Delta's turn

[Praying Colonel]

Southwest next? First United, then American, now Delta:

A passenger was removed from a recent Delta Air Lines flight after defying crew orders and using the bathroom while the jet awaited takeoff.

On April 18, Delta Flight 2035 was third in line for takeoff in Atlanta when the passenger, Kima Hamilton, felt the urgent need to urinate, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

However, when Hamilton reached the rear lavatory of the McDonnell-Douglas MD88, he said, a flight attendant told him that the plane would lose its place in line if he used the restroom — so Hamilton returned to his seat.

Hamilton said the urge returned after an extended wait and became more intense, so he used the restroom.

"We weren't taking off," he told the Journal Sentinel. "We were still. The plane isn't moving."

Hamilton's decision to get up while the aircraft was taxiing, along with his decision to defy the crew member's orders, caused the Milwaukee-bound flight to return to the gate.

In a video posted on YouTube by a fellow passenger, an airline employee asks Hamilton to exit the aircraft, and Hamilton pleads his case to remain on board. At the gate, all passengers were forced to deplane while Hamilton was met by airline employees and law enforcement.

http://www.businessinsider.com/delta-passenger-kicked-off-plane-using-bathroom-2017-4

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

IMO this is an non-issue. People just trying to ride the tails of the United fiasco.

 

[souperman128]

There will be a dozen more airline related news stories before any of this quiets down. First United, then United (with the rabbit), and now this one. How hard is it to go to the bathroom before boarding?

 

[Squirlz]

Not the same thing at all.

 

[wilkeliza]

Not the same at all. Passenger defied the request and fasten seat belt signs. Yes taxing sucks but he made the choice to get up and pee and they made the choice to have him removed for not listening. Jetblue already went through this a few years ago and now just strongly suggests you remain seated and not in the toilet but basically say it is not on them if you get hurt because you are in the lavatory during take off and landing. Delta is more strict on the not getting up but just because you aren't taking off or landing it is an active runway. Planes can get the okay in mere seconds on then opps you aren't strapped in.

 

[declansdad]

Passenger in front of him was being a tool; as were some of the others who were commenting at the end.

 

[Wishing on a star]

That plane had been sitting there for quite some time.
The human body sometimes has issues and needs.

I have boarded connecting flights where we were delayed, so no layover, and we were told to run (basically escorted), directly, to the waiting plan. No stops.

I have also sat very near a passenger who was ill with some kind of stomach virus or travelers food poisoning.
In that case, the flight attendant gave them the okay to proceed directly to the nearest restroom, which was the first class restroom, and would have been off limits.

This guy had requested that he needed a restroom.
Since when is a bodily function a federal crime...

They had federal authorities requested to arrest this guy!
ONLY on the airlines, people.
ONLY on the airlines.

 

[Jennasis]

I wonder what would happen if a patron complied with the orders to remain seated but relieved themselves in the seat (either intentionally or because they could not control the onslaught)?

 

[declansdad]

That plane had been sitting there for quite some time.
The human body sometimes has issues and needs.

I have boarded connecting flights where we were delayed, so no layover, and we were told to run (basically escorted), directly, to the waiting plan. No stops.

I have also sat very near a passenger who was ill with some kind of stomach virus or travelers food poisoning.
In that case, the flight attendant gave them the okay to proceed directly to the nearest restroom, which was the first class restroom, and would have been off limits.

This guy had requested that he needed a restroom.
Since when is a bodily function a federal crime...

They had federal authorities requested to arrest this guy!
ONLY on the airlines, people.
ONLY on the airlines.

He was told to return to his seat on his first attempt, he didn't ask on the second. He had no idea if he had time to go or not.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm curious what the airline (and others) would have preferred the guy do... either "go" in his seat or get up to the restroom. It's easy to say "he should have gone before boarding", but you have no idea what kind of connection he had. He also may not have had the "urge" at the gate. While I understand Delta was within their right to remove him, I think some common sense should come into play. Again, the option is to let him use the restroom or take the chance he urinates in his seat. What's the better choice?

When oldest DD had just become potty trained we were flying to Disney. As we were taxiing, she had to "go". We knew from experience she wouldn't be able to hold it (we were in Atlanta and like 7 or 8 from takeoff). Fortunately the FA's jump seat was right behind us, we explained the situation, she called the cockpit and got permission for DD to use the restroom while we were on the taxiway. This was 15+ years ago though.

I think Delta only gave him a partial credit for his ticket, which I don't think is right. I don't see how this doesn't qualify as IDB.

 

[punkin]

I was once on a plane with horrendous turbulence. The seat belt sign was on the entire flight. I had a newly toilet trained child who could not hold it, and I asked the flight attendant to go to the bathroom with my DD. I was told no and DD peed in her seat. I had a change of clothes for her, but I'd bet the plane had to be taken out of service for cleaning. It happens.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm curious what the airline (and others) would have preferred the guy do... either "go" in his seat or get up to the restroom. It's easy to say "he should have gone before boarding", but you have no idea what kind of connection he had. He also may not have had the "urge" at the gate. While I understand Delta was within their right to remove him, I think some common sense should come into play. Again, the option is to let him use the restroom or take the chance he urinates in his seat. What's the better choice?

When oldest DD had just become potty trained we were flying to Disney. As we were taxiing, she had to "go". We knew from experience she wouldn't be able to hold it (we were in Atlanta and like 7 or 8 from takeoff). Fortunately the FA's jump seat was right behind us, we explained the situation, she called the cockpit and got permission for DD to use the restroom while we were on the taxiway. This was 15+ years ago though.

I think Delta only gave him a partial credit for his ticket, which I don't think is right. I don't see how this doesn't qualify as IDB.

The difference is you spoke with the FA and got approval from the cockpit. The 2nd time when he really had to go he didn't talk to them first. When you are on a plane if the seat belt sign is on you have to talk to the FA before you get up because you have no clue if you are next in line and it'll be 1 minute before you are in the air or still #3 and you've got some time to spare.

 

[sam_gordon]

The difference is you spoke with the FA and got approval from the cockpit. The 2nd time when he really had to go he didn't talk to them first. When you are on a plane if the seat belt sign is on you have to talk to the FA before you get up because you have no clue if you are next in line and it'll be 1 minute before you are in the air or still #3 and you've got some time to spare.

OK, so he gets up and goes to the lavatory. A FA tells him to return to his seat. He explains he REALLY needs to go. Isn't that asking? Again, IMO, (and I get there are regulations about people out of their seats while taxiing), isn't it better to let him go (and notify the pilot) than to send him back to his seat and let him possibly "go" there?

 

[wilkeliza]

OK, so he gets up and goes to the lavatory. A FA tells him to return to his seat. He explains he REALLY needs to go. Isn't that asking? Again, IMO, (and I get there are regulations about people out of their seats while taxiing), isn't it better to let him go (and notify the pilot) than to send him back to his seat and let him possibly "go" there?

Since we don't have an exact play by play video of the incident no one knows exactly what happens. Just reading his report the 2nd time he just got up and went. It seems he got up to go, FA told him to please return to his seat because they are #3 for take off and will lose their spot if he is up, they wait a little bit and he really needs to go so he got up and went. None of the reports actually mention him asking for permission to go.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Once again people not thinking the rules apply to them and people are trying to cash in on after the United issues.

 

[fly girl]

The passenger repeatedly didn't comply with FA requests. And this is not a Delta rule, it is a FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations) that everyone is to be seated with seat belts on for taxi and takeoff. FA's can only be up during that time for safety issues as well.

The story also fails to mention this passenger messed with emergency equipment (On that plane there a red barrier strap in the back of plane before the restrooms -- the back exit is a tailcone so extra time is need for FA to prepare that exit in an emergency.) He removed the barrier strap without consent to access the restroom.

Yes, no doubt it was unfortunate how it went down -- I imagine the FA thought he could "hold it" but apparently he couldn't. Did he express to the crew member how dire his situation was? We don't know. The FA may have just said, "you need to be seated we are on an active taxiway" and the guy returned to his seat. Or he may have pleaded - who knows! But he touched that strap and went in the second time - that's when it went awry.

Hindsight, it would've been better for FA to call cockpit have them get out of line and off active taxiway to accommodate him the first time, but that in turn would inconvenience 130+ other people for 1. (Which was done anyway after he didn't comply.)

Easy to say what could've been done but we don't know how the whole thing transpired.

 

[sam_gordon]

Since we don't have an exact play by play video of the incident no one knows exactly what happens. Just reading his report the 2nd time he just got up and went. It seems he got up to go, FA told him to please return to his seat because they are #3 for take off and will lose their spot if he is up, they wait a little bit and he really needs to go so he got up and went. None of the reports actually mention him asking for permission to go.

Right. I'm going by what we DO know. I think the passenger and Delta were both put in a poor situation. Was there truly a need to deny him boarding? I think this is totally different than the United doctor. Where I think Delta blew it was denying him boarding AND only refunding part of his ticket cost.

I think he should have been allowed to use the bathroom OR Delta should have rescheduled him on the next flight (even cross airline if need be) OR Delta should have (at minimum) refunded his entire ticket.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Not the same thing at all.

Agreed. By "Delta's Turn" I mean "their turn in the media spotlight." IMHO the United, American and Delta incidents are all different in their own way.

I wonder what would happen if a patron complied with the orders to remain seated but relieved themselves in the seat (either intentionally or because they could not control the onslaught)?

I follow an Instagram account called Passenger Shaming where they post pics/videos people send in of airline passengers behaving badly. Let's just say this issue has come up in their account before.

 

[sam_gordon]

He removed the barrier strap without consent to access the restroom.

Where did you get that piece of information?

 

[fly girl]

Where did you get that piece of information?

I'm a retired FA, I worked that aircraft a lot. That barrier strap is put up before aft seated FA is buckled into the jumpseat.

ETA: If he went into the bathroom without permission he would've had to remove the strap without asking to get access to restroom.