The article linked in Cecily’s post #279 gives much more information. Another passenger gives her side of the story there, too. All the evidence points to this flight attendant simply abusing her power.
P.S. This story reminds me of a nurse who called security on me when my father was in the hospital after I let her have it one day. Long story short - she really had it coming. A few minutes later, a big burly guy appeared with the nursing supervisor. She’d called them and told them that I was being “aggressive”. Within minutes, they were agreeing with me and asking me if I wanted to file a complaint against her. Some people get a little bit of power and it goes to their head.
That's exactly right. Trying to piece together this situation from the reports, and if the mother's story is honest, I think I'm understanding what happened. The mother said the flight attendant came over after she gave her little speech to the passengers. What I'm surmising is the little boy was gabbing during the speech. Probably some passengers were laughing at his interruptions which only irritated the flight attendant further. She's up their giving her spiel and probably most people aren't paying attention anyway and then this poor little toddler decides he's going to chat through it.
It’s so hard to know. I’ve met more than my share of parents whose little serial killers in training get greatly offended should anyone dare to comment on their child’s behavior.
If the other passengers weren’t bothered by it and corroborated the mother’s account, the the flight attendant was out of line.
OTOH, chances are SHE wasn’t having the best day either. Unfortunately for her, she’s in an occupation that does not allow the luxury of irritability on the job.
That is very interesting that a passenger sitting right behind the child on the plane is on record stating that the flight attendant’s action was ludicrous.