Your cart is currently empty!
A Family Removed from Flight After Airline Labels Autistic Child ‘Disruptive’
What began as a typical journey home from a family trip to Disney World on United Airlines took a distressing turn for the Thompson family when they were forced off the plane due to their 15-year-old autistic daughter being considered too disruptive. The incident revealed a mix of inadequate preparation by the parents and a striking lack of empathy from the airline staff, ultimately leading to the flight being diverted and the family being escorted off by authorities.
In a Facebook post, Sarah Thompson detailed the events that unfolded. Her daughter, who has autism, declined the food Sarah offered prior to takeoff. After the flight began, Sarah sought to get her daughter some warm food, as cold meals were not suitable for her. She explained the situation to a flight attendant in hopes of being allowed to purchase a hot meal from First Class, but her requests were repeatedly denied. Frustrated, Sarah asked, “Will you help her after she has a meltdown and tries to scratch in frustration?” Eventually, the attendant returned with a warm meal, though not without a visible annoyance.
Shortly after, the intercom announced an unexpected landing in Salt Lake City due to a situation involving a passenger. Having no reason to believe it pertained to them, the family was taken aback when paramedics approached their row, checking on their daughter. Confused, Sarah confirmed that everything was fine, but she was warned by the paramedic that they might be asked to leave the plane. Moments later, two police officers arrived, requesting the family to disembark. When they inquired if the daughter had harmed anyone, Sarah reassured them that she hadn’t and explained the situation regarding the food. However, the officers insisted that they still needed to exit, citing discomfort from the captain about having her on board. All the while, the daughter remained quietly engaged with a video.
A fellow passenger recorded the scene as the family was escorted off, and the onlookers expressed disbelief at the situation. It’s disheartening to think that a flight was grounded and a family was asked to leave. While parents should consider informing the airline about special needs in advance, the crew could have shown a bit more compassion by providing the requested food. Threatening to escalate if her daughter didn’t receive food wasn’t the best approach either.
According to Sarah’s account, police collected extensive statements before the family left the aircraft, and no one claimed that her daughter had been disruptive. It seems the blame lies more with the parents and the airline rather than the child. If you’re traveling with someone who has special needs, it’s essential to make the necessary arrangements for a smoother experience. Yet, airline staff should also be trained to handle special situations with understanding and care. There’s truly no justification for a 15-year-old girl, who was quietly minding her own business, to be labeled as “disruptive” and removed from a flight.
In conclusion, both the family and the airline missed opportunities for better communication and understanding, leading to an unfortunate outcome for everyone involved. For more insights into parenting challenges and special needs, you might find this article on privacy policies helpful. If you’re looking for fertility resources, check out this guide for home insemination kits. The CDC also provides excellent information about pregnancy and infertility.