Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Blind man, dog removed from US Airways flight
upi ^ | Nov. 15, 2013

Posted on 11/16/2013 4:45:04 AM PST by JoeProBono

PHILADELPHIA, A US Airways flight in Philadelphia was canceled when passengers became outraged about a blind man and his seeing-eye dog being kicked off the plane.

Albert Rizzi said flight attendants removed him and his dog from the Wednesday flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, N.Y., because the dog became agitated during a delay on the tarmac, KYW-TV, Philadelphia, reported Friday.

"What I'm concerned about is that there are a tremendous number of individuals in the disabled community who might not have the stamina, the strength, the confidence to stand up for their rights and speak out against these types of ridiculous perceived rules," Rizzi said.

Passengers spoke out in support of Rizzi and his dog.

"Blind man and his dog just got kicked off @USAirways after we've been on the tarmac an hour, bc dog wiggled a bit. Whole plane outraged," one passenger tweeted.

A US Airways representative confirmed the incident.

"On Flight 4384 from Philadelphia to Islip, Long Island, a customer with a seeing-eye dog was asked to keep his dog near his feet when the dog was walking up and down the aisle," the representative said. "The protocol for service animals is to keep them at foot of the passenger, or under the seat, as they are considered extensions of the passenger. When a flight attendant asked the passenger to keep the dog where it needed to stay for safety reasons the passenger got verbally abusive. A decision was made to return to the gate to take the passenger and the dog off the plane. At that point, other customers were unhappy about the situation. The crew did not feel comfortable operating the plane so a decision was made to cancel the flight and US Airways bussed the passengers to Islip, N.Y."

The representative said an internal investigation is being carried out.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Pets/Animals; Travel
KEYWORDS: disabled; dog; philadelphia; seeingeyedog; usairways
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-114 next last
To: mylife

“Are you a TSA agent?”

Are you some kind of liberal childish anarchist? Don’t like rules, authority, or safety? The air crew did what they were required to do and you hate that. So what? Big freaking deal. Go cry us a river, kid.. What’s the matter, pissed your boss made you show up on time for work so he’s a fascist, too?


81 posted on 11/16/2013 10:44:00 AM PST by CodeToad (When ignorance rules a person's decision they are resorting to superstition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: usconservative

“I have no idea what your bitch against those with physical disabilities is,”

Of course you don’t, I never said or inferred I had one. You have shown your liberal side by making such a stupid claim.

You, however, have also shown your immature side that hates safety rules.


82 posted on 11/16/2013 10:45:51 AM PST by CodeToad (When ignorance rules a person's decision they are resorting to superstition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: usconservative

“Clearly the person who cannot control himself is the person who didn’t read the article and has a bitch against those with disabilities. “

Again, I never did. You, the childish liberal, make the claim because you lied about the article and hate authority.

Grow up, stupid.


83 posted on 11/16/2013 10:46:38 AM PST by CodeToad (When ignorance rules a person's decision they are resorting to superstition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: usconservative

84 posted on 11/16/2013 10:47:14 AM PST by CodeToad (When ignorance rules a person's decision they are resorting to superstition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
Are you some kind of liberal childish anarchist?

You're no one to talk about making stupid claims.

Now who's the liberal, eh?

You know, you act like a petulant 2 year old child who's not getting his way. Seriously. Grow up man-child.

85 posted on 11/16/2013 10:47:57 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
What’s the matter, pissed your boss made you show up on time for work so he’s a fascist, too?

ROFLMAO! Oh my sides.

I'd explain it to YOU, but apparently you haven't reached the age of logic and reason yet.

It's funny how this thread is littered with your childish, emotional outbursts that you accuse others of doing.

Talk about being a hypocrite. Now go play elsewhere, I've no more time for the likes of you. Try to have a nice day now.

86 posted on 11/16/2013 10:50:19 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

I like the notion that most of us have common sense.
I tend to question experts.


87 posted on 11/16/2013 10:56:24 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

Cry me a river I will piss you a lake..


88 posted on 11/16/2013 10:59:58 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: All
Plan 9~Man Bites Dog
89 posted on 11/16/2013 11:07:27 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

>> “What’s next, goats and chickens running loose like on turd-world flights?” <<

.
I’m sure that you’re worried about that.

This incident was nothing but the airline flexing its muscles over the passengers. The proof is their reaction to the indignation of the rest of the passengers. Irrational!


90 posted on 11/16/2013 11:08:44 AM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: mylife

>> “Its like getting on a train to Dachau.” <<

.
An excellent description!


91 posted on 11/16/2013 11:12:49 AM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor

Oh goodness I have experienced that LOL

Lots of crates of chickens strapped beside me on island hoppers in the pacific.

I could give a #$%* about the chickens
I was watching th pilots skills like a hawk.

Short landings, short take offs.

The dude rocked.

We had an orange crush in Ponape.

Whew!!!


92 posted on 11/16/2013 11:17:43 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: Glennb51

Common sense is in short supply around here these days. This thread is a good example.


93 posted on 11/16/2013 11:18:30 AM PST by Jedidah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor

I hate this loss of freedom.


94 posted on 11/16/2013 11:18:35 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: All
Plan 9~ The Facts
95 posted on 11/16/2013 11:28:25 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: usconservative
You'd think someone would try to come up with a solution. The flight was delayed. A good seeing eye dog would catch the anxiety and restlessness of the passengers and that dog would have a response, or it wouldn't be doing its job.

So couldn't situations like this be avoided if planes had a collapsable dog pen they could keep the dog in when it gets restless through no fault of its own?

96 posted on 11/16/2013 11:30:22 AM PST by grania
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: mylife

Wondering if there’s something we don’t know.

Was there a complaint that isn’t being reported?

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=2827800

http://m.scotsman.com/news/transport/aberdeen-taxis-refusing-guide-dogs-on-board-1-2967568


97 posted on 11/16/2013 11:32:38 AM PST by pax_et_bonum (Never Forget the Seals of Extortion 17 - and God Bless America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: grania

I am sure the dog was actually therapeutic to the passengers.

The piss @#$ crew didn’t like it.

They could have stayed professional and stayed human.

But they did not.


98 posted on 11/16/2013 11:34:42 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: pax_et_bonum

Hmmmm....
I had not considered that.


99 posted on 11/16/2013 11:36:07 AM PST by mylife (Ted Cruz understands the law, and he does not fear the unlawful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: mylife

I read a news account just a couple of days ago about an incident involving a taxi driver, and now this.

Couldn’t help but wonder if there was a complaint that isn’t being reported.

This story isn’t making sense.


100 posted on 11/16/2013 11:41:16 AM PST by pax_et_bonum (Never Forget the Seals of Extortion 17 - and God Bless America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-114 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson