Woman Dies At the Airport.

[LakeAriel]

I don't think we are alone. The entire country is speculating about this. Choking on handcuffs sounds very odd to me.

That is questionable, yes. What is a shame is that she has already been accused of being on drugs.. Why not wait and see why she was acting frantic/irrational~ whatever, before we indict her. For all we know one of her kids was sick and she needed to get there yesterday...(which is more specuation, we just don't have any facts yet, so let's wait and see)
Terrible situation.

 

[Cool-Beans]

The airline said the plane was already preparing to depart. She was rebooked on the next flight, but...

This is completely OT, but "preparing to depart" also means the plane hadn't left.

The woman was there in time to board the plane, but they wouldn't let her on, which seems very silly to me. Why they refuse to let people board planes they have arrived in time to board is something I can't understand. Is this more of the "safety" we've gained with the Patriot Act or is this the airlines being jerks?

 

[AprilShowers]

The woman was there in time to board the plane, but they wouldn't let her on, which seems very silly to me. Why they refuse to let people board planes they have arrived in time to board is something I can't understand. Is this more of the "safety" we've gained with the Patriot Act or is this the airlines being jerks?

Just because you can see the airplane out the window doesn't mean you can still get on. The jetway may have already been retracted, doors closed. Heck the plane may have already pushed back.

DSis used to work for an airline. She was amazed at the number of people who walk up at the DEPARTURE time and expect to walk on the plane! Nope, not gonna happen. That's how delays happen, and we all know how people feel about that.

I'm not saying that any of these situations were the case in this story, but it happens this way all the time.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Just because you can see the airplane out the window doesn't mean you can still get on. The jetway may have already been retracted, doors closed. Heck the plane may have already pushed back.

DSis used to work for an airline. She was amazed at the number of people who walk up at the DEPARTURE time and expect to walk on the plane! Nope, not gonna happen. That's how delays happen, and we all know how people feel about that.

I'm not saying that any of these situations were the case in this story, but it happens this way all the time.

You can arrive while they're still boarding and not be allowed on the plane if you didn't check in on time.

It used to be that if you could get to the door before it closed, you got on the plane. And they didn't close up until just before they were leaving. Now you have to check in however many minutes early (I know a guy who got there 75 minutes early, but was denied because the rule was 90)...or you just can't get on the plane.

I think it is wacky.

 

[Laura]

This is completely OT, but "preparing to depart" also means the plane hadn't left.

The woman was there in time to board the plane, but they wouldn't let her on, which seems very silly to me. Why they refuse to let people board planes they have arrived in time to board is something I can't understand. Is this more of the "safety" we've gained with the Patriot Act or is this the airlines being jerks?

You can arrive while they're still boarding and not be allowed on the plane if you didn't check in on time.

It used to be that if you could get to the door before it closed, you got on the plane. And they didn't close up until just before they were leaving. Now you have to check in however many minutes early (I know a guy who got there 75 minutes early, but was denied because the rule was 90)...or you just can't get on the plane.

I think it is wacky.

This has happened for years before 9/11 and the Patriot Act. People have to be onboard before departure. It's not just for safety, but also efficiency. It seems like this woman was just a little too late. My dad was a frequent business traveler, and he's had the doors shut in his face on more than one occasion, and he was there before departure time. But he didn't cause a disturbance so as to be arrested and wasn't wacky enough to try to get out of handcuffs.

It says she arrived as the airplane was "preparing to depart", not that they were boarding and she didn't check in early enough. That's just too late.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

This is completely OT, but "preparing to depart" also means the plane hadn't left.

The woman was there in time to board the plane, but they wouldn't let her on, which seems very silly to me. Why they refuse to let people board planes they have arrived in time to board is something I can't understand. Is this more of the "safety" we've gained with the Patriot Act or is this the airlines being jerks?

There are TSA/FAA rules and airline guidelines with regard to how far before a flight departs that the flight must be closed out and no furthe rcheck-in allowed. So yes, even if the plane may still be sitting at the gate, once the opportunity has closed you are SOL.

 

[Scuttle]

I don't think we are alone. The entire country is speculating about this. Choking on handcuffs sounds very odd to me.

Alot of holding areas have a bench that people they are holding sit on. Attached to this bench is a length of heavy chain that is attached to the wall and then runs thru a metal ring.

After its run thru the ring there is another larger ring that the handcuffs are run thru on one side.

so you have a handcuffed person, weather it be front or behind the back that is also chained in place to a bench. The chain has about a foot or so of pull, basically enough to lift your arms to your face if chained in front of enough to stand up and stretch your legs.

The only thing I can think of is that she was chained to the bench where she was being held and somehow managed to get caught in it. That even is bizare to me but cant think of any other way this could have happened, I guess we will see

 

[DawnCt1]

That is questionable, yes. What is a shame is that she has already been accused of being on drugs.. Why not wait and see why she was acting frantic/irrational~ whatever, before we indict her. For all we know one of her kids was sick and she needed to get there yesterday...(which is more specuation, we just don't have any facts yet, so let's wait and see)
Terrible situation.

I don't' think anyone has "accused" her. People are speculating.

 

[DawnCt1]

This is completely OT, but "preparing to depart" also means the plane hadn't left.

The woman was there in time to board the plane, but they wouldn't let her on, which seems very silly to me. Why they refuse to let people board planes they have arrived in time to board is something I can't understand. Is this more of the "safety" we've gained with the Patriot Act or is this the airlines being jerks?

