"What a tough audience! I tell you I don't get no respect!"
Posted on 12/25/2002 6:06:48 PM PST by steplock
A wonderful Christmas present courtesy of the stupidity of COMAIR Airlines (Ohio) executives, pilots and air crew. We must also include the added stupidity af the airport security personnel, and the Dane County Sheriff's Department who had the final say to DROP this illegal detention of an innocent legal citizen of the United States of America.
I would be bringing charges of "Kidnapping, Illegal Detention, Harassment, False Imprisonment, etc" against all those above who are responsible.
Quote
Airline passenger cited for remark about drinking
MADISON, Wis. - An airline passenger was cited for disorderly conduct Tuesday after the plane's crew accused him of insinuating the pilot had been drinking.
The remark caused Comair to cancel the 9:30 a.m. flight to Cincinnati, forcing 26 passengers to make other travel plans, said Lt. Michael Krembs of the Dane County Sheriff's Department.
Steven M. Wiese, 33, of Cottage Grove, was accused of leaning into the cockpit and remarking to the pilot, "I hope you haven't been drinking," Krembs said.
Federal Aviation Administration regulations require the flight crew to be tested for controlled substances when drug or alcohol abuse allegations are made.
"My assumption is it was a flippant remark," Krembs said. "But in this day and age of heightened airport security, you just don't joke about stuff anymore."
The airline refused to allow Wiese and his wife on another flight Tuesday, Krembs said.
His citation carries a $225 fine. The sheriff's department has referred the case to the FBI for further investigation. UnQuote
I did send my opinions to the CEO, COO, and President of COMAIR and told them what I would have done. Are they going to come down here and arrest me now?
Send in the FBI for ... uhhhh ... err ...
what's the law/penalty for telling someone "the only thing I would hire you for is clean up behind an elephant with diarreah?"
But, the rest of it what happened was silly.
You are absolutely correct, nevertheless, "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech..."
This, "freedom of speech," seems important. At least it was important enough to fight a revolutionary war for, (among other freedoms), and this is a clear example of how what was fought for is now lost.
Hank
Private parties can refuse to listen to you so it's not a free speech issue. On the other hand, these people at Comair seem determined to take this issue into the courts, and that's where it does become a free speech issue because the court, itself, is part of government.
If stupid comments were the standard then we would be building jails morning, noon and night.
http://www.fly-comair.com/feedback/
I am asking them what their policies are concerning their pilots drinking and how they enforce it.
I am pointing out that I wasn't terribly concerned until I saw what they did to that guy who raised the question, and THAT makes me wonder what it is they are covering up!
Here's my note to them:
Wasn't terribly concerned with your personnel policies regarding pilot drinking habits in the past, but I've ended up on your flights a couple of times, and some of my subordinates have too.
Given your "massive resistance" type response to the guy who asked if the pilots had been drinking the other day, it did raise my interest level. In fact, it made me wonder just exactly what it is you were covering up because that's the way folks act who are, in fact, covering up something they don't want folks to know about.
So, before any of us get on a Delta or Comair flight again, can you please let me know what your company policy is concerning pilots' drinking habits and how you enforce it?
How many instances of violation of company policy have you found in the last 5 years?
Do you expect this to be a continuing problem, or will you do something about alleviating it in the near future?
Right up until they open the gas chamber doors, I assume?
The passenger's flippant remark was insensitive, and probably uncalled for.
The response was definitely uncalled for, and an unwarranted abuse of authority under color of law.
Giving badges and authority to idiots should be a capital crime.
Exactly, especially since raising the question automatically requires a sobriety test. I've noticed there has been no mention of either the test or the results in any of these stories.
Comair seem determined to take this issue into the courts, and that's where it does become a free speech issue because the court, itself, is part of government.
Exactly! Considering recent news stories, I do not believe the comment was all that unreasonable, either.
Even if it was unreasonable, there is no law that I know of that forbids unreasonalbe comments. If there were, that would be the end of FR.
Hank
Huge, gigantic mistake.
Remember how the lefties trash peoples fur coats, key their suv's and bash windows out of McDonalds? Imagine if they decided the airlines were their next target..
Just complain that you thought a pilot looked inebriated, or looked a little unstable while walking.. Then say: "I am no expert, and I only saw it for a second, and from a distance at that.. but he looked like he might have been drunk."
You could shut down the whole damn airport with stunts like that.. Remember, these are people who sit in trees for fun, I wouldn't put anything past them.
"Papers please, Citizen...."
If enough of you reply I may start compiling stories myself.
Flew Delta from Gatwick to Cincinnati back in September, one of the surliest crews (cabin attendants) I've been exposed to in many years of travel. Flew on Delta recently from San Juan, PR to Atlanta ... and had a superb group of flight attendants ... cheerful and polite ... they actually seemed to enjoy their work. Contrast between the two night & day ... same airline ... just a different attitude.
Looks like the passenger who asked this Delta-clone pilot if he was drinking was right on the mark with these guys.
With a track record like this - harrassing passengers who question their sobriety - and then getting caught red-handed, the guys at Delta probably were covering up a widespread problem.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.