A couple were indicted on charges of interfering with the flight crew on a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Raleigh-Durham Airport via Phoenix. The full details on their indictment and relevant documents can be found here. According to the FBI report, while on the ground in Phoenix, the couple moved from the back, where they had been sitting from Los Angeles, to the front of the aircraft. During that same period, they were observed by the flight attendants and the passengers to be embracing, kissing, and acting in a manner that made the other passengers uncomfortable. The report goes a bit further in details as to exactly the nature of this ‘affectionate’ behavior, but when asked to stop, they complied.
After the flight took off again, the behavior resumed. When asked to cease once more, the Flight Attendant was told, “I’m going to give you one warning to get out of my face.” Now, this occurred in September 15th, when planes were still being diverted by flight attendants for less than this, something we questioned at the time.
The Southwest flight crew remained unphased. The behavior was reported to the Captain and the flight attendants made the decision not to serve either passenger any alcohol, not wanting to make the two more rowdy. The couple’s response was perceived as threatening. The passengers continued to request alcohol every time the flight attendants passed, even going to the rear galley, refusing to accept Southwest’s refusal to serve them and invoking legal authority.
Ultimately, the Captain opted to turn on the fasten seatbelt sign to keep the two in their seats. That was not enough to keep them in their seats though. One of the two repeatedly advised one of the flight attendants that “you and I are gonna have some serious confrontation when we get off this plane.” At this point, the flight attendants were watching the two wayward customers like hawks.
As a result of interviews of the flight crew by law enforcement, the two passengers, Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell, were charged. Mr. Persing’s attorney insists that it was not ‘in-flight friskiness’ but drowsiness that led him to lay his head on his girlfriend’s lap…among other things. The drowsiness is allegedly caused by medication that makes him drowsy, dizzy, and extremely irritable. And that the drowsiness was misinterpreted by a flight attendant who humiliated and harassed the couple.
The lawyer insists that a fellow passenger will testify about overhearing the flight attendants comment that they should call law enforcement to avoid a complaint being filed, which indicates their method of defense. Since the trial has been delayed, lawyers for the defendants are asking the charges to be dropped. The couple was already arrested upon arrival in Raleigh-Durham and spent three days in jail.
Now, obviously, none of us was there(if someone reading this was present, we welcome comment), but an airline does have some rights in who it carries. If you don’t like that…you are welcome to take another airline. But, at that same time, it is the duty of an airline to exercise fairness in its dealings with customers.
Searching the internet for perspective, we found one blogger who was clearly on the side of the couple, courtesy of LewRockwell.com. Becky Akers comments for their rights…and the fact they committed no crime. That the other passengers being made uncomfortable were allegedly less important than the “glorified waiters and waitresses” who were made uncomfortable when “Persing and Sewell defy their orders, mock them, and refuse to kowtow. These glorified waiters and waitresses are now protected by Title 49, § 46504, “Interference with flight crew members and attendants,” of the US Code; obviously, passengers who displease them are terrorists and can be abused accordingly.”
None of us here at Flight Wisdom are employed as flight attendants or flight crew of any kind, though we admit to knowing many. One of those who chose to comment on our critique of flight crew in diverting aircraft, Mary Jo Manzaneres of Fly Away Cafe, is employed as a flight attendant, and might have some things to say about such a dim view of flight staff.
Flight Attendants are, as an industry, being asked to work more and be paid less than previously. Northwest voided their contracts and imposed terms more favorable to the company, which means they work longer than they once did. Their jobs may appear to be trivial at times…closing overhead bins, serving beverages…but they are also responsible for the safety of the passengers. They are trained in evacuation and first aid, among other things. We have met some who were less than pleasant or helpful, but those who fail to live up to our standards do not negate their duties.
If you are disruptive in a restaurant, they can ask you to leave. They can call the police to come and mediate if you refuse. The only way to do that in the air is to divert the plane, which is not an instantaneous process, and as mentioned before, not to be taken lately for all it involves. That means, barring a diversion, the plane is isolated for the duration of the flight. Air marshals excepted…that makes the flight crew the only source of law and order until that plane lands. And that is why there is a law against interfering with a flight attendant in their performance of their duties.
Feel free to disagree. We welcome comments.