Mother & baby Kicked off Plane!

[me again]

Has anyone seen the news article about the mother and 19 month boy who were kicked off a Continental Express flight?

They were on a Continental Express jet going from Houston to Oklahoma. apparently when the plane started to taxi the toddler said "bye bye, airplane". He said that several times. Well, the flight attendant thought it was some sort of security issue (guess she's never had kids!) and ordered the mother to "shut the kid up" she then suggested the mother give the child "baby benedryl. The mother refused, stating she wasn't going to drug her child so they could have a pleasant flight. Well, the flight attendant had the plane turn back and the mother and child were kicked off the fllight!

come on! Security is one thing, but that' going waaaaaay too far. since when is a baby babbling a security threat? According to the news story, they were just dumped at the Houston airport, the mother didn't even have supplies for the child, such as juice, milk, diapers, etc. How about that--they don't let you carry that stuff on board, wonder if she got her checked bags back, or was just sol at the airport? The article I read didn't state how she eventually got home.

Even if she was willing to give her child 'baby benedryl" she probably didn't have it. they don't let you carry liquids on board anymore. The whole situation is simply ridiculous. Just why did the plane turn around--the flight attendant doesn't have the authority to re-route the plane, what bs did she tell the pilot? that there was a "dangerous baby" on board? who hasn't had a child act up while on a plane? I've had mine scream, throw tantrums, etc, and seen others do the same. As parents we all do the best we can to control our children, but sometimes it just isn't possible to produce little angels. But to just kick a mother and child off the plane--all because she didn't want to give her kid benedryl!

what next? Throw any child off a plane who cries? What if they're already in the air? handcuff them and turn them over to an air marshall? Yes, the skies are really safer without that kid on board, after all, "bye bye airplane" from a toddler sounds really threatening!

 

[HotMama]

This is a joke, right? Unbelievable!

 

[Punky's Mama]

I just read the article on yahoo.com! I'm curious to see any followup on the story. Something sounds a little fishy to me??? I'd be interested if anyone hears anything more.

 

[me again]

This is a joke, right? Unbelievable!

No, its not a joke. I can't copy the link, go to Yahoo news, its all there.

 

[me again]

I just read the article on yahoo.com! I'm curious to see any followup on the story. Something sounds a little fishy to me??? I'd be interested if anyone hears anything more.

Well I didn't write the article, just saying what it says. But there are holes in it. Like, just why did the pilot turn the plane around? The flight attendant had the problem with the baby, it was her misjudgment, but surely she doesn't fly the plane. all that has to be cleared through the pilot, flight control, etc. also, she states she was dumped at the airport without any supplies. did they give her her checked luggage? also, the Yahoo article shows her at her home in Oklahoma, how did she get back? did the airline fly her back, did she buy another ticket? I would like to see more details, too, but the whole article as written sounds crazy!

also, what airline employee would suggest/demand that a parent give their child any type of medicine? they're way too paranoid about a lawsuit, used to long ago airlines would give asprin, tylenol, etc, won't do that anymore for fear of reacrtions, lawsuits, etc.

 

[me again]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070712/ap_on_re_us/toddler_booted

 

[me again]

My ds said something similar when he was about that age....we were taking off from New York, La Guardia, he said as the plane went in the air "bye bye New York". guess that was a security threat?

 

[mrs.beast]

this was the first thing my husband asked me if i had heard about today. it is really shocking. hard to believe that we are getting the whole story. it is one sided right now.

 

[dementia412]

As far as her not having supplies, I belive that was because of the 11 hour delay she had before the flight.. she had run out of diapers and such.

 

[all4fun]

Wow. Give me a break - to feel threatened by a what a toddler is saying and try to force the mom to give the baby drugs? What is she, a doctor now? This article HERE says the mom later learned that the FA told the pilot that she (mom) threatened her and that is why they turned the plane around and forced her off. Unbelievable! If this story is true that FA shouldn't have a job any more IMO. That's rediculous.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Re the supplies issue.

You are allowed to bring through security Baby Milk, Baby Juice etc sufficient for the duration of the flight as long as you taste it for the security officers as you go through security.

You can also buy as much baby milk and juice as you wish and take it on board if purchased in the departure lounge after clearing security.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Additionally, the cabin crew must have either been very paranoid or never ever dealt with kids before to feel threatened by what the child said.

