dailynewsnblog
In Indianapolis, a couple was kicked to the curb by Allegiant Air when they were removed from an aircraft under the threat of law enforcement intervention because their baby was crying. The couple says that there was no medical examination or check of any kind performed on the child before the airline staff told them that the baby was not medically cleared to fly, and had to vacate the airplane.
After the cabin crew concluded with advice from medical professionals via MedLink remote consultation, the family was given no options. After being deplaned in Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), Florida, they were not given any of their checked bags, stroller, or other personal items that the airline had already stowed. They were booked on a flight the next day but left standing on the curb waiting for their family to come get them empty-handed, according to reporting by Live and Let’s Fly.
Grounded At Punta Gorda Airport
According to the account given by the family on social media, the situation began when the baby cried for a few minutes and turned red in the face, which alarmed one flight attendant, who became concerned that it was feverish. The couple was escorted off of the plane but were not given their baby stroller or car seat on the way out.
The mother recounted passing through security with no issues, but once they were inside the plane, that changed. After taking their seats, they removed the baby’s shirt to prevent her from getting hot. Shortly after, the cabin crew moved the passenger sitting in the aisle seat to the front of the cabin away from the couple traveling with their baby. Yet, the parents say that there were numerous children seated with their parents in the other rows nearby.
After reseating the other traveler, the flight attendants then began asking the parents about their child’s age, name, birthdate, and retreated to the back of the cabin to use the walkie-talkie in between questions. This excerpt is from the mother’s full account of the events as posted on TikTok:
“They called her an unidentified infant over the walkie… Nobody would come and see her… We were told to get off the flight or police would take us off of it even though we weren’t arguing or cussing.”
Allegiant Turns A Blind Eye
After removing the family from the flight, Allegiant did not offer accommodations or ground transportation. The next available departure to Indianapolis Airport (IND) was at 11:00 AM the next day. They gave them an unclaimed car seat that was ill-fitted and unpadded, leaving the family to fend for themselves. The mother said that she was met with stonewalling by every Allegiant employee that she tried to speak to before being kicked off the jet.
The lack of support continued even after the family was finally back on the ground in Indianapolis. In the aftermath of the travel nightmare, Allegiant did not offer any kind of compensation to the couple either. While they were seated at the front of the cabin in extra legroom seats for their delayed return flight, they incurred extra costs from missed work and extended pet care services over the unexpected delay.
The mother said in her account of the events that they had specifically chosen to sit in the back of the plane so that their child would be more comfortable and less likely to disturb others. They had anticipated being seated near other children in the section of the plane where any issues that came up with their newborn would be minimally disruptive. They said that service was far more friendly on the return leg when they were at the front of the plane. The mother said that only served to underscore the complete absence of customer service and flexibility shown by the crew that threw them out on the first flight.
Deaf Woman Says Disability Caused Flight Removal, But Frontier Airlines Says She Had Alcohol
Viral Frontier removal dispute pits disability-accommodation claims against the airline’s alcohol accusation.
Safety First: Flight Attendant Duties
The cabin crew are not trained medical professionals but do have a duty and obligation to the safety of everyone aboard the aircraft. It is possible for flight attendants to receive remote support with medical professionals online. However, the capacity for this service to make detailed medical diagnoses is very limited. When it comes to flight safety, the general rule of thumb for any situation is to err on the side of caution.
It is impossible to know the truth of the conditions based on the accounts available on social media. However, it is easy to see how both parents could be very frustrated when one of them is, in fact, a professional nurse and the cabin crew offered zero flexibility at the time. The lack of support from the airline staff immediately after deplaning and in the days following is not defensible with a similar justification. While it may have been in the interest of flight safety, this couple still suffered a major travel disruption that this family experienced with virtually zero accommodation or compensation.
