Children’s Author Ejected from Plane for Bad Language
He said the F word. Maybe twice. A flight attendant who was seated behind him complained, and he was escorted off the plane.
Are you kidding me?
He didn’t yell about bombs, which can land your ass in serious trouble nowadays. He was frustrated that the plane wasn’t taking off. And wondered what was taking so long. I’m pretty sure he said something like, “What the f is taking so long?” It wasn’t like he was yelling at the attendant to f off.
Of course, we should all conduct ourselves in ways that don’t suggest that we were raised by wolves. However, exasperation can wear on even the most polite of us. The crew should have cut this guy some slack.
Avoid Air Hassles: Be Discreet and on Your Best Behavior
Federal rules say that “no one may interfere, intimidate or threaten a crewmember,” said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Alison Duquette. “It’s completely up to the pilot in command if they want to not allow someone to take a flight.” That means air crews have a lot of discretion in deciding what constitutes disruptive behavior.
So basically, an attendant who is having a bad day can get punch drunk with power and boot someone off if they’re getting on their nerves? Oh joy!
Since 9/11, we’ve had to put up with so much crap. Shoes, purses, watches, etc. all go in grey tubs down a conveyor belt so a vigilant TSA agent can declare your hand lotion a threat to our national security. Of course, you can get felt up and not even get dinner first. If you object, you can always opt for the radiation refrigerator. Now, you can’t even wonder out loud about why the plane is still on the f’n tarmac?
I’ve been on 16 hour flights and have had to connect. I am not in the best of moods after those. It’s hard for me to sleep on planes, and I can only watch the in-flight entertainment so many times. If my connecting flight is having issues, and I’ve been begging the Baby Jesus to just get me to my hotel room at my destination, I might get a little super pissy.
From that guy’s experience, I better wonder aloud into my oxygen mask, or do a full body freak out in the privacy of the lavatory. Apparently, “I am quite displeased with this situation” is acceptable. “OMG can we get in the f’n air so I don’t stab myself with a spork?” isn’t.
The joys of post-9/11 travel.
Spinny Liberal 
June 15th, 2011 at 2:11 AM
I guess he was upset that he didn’t get a kiss after his TSA pat down. 😥
There is no excuse for rude behavior. Either way.
I travel between continents all the time, and our system is getting worse, not better. We are not looking for terrorists, we are harassing the American traveler. Feeling up 9 month old’s, mentally challenged, blue hair elderly grandmothers, is not going to make us safer. Political correctness is destroying the transportation industry and the government is not keeping us safer, but in greater danger.
Air travel used to be a joy, now its government intrusion. Look, there are better ways to protect the public. But, I’m just stating the obvious. 🙄
June 15th, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Absolutely. We should be polite.
And I definitely agree about government intrusion.
June 15th, 2011 at 4:08 AM
Fuck the TSA, and fuck the airline!
Oops, did I just get booted?
June 15th, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Not on Spinny Airlines. 😉
June 15th, 2011 at 4:50 AM
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the airline statement said.
Oh, F them! Inconvenience? Give the poor guy a break! I’d say airplane passengers behave with an admirable amount of restraint given the delays, the discomfort, the screaming babies that keep it going throughout a flight, the lack of meals, and so on… Where’s the sign that says “no cursing”?
June 15th, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Exactly. Despite all the crap, most of us still behave rather well. There are many examples of rude behavior by passengers, but I don’t think this is one of those cases. Poor guy.
June 15th, 2011 at 5:04 AM
Fucking “A”!
June 15th, 2011 at 11:14 AM
No shit. 😉
June 15th, 2011 at 6:51 AM
I know what ya mean about air travel. It’s exhausting and sometimes exasperating. And sometimes it’s best to just shut the fuck up.
June 15th, 2011 at 11:15 AM
It’s so true. Or just cry. They can’t throw you off the plane for crying. All those babies prove it.
June 15th, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Among the world’s great mysteries/injustices:
1. Muslim Clerics have been escorted off planes
2. Overweight people are sometimes escorted off planes.
3. A gay couple kissing was escorted off a plane.
4. Someone saying an F word was escorted off a plane.
BUT — The screaming babies? They always get to fly.
June 15th, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Hahaha they are a protected class. Along with the toddlers behind you that kick your seat. 🙂
June 15th, 2011 at 1:00 PM
I’m six feet tall – all I usually have to do is stand up in the aisle and stretch and those kicking kids usually stop right away. (of course standing straight up in an airplane at 6 feet tall is not always possible/easy).
June 15th, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Nice commanding presence! Tall people have it rough on planes. Especially if they have longer legs than their torso. Since I’m 4’10”, I obviously don’t have that problem. 🙂
June 15th, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Now, I’m jealous. I sentence you to one flight with screaming babies and seat kickers.
June 16th, 2011 at 8:33 AM
Jealous of someone being an oompa loompa? Hahaha. Oh and that is cruel and unusual punishment. I’m appealing and will win.
June 15th, 2011 at 10:06 AM
A just answer reason why I’m glad I don’t fly as much anymore. Then again, as you said, being discrete is important …. fortunately I am … well, most of the time.
June 15th, 2011 at 11:21 AM
The article said that, and I agree. Despite my flair for the dramatic, I am too most of the time. 😉
June 15th, 2011 at 6:03 PM
Here’s a thought; why not have a “Christian Right-Wing” airline? All the passengers fly in their Sunday church going finery, plus you get to watch the movie The Ten Commandments, and for reading material, there’s always the “Bible!”
By the way, you can purchase your tickets using the “Gold Standard”
A wandering mind is always thinking.
June 16th, 2011 at 8:32 AM
Haha. They’d definitely have a niche market.
June 15th, 2011 at 10:59 PM
and this is why it’s good to know a second language. 😀
June 16th, 2011 at 8:36 AM
Amen sister. Puedo decir “¡Chinga Tu Madre!” Pero si puede hablar/entender Español…you’re screwed. Hahaha