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Pilot had passenger detained for not flushing toilet
Philly.com ^ | 04/29/2013 | Sam Wood, PHILLY.COM

Posted on 04/30/2013 11:36:53 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd

A passenger who flew from Philadelphia to San Francisco was detained on arrival by federal agents after a vindictive flight attendant claimed he had not flushed a lavatory toilet, according to a federal suit.

The suit, which seeks $500,000 in damages, was filed last week in the Northern District of California.

Salvatore Bevivino, 52, a business manager for Genentech, boarded a Virgin America flight on April 28, 2012. After the plane reached cruising altitude over Indiana, the former Amblerite pushed the call button and asked for a soda.

According to the suit, a male attendant told Bevivino that if he wanted a drink he would have to use a computer touch screen installed on the back of the facing seat.

When another attendant passed a minute later, Bevivino made the request for a second time and asked why they couldn't deliver a drink like other airlines. After Bevivino said he would contact Virgin America, a third attendant brought him the soda.

The aircraft landed at San Francisco International. But as Bevivino began to disembark he was pulled aside by the plane's captain "as a person of suspicion."

Bevivino said he had no idea why he was detained. Initially he believed that his swarthy Italian complexion may have caused him to be mistaken for someone from the Middle East.

Then the pilot asked him why'd he'd been yelling obscenities at his crew.

And added that he'd left the toilet unflushed.

The pilot then asked a half-dozen uniformed police, FBI and TSA agents to remove Bevivino.

According to a police incident report, a flight attendant told an investigator that Bevivino had gone to the restroom after asking for the drink:

 

"[He] came back out with a smile on his face and began using profanities. [Name redacted] passed by the restroom and saw that Bevivino left the door open and did not flush the toilet."

The police report notes the captain didn't believe he or his flight crew ever felt threatened by Bevivino.

Bevivino, who now lives in the Bay Area, told police he had not yelled obscenities at anyone or left any toilet unflushed. He only had been trying to order a drink, was flustered with problems with the onboard computer, and had become frustrated when the flight attendant ignored him, according to the police report.

Bevivino was eventually released, but only after the incident had caused him embarrassment, humiliation, mortification, mental anguish and emotional distress, and damage to his professional reputation, according to the suit.

The complaint states that Virgin America violated Bevivino's civil rights through false imprisonment, discrimination, and denial of equal rights

 


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: aviation; virginamerica
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To: sauropod

US Air


21 posted on 04/30/2013 12:17:16 PM PDT by Jack of all Trades (Hold your face to the light, even though for the moment you do not see.)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius

“Because he wanted to be boss.”

Maybe it was because he thought it reasonable that he should be able to ask a stewardess for a drink, as people always have on planes, and he felt like resisting a change for the worse.


22 posted on 04/30/2013 12:18:40 PM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: Jack of all Trades

“Hot and steamy like the attendant...”

I think she was coming on to you. Some guys have all the luck!


23 posted on 04/30/2013 12:19:00 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (November 4, 2008 and November 6, 2012.....Two days that will live in infamy!)
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To: Triple

It’s a good beginning, but that’s as far as it goes. Made my day though.


24 posted on 04/30/2013 12:28:17 PM PDT by Jack of all Trades (Hold your face to the light, even though for the moment you do not see.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Thanks for the thread on which I can post my comments about yesterday’s travel USAir our of PHX, on a 1-2 hour nonstop.

I’m one of the first up to use the toilet, and I open the door to a toilet “needing maintenance” (full of paper and feces, so I wouldn’t dare flush is as a courtesy). I presume this sat untended on the ground.

Other complaint is that 10 minutes after they announce that we land in 40 minutes, they say “shut off all electronic devices. I know the rule is technical nonsense, but I can live without my Kindle for 5-10 minutes. But 30 minutes was ridiculous, and it appeared that the crew just wanted to get the cabin cleaned up and take a break before landing.


25 posted on 04/30/2013 12:50:02 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Universal Background Check -> Registration -> Confiscation -> Oppression -> Extermination)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius

I read it as the passenger was an arrogant ass. While the first flight attendant should have brought him a soda, he was informed of the proper procedure (using the console in front of him). Rather than follow that procedure, he then bothered two more attendants and started threatening that he was going to file complaints and what-not. Why couldn’t he had just used the console? Because he wanted to be boss.
****************************************************
Without firsthand knowledge of their computer system I must disagree ... I’ve worked with computers since the early 1970’s and I’ve seen plenty of abysmal programming and logic failures ... things that just don’t work when you follow the onscreen directions... I would have called the waitress myself instead of using the computer ... if it is mounted to the seat ahead it is (depending on recline angle) unlikely to be at an angle that makes viewing easy... that and I wouldn’t be able to read it without my glasses anyway...

The correct response is to only fly good airlines like Singapore or JAL.


26 posted on 04/30/2013 2:35:06 PM PDT by Neidermeyer (I used to be disgusted , now I try to be amused.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

The flight attendant sounds like a bitchy queen who got up on the wrong side of the bed that morning....never cross a gay diva....


27 posted on 04/30/2013 3:08:36 PM PDT by FeliciaCat (I like my money where I can see it...hanging in my closet.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Life imitates South Park yet again?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_of_the_Urinal_Deuce


28 posted on 04/30/2013 3:10:35 PM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155291/clyde-did-it


29 posted on 04/30/2013 3:12:43 PM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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