is usually somewhere between sub-par and awful. Sure, there are exceptions, but these are unlikely oases in a desert of damp sodium-rich indelicacies. Unless you are posted up in first class on Singapore Air eating pan-seared Chilean bass in bouillabaisse broth with capsicum confit and zucchini pasta or one of their many other haute options, you will likely be eating a mass-produced goo concocted by scientists rather than chefs.

It seems a brief food revolt began and subsequently ended on a Continental Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic yesterday. According to MSNBC, the flight was bound for Newark, and a vegetarian passenger was served a meat dish that offended her greatly. Instead of politely returning the meal, disgust consumed her. She tossed the meaty tray at a flight attendant in a display of disorderly resentment. Upon landing, the port authority greeted the plane, but the flight attendant declined to press charges.

flickr image via mr wabu

Filed under: Food and Drink, North America, Dominican Republic, United States, Airlines, Airports, News, Travel Health, Caribbean

Find Your Hotel

Hotel
Flight
Vacation
Car
Cruise

From City name or airport

To City name or airport

Leave

Return

From City name or airport

To City name or airport

Leave

Return

Pick-up location City name or airport code

Drop-off location If different

Pick-up date

Drop-off date

Destination

Cruise date

Cruise line

Cruise length

Search Travel Deals

Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)

james Mar 21st 2011 10:46PM

she's probably just used to having to kill the dog before eating it in the Dom. Republic...

Russell Mar 22nd 2011 4:02AM

Had the passenger specified vegetarian diet, no meat, or whatever, that is what would have been provided. Since she did not specify it, and the flight did not have a non-meat dish, the passenger should have either declined the meal or requested (and the request should have been honored by the airline without cost increase, a second meal. Both of which she could have eaten around the offending piece of food. In no case should she have thrown the meal at the FA. She should have brought it to the FA's attention, requested a non-meat entre or two entre's in which she just eat around the meat. The airline is obligated to provide for specific dietary meals or restrictions. This is determined before the flight. Many people have specific alergies to certain foods, others worsen medical conditions if they eat a meal that contains high levels of sodium, same wiith peanuts and peanut products, or milk, or red meats. These situations needs to made known to the flight team prior to the flight so they can bring those specific items on board the flight and then are reserved specifically for them.

Larry W. Bruce Mar 21st 2011 11:11PM

If you were dropped off a turnup truck recently then, I could see why you may expect good food on an airline. Anyone with a pulse and taste buds knows, you avoid the food on an airline at all cost. I usually gag down the coffee and call it a day. I do feel the vegetarian passenger that threw her meat at the stewardess was out of line and disrespectful. In other word, don't shoot the messenger. The vegetarian should have called the stewardess over and asked for a vegetarian meal as she had requested. If getting meat in a meal is all that concerns you--------------welcome to Hait, Libya or Japan where there are real issues to consider !

peter Mar 21st 2011 11:43PM

if i was that flight attendant, i would have picked up the tray and stuffed my mouth with a portion of the foods from it, then chewed it for about 2 minutes and then spit it all in her face..haha.

brian Mar 22nd 2011 12:02AM

First of all tom you are not a perfect person and I know that a flight from domincian repulick is not 14 hours am soley baseing all of this on my own experince from other travels my tail plumage is very long LOL

Susan Mar 22nd 2011 12:54AM

I have celiac disease and can not have wheat etc - 2 out of 3 times I am served a meal on a plane that would flat out make me sick - not sure why someone that needs or wants a special diet does not take theirs on the plane for those instances that an error occurs and the wrong meal is provided.

My 2 year old grandson has more manners and knows the consequences for throwing food. The passenger throwing food did not even get a time out. :-(

Jennifer Mar 22nd 2011 12:55AM

That passenger needed to go to jail. We all need to behave so all passengers can have a pleasant flight. Attendants do not have an easy job and this passenger's action was rude and uncalled for.

Shannon G. Mar 22nd 2011 12:58AM

I agree with David McDonald, this woman should be banned from flight. She obviously doesn't have respect for anyone. As one woman stated, a simple "Excuse me, I ordered a vegetarian meal." would have been suffice. This woman was tactless and rude and needed charges filed against her to put her in her rightful place. This was a missed opportunity for a lesson in manners. I am sure this wasn't the first time this woman was out of line and it won't be the last.
P.S. Quit picking on Brian, there are more important things than perfect spelling in life. Throwing digs at someone is almost as rude at throwing food at someone. Everyone is entitled to an opinion here, regardless of spelling, grammar or punctuation. If you dont like his spelling skip his post and read on. No harm done. Brian, thank you for your past service in our military (Navy).

Steven R. Russell Mar 22nd 2011 1:35AM

When I saw the original headline on my monitor here, I thought I'd read something along the lines of;

"Airline Passenger Hurls Meat At Flight Attendant."

Then upon investigating further here, to see just how this disgusted passenger managed, to "Hurl" the meat at the flight attendant, the title and subsequent article then clarified that the disgruntled passenger "Tossed" the meat at the flight attendant, lol.

From what I understand, there's a slight difference between "Hurling," and "Tossing," lol!

Ashora123 Mar 22nd 2011 2:02AM

Oh no, PETA has taken to the skies!

The grass-nibbler should've asked for a vegitarian tray. If she didn't, then it's not the flight attendant's fault. By what I read, 98% of people in the world consume meat. Therefore, the attendant didn't even know if this passenger was a vegitarian and assumed that she had the regular omnivore diet most people have.

Vegitarians like this are an absolute disgrace. To me, many come off as snobbish and downright disrespectful, as with this case. I've known decent vegitarians (very little do I come across a decent one), and I've met hippie radicals who say that they'll eat a human baby over a cow. I'm a carnitarian (eating healthy meats only. Not processed crap, and I do rarely eat some fruit to avoid scury) due to gluten intolerance. I'm a vegan's/vegitarian's worst nightmare, but I do respect vegitarians that are decent. My best friend in my hometown is a vegitarian :) and we get along perfect.

*Sorry any misspellings*

Susan Mar 22nd 2011 3:10AM

You have been misinformed - there ARE no "healthy" meats. Look up even chicken, it has extremely high arsenic levels which cause Alzheimer's Disease amoung many other problems.

Brace Mar 25th 2011 1:11PM

It would have been hilarious if the flight attendant had picked up the meat and stuffed down the bitch's throat.

Jack Mar 22nd 2011 2:51AM

Food fights several miles high may get interesting! If some guy's $5000 suit and tie was ruined by the gravy and red beets, this could have gotten out of hand very quickly. This vegetarian gal may have had pork steak and gravy stuffed up her nose as a friendly reminder that food fights don't belong on airplanes. Curly, Moe and Larry could have taken this all the way!

Susan Mar 22nd 2011 3:08AM

I can see this happening - they NEVER give you your reserved vegetarian meal, even if you have reserved it weeks in advance, they give it to someone else. I don't blame this passenger.

Susan Mar 22nd 2011 3:13AM

As I said below, you NEVER get your vegetarian meal, even if it it is reserved weeks in advance. I know, I have been vegetarian for 35 years and have never once gotten mine. I can see this happening. Most meat-eaters are extremely disrespectful to vegetarians and vegans, they see my lifestyle as a personal affront on them even though I NEVER preach about it to anyone, it is a personal choice. However, so many people feel guilty about eating meat that they take it out on us - not fair. My new opinion on it is that if you can't slaughter your own food, you should be vegetarian and not a hypocrite.