If you don't check in within the required time, they can give your seat away. They could have had stand bys waiting to fly home. She wasn't there, in addition to the other responses.

 

[DawnCt1]

Alot of holding areas have a bench that people they are holding sit on. Attached to this bench is a length of heavy chain that is attached to the wall and then runs thru a metal ring.

After its run thru the ring there is another larger ring that the handcuffs are run thru on one side.

so you have a handcuffed person, weather it be front or behind the back that is also chained in place to a bench. The chain has about a foot or so of pull, basically enough to lift your arms to your face if chained in front of enough to stand up and stretch your legs.

The only thing I can think of is that she was chained to the bench where she was being held and somehow managed to get caught in it. That even is bizare to me but cant think of any other way this could have happened, I guess we will see

A spokesman just said that she was monitored while in the holding room but it is against their policy to video tape. She had been screaming and yelling within the holding room and when she stopped, they immediately checked on her and found her with her neck against the cuffs, I believe, face down. They initiated CPR and used the AED but to no avail.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I agree - this story is beyond weird.

 

[Laura]

It is very weird. I'm sure there are plenty of cameras and eyewitnesses at the gate, which will help show what kind of state she was in before she was put in the holding room.

 

[kimmikayb]

My prayers go out to her family. I too believe this is a strange situation and wait to hear the "whole story".

 

[Savanah'sMom]

I'm sorry, but has anyone thought that maybe she had a medical problem. Maybe, diabetes? I'm diabetic and get pretty irritated when my sugars are low and don't realize it. It is quite possible that she was having a low blood sugar attach and didn't realize it and wasn't able to correct it. I would really hope that that isn't the case. I feel very sorry for her family.

 

[NYBlue1]

I'm sorry, but has anyone thought that maybe she had a medical problem. Maybe, diabetes? I'm diabetic and get pretty irritated when my sugars are low and don't realize it. It is quite possible that she was having a low blood sugar attach and didn't realize it and wasn't able to correct it. I would really hope that that isn't the case. I feel very sorry for her family.

This could be a real possibility for sure, the only thing is I would have imagined that her family would have made a statement that she had a medical condition by now. I did read in one of the articles that her family was monitoring the investigation closely, I would think that would have come out by now. Maybe not but just seems it would have

 

[agnes!]

A spokesman just said that she was monitored while in the holding room but it is against their policy to video tape. She had been screaming and yelling within the holding room and when she stopped, they immediately checked on her and found her with her neck against the cuffs, I believe, face down. They initiated CPR and used the AED but to no avail.

CPR wouldn't help very much if her windpipe was crushed (however it happened).

Very sad & odd. I hope whatever it is that the truth does come out.

agnes!
PS - Speaking of people dying etc. in airports...
What was the outcome of the story about the man in a wheelchair, who either died or had a stroke and was supposedly left on the sidewalk in front of the airport for a couple of days? Anybody know?

 

[grlpwrd]

That is questionable, yes. What is a shame is that she has already been accused of being on drugs.. Why not wait and see why she was acting frantic/irrational~ whatever, before we indict her. For all we know one of her kids was sick and she needed to get there yesterday...(which is more specuation, we just don't have any facts yet, so let's wait and see)
Terrible situation.

Yes, people are speculating, not accusing per se.

I can understand how it could have been a medical problem or special circumstance and why it is being discussed here. I can understand how much anxiety she was in, too, because my dh was arrested and detained at the airport last Christmas because he was carrying something he wasn't supposed to. He told me that he was sweating bullets and thinking about killing himself at the time of his arrest. Crazy things go through one's mind when something like that happens. I think it could be exponentially worse if she had a medical condition, drugs/medication in her system, etc.

So sad and unfortunate ...

ETA: I want to know what happened and I hope the TSA system changes to prevent this kind of thing from happening again, kwim?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I am thinking she probably was suffering from some sort of medical problem that was causing her to act this way. If it was in fact a medical problem causing this behavior can you imagine what would have happened if she was able to board the plane and then had this "attack" while in flight. A woman acting like that would have created chaos and terror on that plane. It is sad that she died but at least it didn't happen ON the plane.

For the sake of the family I hope it turns out that she was suffering from an unknown medical condition and that no drugs or other substances were involved.

 

[DawnCt1]

I am thinking she probably was suffering from some sort of medical problem that was causing her to act this way. If it was in fact a medical problem causing this behavior can you imagine what would have happened if she was able to board the plane and then had this "attack" while in flight. A woman acting like that would have created chaos and terror on that plane. It is sad that she died but at least it didn't happen ON the plane.

For the sake of the family I hope it turns out that she was suffering from an unknown medical condition and that no drugs or other substances were involved.

Maybe she was claustrophobic and restaining her pushed her over the edge?
In retrospect, its too bad someone didn't stay with her but that's not practical and it isn't negligence. Hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[daisax]

In retrospect, its too bad someone didn't stay with her but that's not practical and it isn't negligence.

I dunno - they take away shoelaces and belts but leave somebody with handcuffs on unattended?

If they thought she was drunk, it would seem like a dangerous thing to do (balance issues, etc.) If they thought she was violent and didn't know why, you'd think she'd be supervised until medical personnel could evaluate her.

I think we'll find that she was SUPPOSED to be monitored and wasn't.