Flight diverted after family complains about flight movie

[SPHASH]

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/04/0 ... latestnews

[bbtlover]

The family needed to just shut-up and keep the kids occupied. So much is edited out of the films on planes, there shouldn't have been anything that the kids couldn't watch. I was able to keep my kids occupied on flights and never once thought about complaining about the movies. The pilot and family should apologize to the other passengers for the diversion.

[Rainytown]

Unbelievable.

If the parents in question were so desperately concerned with the "content" of the film being shown, perhaps they should have asked the airline before boarding what movie was being shown.

I look forward to the back story on this one. You know there's one. ;-)

[Jana814]

The family needed to just shut-up and keep the kids occupied. So much is edited out of the films on planes, there shouldn't have been anything that the kids couldn't watch. I was able to keep my kids occupied on flights and never once thought about complaining about the movies. The pilot and family should apologize to the other passengers for the diversion.

Agree!

[Widget]

The reasons and reactions were stupid but why doesn't United offer an off button on the monitors?

Surely this is not a difficult thing to add and I know I wouldn't want forced to watch some lame airplane movie.

[EyeQueue]

The family needed to just shut-up and keep the kids occupied. So much is edited out of the films on planes, there shouldn't have been anything that the kids couldn't watch. I was able to keep my kids occupied on flights and never once thought about complaining about the movies. The pilot and family should apologize to the other passengers for the diversion.

A fine or other restitution might be appropriate. How expensive is jet fuel, not to mention the hassle. How freaking dumb. Like these two Einstens couldn't distract their kids?

[Alana Rickman]

The reasons and reactions were stupid but why doesn't United offer an off button on the monitors?

Surely this is not a difficult thing to add and I know I wouldn't want forced to watch some lame airplane movie.

A lot of older planes have one drop down monitor for every three or so rows. So if they turn it off for one person in, say, row 4, then none of the other people in rows 4-6 would be able to watch it either.

[Widget]

A fine or other restitution might be appropriate. How expensive is jet fuel, not to mention the hassle. How freaking dumb. Like these two Einstens couldn't distract their kids?

The family just complained about the movie. The pilot took it upon himself to report them as a security threat and get the plane diverted.

This is the same airline that recently kicked a guy off a plane for taking pictures of these aforementioned unable to turn off seat monitors.

http://now.msn.com/united-airlines-kick ... re-of-seat

A lot of older planes have one drop down monitor for every three or so rows. So if they turn it off for one person in, say, row 4, then none of the other people in rows 4-6 would be able to watch it either.

That makes more sense. Diverting the plane because they complained was still a gross overreaction unless there is something more that is not being reported.

[Boogalou]

They wouldn't just divert a plane, have people escorted off and questioned by law enforcement for "collegial interactions". There has to be a lot more to this story than what we are hearing.

[EyeQueue]

The family just complained about the movie. The pilot took it upon himself to report them as a security threat and get the plane diverted.

This is the same airline that recently kicked a guy off a plane for taking pictures of these aforementioned unable to turn off seat monitors.

http://now.msn.com/united-airlines-kick ... re-of-seat

Ok....it looks like both parties bear some blame, but in the original article it sounds like the family escalated things after they were told by the flight attendant that the monitors couldn't be turned off (??)

[doggie]

If one movie is going to corrupt you or your children you better work on your faith a bit.

[Ex 2x2]

Landing the plane sounds like a major over-reaction, unless there is more to the story.

As for the movie, I'm torn. I haven't seen that one, but I've read all the books, and I'm guessing there was some violence in the movie. If my kids saw on the screen what I read in the books, they'd have horrible nightmares. My son has autism and it would be a huge, huge deal with him. It's easy to say just distract them, but if the screen is right in front of them, they are going to watch. Seems like maybe pg movies would be a better choice if there's no option to turn it off.

[dawbs]

They wouldn't just divert a plane, have people escorted off and questioned by law enforcement for "collegial interactions". There has to be a lot more to this story than what we are hearing.

I'm apparently distrustful of authority because...I think that they might. Power corrupts and all that...we've all known someone w/ authority on a power trip. I can imagine there are some asshole pilots, just like asshole cops.

(and maybe I"m overprotective, but I'd be annoyed they can't be turned off.

Even edited down to g/PG, some kids wig out at weird things.

It being OK for general audiences doesn't really mean it's OK for every person, everywhere.

I mean, I had to deal w/ a freaked out toddler today because a sparrow was "gonna eat us". I have no idea why--she's a safe kid in a stable environment, she just flips at weird crap.)

[Ex 2x2]

Honestly, I'm glad this came up. We've never flown with our kids, so I don't think this would've occurred to me. We are going to be soon, so I wonder if I can find out what is being shown? If you haven't been around a child with autism, you might not understand why it's a big deal, but it really, really is. Because they obsess on things, he'd be afraid for weeks or even months.

