United Flight Diverts and Boots Family Off, Because They Didn’t Like the Movie???
United Airlines (file)
A United Airlines flight diverted and kicked a family off the plane due to ‘security concerns” when the family criticized the movie being shown, according to multiple reports.
A family traveling with their two sons (aged 4 and 8) on UA Flight 638 from Denver to Baltimore say they were alarmed at the movie being shown on the drop-down screens. The R-rated movie “Alex Cross” was too violent for their kids to see according to the couple. So they requested that the movie be turned off.
Fox News reports:
‘”Alarmed by the opening scenes, we asked two flight attendants if they could turn off the monitor; both claimed it was not possible,” the family said, according to The Atlantic.
After some back and forth between the family and the flight crew, the family reportedly relented to the movie being shown and did their best to engage their children to keep them from watching the movie.
“We asked if the captain has the authority to address this issue, but received no response,” the family said. “Throughout these interactions the atmosphere was collegial, no voices were raised and no threats, implicit or explicit, of any kind were made. The flight continued without incident, while my wife and I engaged our children to divert their attention from the horrific scenes on the movie screens.”‘
But reports say a short time later the Captain announced he was diverting the plane to Chicago due to “security concerns”.
The family was then questioned by the FBI after they got off the plane at O’Hare.
The family says the Captain overreacted:
“We understand that airline captains can and should have complete authority,” the family said. “However, when this authority is used for senseless, vindictive acts, it must be addressed.”
United Airlines said:
“United flight 638 from Denver to Baltimore diverted to Chicago O’Hare after the crew reported a disturbance involving a passenger,” United Airlines told FoxNews.com. “The flight landed without incident and the customers were removed from the aircraft. We reaccommodated the customers on the next flight to Baltimore and have since conducted a full review of our inflight entertainment.”
How about reviewing when you should divert the plane because someone didn’t like the movie? Maybe that could be reviewed too….?
Something is missing here. Why did the family get kicked off?? What was the ‘disturbance’?? If the family made threats….then tell us. But nothing more than their general statement. Divert the plane? Really??