For instance, last May we travelled to Portugal and after we boarded the airplane we were told that the crew on board were the crew that had flown the plane in to the airport and would not be flying with us to Portugal. The crew who would be flying to Portugal with us were stuck in a huge traffic jam after a multiple vehicle accident on the motorway, but they were on their way and in order to minimise the delay the other crew got us boarded and ready so that the new crew could just board the flight and get us on our way.
Obviously there was still a slight delay of perhaps 20 to 30 minutes during which our 3 year old got a little bored and took her seatbelt off. When it was time to go we couldn't persuade to get her seatbelt back on and sit properly etc and she ended up taking a massive tantrum. A lovely member of the cabin crew spent a good 5 minutes or more talking to her and helping to calm her down and persuaded her to keep her seatbelt on so we could take off.

Much better than just suggesting drugs that the child could even be allergic to.

 

[eliza61]

!

what next? Throw any child off a plane who cries? What if they're already in the air? handcuff them and turn them over to an air marshall? Yes, the skies are really safer without that kid on board, after all, "bye bye airplane" from a toddler sounds really threatening!

I've said it before, the good ole days when people were sympathetic to adults with children flying are unfortunately over!! I fly 2X a week out of Philly and I can't tell you how bad it is. No attempt by security or airline personnel whatsoever to excersise a little patience and unfortunately its mainly moms with very young children. I have seen a number of times moms removed from the waiting area for the silliest things.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I saw this story on our news last night. I cannot believe, nor can I accept, what this airline did to this mom. She seemed so nice when she was relating her side of the issue. The airline has a BIG problem!

The poor baby has no understanding of any of this. Actually, if we can't understand it, how can you ever explain it to a child?

 

[Stephres]

The first time we flew with our daughter lots of people (friends and relatives) insisted we give her bendryl. Well, guess what? Bendryl makes her hyper and she was a monster on the plane. That was the last time I let anyone talk me into giving my children medicine I didn't think they needed. To even suggest it is irresponsible unless you are a medical professional.

 

[laughinplace199]

Re the supplies issue.

You are allowed to bring through security Baby Milk, Baby Juice etc sufficient for the duration of the flight as long as you taste it for the security officers as you go through security.

Actually, in the US you can bring as much formula or breast milk as you want to on the plane. They encourage you to only bring what you need for the flight, but I always bring more in case of delays.

Also, you do not have to taste the formula or milk.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Actually, in the US you can bring as much formula or breast milk as you want to on the plane. They encourage you to only bring what you need for the flight, but I always bring more in case of delays.

Also, you do not have to taste the formula or milk.

Really?

Thats good news for us then as the brand we use isn't available in the USA and i was a bit concerned about us having enough for both a 3 hour check in, 9 hour flight and possible delay.

Not a problem outbound as there is a branch of Boots (UK equivalent of Walgreens/Eckhards) in the departure lounge after security and if you phone them in advance they will keep a stock of ready made cartons of formula for you to buy when you have cleared security.

We have flown 3 times since the liquid regulations came in and have always had to taste the baby milk when leaving the UK, but have a couple of times inadvertantly carried cartons of juice without having to taste them.

We recently went to Disneyland Paris and outbound from the UK had to taste the baby milk but returning from CDG in Paris we didn't even have to open our bags at security and show the baby stuff. Presumably the x-ray machine showing the baby bottles and the toddler and baby with us were enough to satisfy French security, along with the Disney souveniors having us stamped as tourists i suppose.

 

[eliza61]

Actually, in the US you can bring as much formula or breast milk as you want to on the plane. They encourage you to only bring what you need for the flight, but I always bring more in case of delays.

Also, you do not have to taste the formula or milk.

Please be careful here, lots of variables. Depends on what type of container. If it is in an unopened can. No worries. I have seen moms questioned in Washington DC and in Chicago airports about formulas in bottles, especially when they have 3 and 4 bottles of formula. All it takes is one security personnel having a bad day to make you miss your flight.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Please be careful here, lots of variables. Depends on what type of container. If it is in an unopened can. No worries. I have seen moms questioned in Washington DC and in Chicago airports about formulas in bottles, especially when they have 3 and 4 bottles of formula. All it takes is one security personnel having a bad day to make you miss your flight.

We usually make our own from powder but use Tetra Packed Cartons while travelling or out and about for conveniance and also so that the milk in the bottles doesn't go off.

Presumably therefore we can carry as many Unopened Tetra packed cartons through security as we like?

Bear in mind our flight will be 9 hours.

 

[NemoMOm]

I am so outraged! I am going to write to the airline and let them know that as a mother of a toddler I would be too nervous after this episode to fly with them!