[dawbs]

Honestly, I'm glad this came up. We've never flown with our kids, so I don't think this would've occurred to me. We are going to be soon, so I wonder if I can find out what is being shown? If you haven't been around a child with autism, you might not understand why it's a big deal, but it really, really is. Because they obsess on things, he'd be afraid for weeks or even months.

I already have post-its in the diaper bag because of auto-flush toilets...I'm guessing they'd work here too?

Hasn't come up yet, but 3 deep, I'd imagine post its would blank it out OK :)

[Boogalou]

I'm apparently distrustful of authority because...I think that they might. Power corrupts and all that...we've all known someone w/ authority on a power trip. I can imagine there are some asshole pilots, just like asshole cops.

(and maybe I"m overprotective, but I'd be annoyed they can't be turned off.

Even edited down to g/PG, some kids wig out at weird things.

It being OK for general audiences doesn't really mean it's OK for every person, everywhere.

I mean, I had to deal w/ a freaked out toddler today because a sparrow was "gonna eat us". I have no idea why--she's a safe kid in a stable environment, she just flips at weird crap.)

That's a good point. However, pilots (like everyone) can be selfish. For them it can often be an inconvenience to divert the flight and land elsewhere. If they were done in Baltimore for the day diverting means extending their work day. If they live in Baltimore it means they get home later. If neither of those are true it would mess up some part of their work day no matter what. You can look at it from both perspectives, I guess.

[Ex 2x2]

I already have post-its in the diaper bag because of auto-flush toilets...I'm guessing they'd work here too?

Hasn't come up yet, but 3 deep, I'd imagine post its would blank it out OK :)

Note to self: Pack post-its!! :D

[Destiny]

You would be surprised. I fly a lot (I'm going to cross 50,000 miles for the year this week), and I've seen and heard lots of stories like this. FA's are basically, my word is LAW and if they go to the pilot and say, this is a problem, they will boot you off the plane and or divert just to back up their crew.

I'm sure there is a bit more to the story, but based on what I have read at other sources, I think there was assholery on both sides, but the aircrew took it to a place it didn't need to go.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

Surely the parents made enough of a stink that the flight attendants thought there was a security risk? (Where blame lies there, who knows, probably on both sides.)

That said though when it comes to the seat-back monitors (which this family didn't have, but were referenced upthread where someone was apparently thrown off a plane for taking a photo of one??) - there are endless pictures of them online, because you can have them show a crappy (very crappy! that's my complaint if anyone's listening! :D) GPS view of where you are, and plenty of people like to have that shot of the GPS showing them halfway across the Pacific or with Europe looming on the horizon or whatever.

[lovemygsp]

From the comments section...

United Passenger

4 hours ago

I was actually on this flight and sat very close to this family. While I understand that you don't want to expose your 4 year old son to the violence in a movie like Alex Cross, there are less agressive ways to raise your concerns. It was my understanding that the flight was diverted to Chicago because -- and this was confirmed by one of the flight attendants that took over the flight at Chicago -- the father was threatening violence against one of the crew members and flatly refused to follow FAA rules (attempting to manually force the shared LCD screen closed a number of times).

I think both parities overreacted.

BTW, the crew actually lost hours because of this rather than gain overtime. The whole crew had to be changed in CHI because the delay would have caused them to exceed their max operating hours if they stayed on to Baltimore.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/04/0 ... s#comments#ixzz2PePFQ5w5

Dunno if it's true but there ha have it. Makes a bit more sense.

[NurseNell]

The reasons and reactions were stupid but why doesn't United offer an off button on the monitors?

Surely this is not a difficult thing to add and I know I wouldn't want forced to watch some lame airplane movie.

Exactly. I don't like watching movies to begin with. I just want to read or sleep, and I do but it's annoying to have the screen right there and the movie on.

[Lady]

If they were so concerned about the kids seeing something, why didn't they bring a lap top with DVDs or another pre-chosen activity?

[mlady]

It sounds like they are talking about the screens that drop down from the ceiling of the cabin for several rows of passengers to view. It's not as simple as "off or on" when it's there for everyone. Although it's not hard to just not look at it.

[Tator Tot Tubby]

I do think that films shown on planes aren't always the best choices. I remember being traumatized by seeing a movie where someone was burned alive on a plane. It was really graphic and even though I was 12, I was really freaked out. Maybe when you buy your tickets you could select different flights based on the ratings of the in-flight movie? I know they have special "quiet planes" that you can book with the lights off and stuff so it wouldn't be too difficult to have more family friendly flights as well.

That being said, the world doesn't revolve around the sensitivities of children and if you're taking your kids on a plane, you are responsible for keeping them happy and entertained. A portable dvd player or coloring book may have solved the problem without causing a stink.

[Beammeup]

I flew once with my child and they aired a episode of 2 and a half men. We did NOT plug in our headphones for that. I distracted with markers and toys. I was not happy. Another time it was a violent movie, but my kid watched UP on three iPad instead. There has to be more to this than the dads story.