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.
“It is a safety hazard to have a loose animal on a plane, particularly blocking the aisles.
I would not be comfortable on an enclosed and locked plane with either an unruly dog or his verbally abusive owner. Disability has nothing to do with this.
“
Dittos. If the man refuses to control his dog then he can stay off the plane. If passengers don’t like it then they can walk.
Never, EVER fly U.S. Crapways!
Sheesh. What tripe this story is. FAA regulations REQUIRE service animals stay out of the aisles for emergency egress. This was a commuter plane, so space is not only legally required, it is in the passengers’ best interest for safety. The crew couldn’t win - get a huge fine for a blocked aisle, or risk a fine for non-compliance with ADA rules. Freepers who pile on the crew ought to know better than to follow the bogus media heart-strings ploy.
I was wondering how far down the list of posts I would have to go before I found one with some common sense and thought.
eff you US Air
run your stupid planes on time and you won’t pix people off
thats exactly what happened
well guess what ? You are wrong. When the whole entire group of passengers decides they are out of there because the “flight attendant” cough cough is acting like a male version of Nurse Cratchitt, I say US Air is the problem
Agree. Good to see complete strangers standing up and speaking out against injustice against a handicapped passenger.
We need more people speaking up against injustice in this country. Especially the injustice being meeted out by this out of control Government of ours.
Hopefully this is but a small first step.
TSA can kiss my royal Irish arse.
As an American I say we the people take the reigns
Most dogs are better citizens than Humans.
My Dog is quiet as a mouse when things should be quiet as a mouse.
Fact is US airways #$%*ed up and they tried to pin their #$%* up on a passenger.
The entire roster of passengers backed this man and his dog.
Am I to believe that this was some abusive jerk with a pit bull menacing the plane?
Air travel used to be a pleasure, and the stewardesses brought servicemen cards and drinks and blankets and pillows.
I can not bear to fly now.
Its like getting on a train to Dachau.
....and I just knew, just knew Joe would have a pic of that!
You don’t know the facts, and sadly are only reacting as a liberal who knee-jerks because some emotional string has been plucked by a left wing reporter. I am in the airline industry and I am very familiar with the regulations the crew were compelled to comply with.
“Fact is US airways #$%*ed up and they tried to pin their #$%* up on a passenger.”
They didn’t. Your ignorant opinion. Nothing more.
“The entire roster of passengers backed this man and his dog.”
They did? I didn’t read that in the article.
“injustice against a handicapped passenger.”
What ‘injustice’?
“Not one single passenger complained of the dog.”
You were there?
You seem to think emotionally just like a liberal: Make crap up to back your perceived ‘injustice’.
That is the way I read it.
The entire boarded paying passengers backed this fellow.
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