Posted on 01/10/2017 4:48:18 PM PST by Gamecock
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Former New York U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato was escorted off a JetBlue flight Monday night.
As CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported, D’Amato – a Republican – had a reputation in the U.S. Senate as something of a rabble-rouser. At age 79, that penchant speaking his mind seems to have earned him the heave-ho from the plane in Fort Lauderdale that was set to fly to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The incident took place around 8 p.m. Monday night. It began after passengers on flight 1002 to New York were delayed for seven hours in the terminal, according to a passenger and D’Amato’s office.
After several hours delay, the passengers, including D’Amato, boarded the flight, passenger Jacqueline Galante told CBS2.
Once on board, they were delayed for another half an hour or so, until a member of the flight crew got on the intercom and asked if there were 10 passengers who’d be willing to move their seats to adjust the plane’s weight distribution, enabling them to take off, Galante said.
Some passengers did so, but apparently not enough, prompting D’Amato to get up from his seat at the rear of the plane and walk up and down the aisle – asking if anybody else would be willing to trade seats, according to Galante.
At some point, Galante said D’Amato spoke with members of the flight crew.
A few minutes later, members of the Broward County Sheriff’s Department boarded the plane and escorted D’Amato off the flight, Galante said.
“The decision to remove a customer from a flight is not taken lightly,” JetBlue said in a statement. “If a customer is causing a conflict on the aircraft, it is standard procedure to ask the customer to deplane, especially if the crew feels the situation runs a risk of escalation in-flight.”
Galante told CBS2 D’Amato wasn’t being disruptive and didn’t speak out loudly until the officers boarded the plane to remove him.
“He was talking not in a big raised voice or anything, just sort of like trying to encourage people; someone to volunteer so we can go,” Galante said.
D’Amato also talked with the flight crew, and although she did not hear the exchange, it was apparently enough to send him packing.
While he was being escorted off the flight, D’Amato piped up.
“We can still speak in this country, and what you’re doing to me. And I want to tell you this – I’ll make an appeal to all you people. You want to know what? Stand up for what’s right and walk out with me,” D’Amato said. “Stand up and walk out… If you don’t, what’ll you stand up for?”
At least one other passenger apparently got off the flight with D’Amato, Galante said.
D’Amato’s office defended the outspoken former senator.
“Anyone who knows Senator D’Amato knows he speaks his mind, but in this case he spoke after a long and demanding trip to Florida to visit an ailing friend, a five hour airport ground delay, additional delays as the crew sought to deal with weight and balance issues and then sleep deprivation,” D’Amato’s office said in a statement. “JetBlue has apologized to the Senator for overreacting and the Senator has apologized for speaking his mind at a time when he clearly had left his patience at the gate.”
JetBlue did refund D’Amato’s airfare, and like other passengers, he was given a $150 credit for the delay. His spokesman said he did not know whether the former senator would make use of the credit, or decide not to fly JetBlue again.
D’Amato was not expected to land in New York until late Tuesday.
Good summary.
Sounds like more leftists harassing a Republican
I was once on a 757 IIRC, at altitude (Eagle, CO airport), and we had to wait on the runway for the local air temperature to cool down a little before we could take off, as it was unseasonably warm. I know enough to know that’s an air density issue / engine output issue.
I don’t mind telling you I had some pucker factor on that take off, and was sort of wishing I could get off while we were sitting waiting.
The male Democrats on boards were all settled in with their "husbands", busy taking care of their "offspring", or they were focused on finding Trump family members, transition staff or supporters in general to harass.
Happened to me on a Southwest 737-700. I was the FIRST to move to the back of the plane. Few others moved, so we sat there for several minutes with many requests from the crew. Finally, after a warning that they’d make the decisions for us, people started moving. Our plane was only about a third full, and they needed to distribute the weight properly. I can understand Al’s frustration.
Iv’e only ever heard flight attendants say for people to NOT changing seats on UNFULL flights during take off.
Also a lift issue since the air's so thin at high temperatures. I've heard of that happening. Happened to me once in Houston a very long time ago. Ground stop occurred until the temperature dropped from 115 degrees. Damn' that was HOT!
I don’t mind telling you I had some pucker factor on that take off, and was sort of wishing I could get off while we were sitting waiting.
Right there with you! I'd have been the same way.
When I was in Houston (above) I wasn't even on the plane yet when the ground stop was announced and there were no take-off's. Thankfully I was still in the terminal in nice air conditioning. I cannot imagine how hot it was sitting in a plane waiting to take off that day.
Or it’s her job
Good for him.
I am with you. I will not submit to a search, luggage check, security lines, then be trapped on-board a plane sitting within sight of the concourse for hours. I would not make it out of the trip without security escorting me. There is nothing in the world as beautiful as a road trip in my car or on my bike.
“If they have to move passengers around to balance the plane, I’m going to get off and take another flight...”
I don’t fly often, perhaps every year or two, but remember about ten years ago being on a small Delta commuter jet and passengers being asked to move from one side to the other for weight distribution.
Didn’t think anything of it at the time.
Here’s some more discussion on it, not a long read, just one Q and 4 A’s....
Because they don’t want you to upset the weight distribution.
Flying use to be enjoyable. Now it’s a necessary evil.
This was an Airbus A320. Am surprised weights and balances were an issue unless a tour group cancelled and the first 15 rows were empty.
I wonder if he told them who he was?
That'll help make the cattle happy....
Crews are schooled in the finer points of weight and balance calculations, but in practice it’s the planners, loaders and dispatchers who crunch the numbers. The boarding tallies are added to something called the BOW — basic operating weight — which is a book value of the ship itself, replete with all furnishings, supplies, and crew. (This BOW is adjusted time to time, such when components are removed or added.) Compounded with fuel and cargo, the result is the total gross “ramp” weight. Fuel used for taxiing is subtracted to reveal the takeoff weight.
Around the time of push-back or shortly thereafter, a detailed manifest is sent to the cockpit printer. It shows the passenger total, fuel and cargo totals, center of gravity information, and gives us all of the required takeoff speeds (V1, VR, V2) and flight control settings (how many degrees of flaps, the stabilizer trim setting, etc.), for each possible departure runway.
You then have not had to fly on any of the regional jets? The 60 or 70 seaters operated by all the lip service little guys flying for the main lines—real miserable little operations.
Count your blessings. Usually it is because they have maxed out the little baggage hold (in the tail) and thus must ensure all passengers are seated such that empty seats are in the aft cabin area—shifting passenger weight forward.
It happens routinely and the airline just fails to plan appropriately in advance. I would guess a third of my flying used to be subject to that corporate incompetence.
Cheers sky warrior!
that's enough to get me to voluntarily leave the plane...
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