Woman gets kicked off DL flight after accusing CA of boozing

[Oakum_Boy]

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

I'd bet my life on it

 

[Voice Of Reason]

maybe somebody used some hand sanitizer? Smells like alcohol.

bingo!

 

[njcapt]

So far we have 3 idiots that believe the myth that vodka has no smell.

My thoughts, exactly. Silly me, I thought that as alcohol was metabolized it was expelled with CO2 in exhalations producing a distinctive odor. I'm not saying the CA was drinking, but given the discreet way the passenger voiced her concerns, Delta really F'ed up by kicking her from the flight.

While an airline pilot, my policy was that if a passenger made even a vague accusation about me drinking I would insist on getting tested immediately. Generally, the pain of waiting for me to get back from the DOT and Company approved testing center would exact enough misery to prevent any subsequent bogus accusations.

 

[Benjamin Dover]

Maybe she was also a fatty and Delta didn't want the bad press like we get at Southwest :laugh:

 

[SLUF4]

perhaps she caused a disturbance in another way after the test results..she said 2 or 3 other people smelled it too and none of them got kicked off.

 

[Whataburger]

As old as the Delta Capts are, I bet he tested positive for Viagra.

 

[GuppyWN]

Just look at the lady, tell her because she has accused you of drinking that there will be a lengthy delay, and walk off the jet.

Don't get your "feelings" hurt. Don't get pissed off. Just walk off the jet.

Gup

 

[IBNAV8R]

Not saying I fault the crew but, how exactly SHOULD a passenger voice safety concerns? Do we dismiss a lowly pax's concerns merely because they paid for a ticket? What if it were ice on the wings, a missing panel, damage not seen during a walk-around. Should they not speak up for fear of reprisal?

 

[180ToTheMarker]

I'd bet my life on it

My name is Indigo Montoya....eh nevermind

 

[SLUF4]

Not saying I fault the crew but, how exactly SHOULD a passenger voice safety concerns? Do we dismiss a lowly pax's concerns merely because they paid for a ticket? What if it were ice on the wings, a missing panel, damage not seen during a walk-around. Should they not speak up for fear of reprisal?

No-you don't dismiss their concerns. He addressed her concern and got tested. I think that goes for most anything someone says-I'm going to at least check it out for myself.

 

[Linedriver]

Ok, I think I must disagree. It sounds like the passenger did a good job about discreetly voicing her concerns. What is accomplished by kicking her off the flight? It looks more like an adolescent reaction by the captain - she is no threat.

As pilots we are trained to solve problems while maintaing composure so why the retaliation against a passenger who was doing the same thing?

Just saying it doesn't look good.

 

[DrewBlows]

Not saying I fault the crew but, how exactly SHOULD a passenger voice safety concerns? Do we dismiss a lowly pax's concerns merely because they paid for a ticket? What if it were ice on the wings, a missing panel, damage not seen during a walk-around. Should they not speak up for fear of reprisal?

All passengers should feel free to speak up but be prepared to take the next flight.

This lady was going to take the next flight if she was right about the alcohol anyway so no bid deal, in my opinion.

 

[DCMartin]

I seriously doubt this article tells the full story. She was obviously loud enough to make her voice heard through media outlets, and Id say there was a decent chance she was loud enough to cause a scene and be considered disruptive.

This "poor me attitude" from the article is most likely BS...

Any crew member who has had accusatory letters written by passengers of their flight can usually attest to major discrepancies between what actually happened and what was written by the accuser.

 

[Linedriver]

I seriously doubt this article tells the full story. She was obviously loud enough to make her voice heard through media outlets, and Id say there was a decent chance she was loud enough to cause a scene and be considered disruptive.

This "poor me attitude" from the article is most likely BS...

Any crew member who has had accusatory letters written by passengers of their flight can usually attest to major discrepancies between what actually happened and what was written by the accuser.

Yep, there may be some truth to that!

 

[Ty Webb]

Passengers have a right to make an accusation, but unfounded accusations also have consequences. I, too, doubt that she was discreet. Perhaps "White Plains discreet", or "Philadelphia discreet".

Sounds like they handled it right. I'm sure as the rest of the passengers figured out that her accusation was the result of the delay, it could get ugly enroute.