Hellobee Boards

I don't understand? She never actually caused any disturbance. None of the other passengers would have even known there was an issue if they hadn't diverted the plane. Once the flight attendant took his head out of his ass and give the girl a hot meal she was totally fine.

I am NOT surprised to see that this happened on United airlines.

I think it may have helped if the mother had informed the flight staff when they boarded that her daughter had special needs, including needing hot food. But totally ridiculous that they diverted the plane. People exhibit bad behavior all the time on flights, and are allowed to continue onto their destination - and this kid didn't even cause a disturbance. Give the kid a break.

Weird. I feel like we're missing an important part of the story. Diverting a plane is complicated and really expensive, seems strange they would do that if there wasn't actually an issue. Seems like they should have checked before landing the plane! Things that make you go hmmmm.

@WinterBee: I agree. I feel like there's a lot more to the story.

I agree with @WinterBee: there has to be more to the story. But I while I agree that the attendant making an exception to bring hot food may have diffused the entire situation, I have a 3 year old with dietary and sensory issues, and I would never ever ever go anywhere without having the food situation handled. I can't believe that in 15 years, this mother hasn't figured out how to get hot food onto a plane. I can't get behind having to have everyone coddle your child because you can't plan.

With the information given, it sounds like discrimination to me. Hopefully all can learn from this, it sounds like a terrible experience. The mom could have been more upfront about needs, the flight attendance could have been so much more understanding and helpful.

@mrscobee: Oh it's absolutely possible, and I think the attendant was ridiculous for not helping the lady out, but I know nothing about her job...maybe she could have gotten in real trouble if she complied, so she initially refused. But the story said they family ate dinner before boarding, but her daughter refused to eat then, so to me that means she had time to get something together for her.

@BananaPancakes: agree.

I was just talking about this with a co-worker and come on, the parents weren't prepared for this? She could have brought ramen and gotten hot water. She could have called the airline in advance to arrange something. I feel like there's more the parents could have done to be prepared. My son has many eating issues and I am prepared everywhere we go. I can't expect restaurants and venues to accommodate his needs all the time.

I also agree that the threat of her scratching someone played a major part.

I don't disagree that the mom could have been better prepared and also shouldn't have said the bit about about her daughter melting down and scratching. There are better ways she could have expressed herself, although I'm sure it was a bit out of frustration, as well. But I also think a little more understanding about autism could have gone a very long way toward diffusing the situation. And did they honestly think she was enough of a threat to require the diversion? That's just ridiculous and inconvenient for everyone on board. If I'd been a passenger, I would have been pissed at the airline!

@hotchildinthecity: I don't think that the mom threatened her daughter would scratch someone else...it was that she might have a meltdown and start scratching herself, so I don't think it was a case of there being a direct threat made to anyone else's safety.

@mrscobee: being the wife of a pilot, DH has had some crazy things happen mid-flight. He has also had some crazy flight attendants to deal with. So it's really hard to tell who's right or wrong here. The pilot did exactly what he was suppose to if the flight attendant feels there is a possible issue at hand. All of us wives on the pilot forums are wondering what else could have happened here. There is rumor going around on those boards that the girl bit someone. So I think it's best to wait and see what the FAA investigation says.

@mrscobee: Not sure about your question. But on domestic flights they have cut back the food service. There isn't a microwave or grill on board. The food comes in a service cart prepared. So if the meal left the airport kitchen "hot" an hour prior to boarding, then was served an hour into flight chances are that it might not still be hot. The article I read said that they gave her a hot sandwich but that it came back cold. Not sure how much control the flight crew has over warming up a meal. So if that's the case I don't think it falls under ADA "reasonable accom". Otherwise they'd have to install microwaves on every plane, which be expensive, tight on space in a plane and would then pose another safety issue to passengers with medical devices, etc.

I"ve mentioned this in another thread before, I think the core of the issue is that the vast majority of people out there don't understand people of differing abilities and what goes along with taking care of them. I am curious to know more about the requirement of the hot food, why that is. I have a kid with very broad food aversions, so when we travel, I have bags of food with me at all times. I don't begin to understand this family, but I am all about planning ahead and then planning for the second, third and fourth scenarios.

Re: the availability of hot foods on board - on the plane that I fly, we are catered first class meals depending on the length of the flight and for the exact number of first class seats, not a single meal more. For example, a short one and a half hour flight will not have any meals on board, and this is spelled out clearly if you read the airline's website, in flight magazine/brochures/etc. There are 12 first class seats on the plane I fly, and catering does not provide extra meals. So if all 12 seats are filled (and these days where many pax have some kind of frequent traveler status, first class is almost always full) and every first class pax wants a meal, there are no extras to be spared to anyone. The sandwich/jambalaya the child received were probably leftovers from the first class section that a first class pax chose not to eat. But flight attendants would've had to wait until meal service to find that out. There is an oven on my specific plane but not every plane does. I've noticed that many meals are meant to be served cold. Rarely, the ovens might be inop, as can be any non-essential equipment on board. As for meals for the rest of the cabin, meals for purchase are available typically on longer flights, as in 3-4 hours minimum. Unless you're a frequent traveller (which the mom has said she is) you probably don't realize this kind of information but that doesn't absolve you of personal responsibility if you had a special needs child.

The article to me is obviously very biased, does not include "the other side" at all. I realize this isn't going to be a popular opinion but having worked in the airline industry for eight years now, I've seen incredible rudeness and lack of manners/common sense/common decency from pax day in and day out. Most of the time it's pax taking their frustration out to airline workers that are 100% out of anyone's control. From this article I get the sense that she was "that passenger" making demands and thinly veiled threats and now she's crying victim and discrimination. As someone else mentioned, diverting is a big deal costing everyone involved time and money and pilots dont make that decision lightly. There is more to this story than this article.