Disabled boy's family booted from American Airlines cross-country flight
CBS
(AP) FRESNO, Calif. - A California family who was not allowed to board their cross-country flight said Tuesday that they were discriminated against because their son has Down syndrome.
Robert Vanderhorst, his wife Joan and 16-year-old son Bede, who is disabled, were flying on American Airlines from Newark to Los Angeles on Sunday when the boy and his parents were not allowed on the plane.
The Porterville family, who had upgraded to first class tickets at an airport kiosk, asked the airline to seat the boy and one of his parents together, Vanderhorst said — a request with which the airline complied.
When the family was ready to board, they were stopped by airline personnel, told their son was a "security risk" and would not be allowed on the flight. They protested, but were rebooked on another later flight in coach.
American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said the disabled boy was agitated and running around the gate area prior to boarding — a claim his parents dispute. The airplane's pilot observed the boy, Miller said, and made the call based on his behavior.
"He was not ready to fly, that was our perspective," Miller said. "We rebooked the family out of concern for the young man's safety and that of other passengers as well."
But Vanderhorst said his son did not run at any time, did not make any loud noises and didn't display any other offensive behaviors. The boy walked around with him or sat quietly in the gate area, Vanderhorst said.
A cell phone video captured by the boy's mother shows Bede sitting and quietly playing with a baseball cap.
Vanderhorst said Bede, a freshman at Granite Hills High School in Porterville, about 70 miles from Fresno, is very charming in contact with other people. The family has flown more than two dozen times with him, without any difficulties.
"Usually my son gets his snack and falls asleep, just like most people," Vanderhorst said. "The problem is this pilot thought my son might not be like most people. He didn't want a disabled person disturbing other passengers in first class."
The family says the pilot might have also been affected by the disabled boy's size — Bede is 5'1 and weighs 160 lbs.
On the second airplane, the family was placed in the last row and no passengers were allowed to sit within two rows of them, Vanderhorst said.
He hoped that airlines would change their mentality when dealing with the disabled.
"It's ridiculous and groundless to claim that this kid created a security risk," he said. "It was the pilot's insecurity. I paid for those seats and there was nothing that should have prevented us from taking that flight."
American Airlines' Miller said the company will reimburse the family for the upgrade fees.
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as treated offial the steridess where very rude no one helped my daughter with luggage they treated like I had leaperce can any tell me who to get in contack with about this? I feal soory for anyone that needs help people are swo rude in LA
as treated offial the steridess where very rude no one helped my daughter with luggage they treated like I had leaperce can any tell me who to get in contack with about this? I feal soory for anyone that needs help people are swo rude in LA
I have looked on AA's website for what they offer in First, Business, and Coach classes in terms of perks. All I see is I will get a different seat, the hope of better food, and maybe if I am lucky better services based on the ticket I purchase.
I have always had this belief even before I was blessed with a special needs child of my own with a life limiting genetic disorder. He is 18 months old now and has flow many times in First Class. I do everything possible to ensure he is as little of a disruption to others as possible but the fact of the matter is he
has cried on some flights in the past.
I hate the fact that I know by traveling with my son others have probably been disrupted. At the end of the day though, someday all too soon when my son is no longer with us... I will not be thinking of the few people we disrupted for a few moments of their lives... I will be remembering his smiles playing in the sand in Maui and the look on his face when he got to meet Mickey at Disneyworld.
Call me selfish for not caring about other passengers... but I would happily site next to anyone who has a ticket next to me. This is all part of the flying experience. I think anyone who thinks their perfect flight experience shouldn't be inconvenienced by someone less fortunate than them needs to come walk a day in my shoes. I think (or at least hope) you would see the world differently and set different priorities.
I have observed Down's kids first-hand for MANY years and know that the condition can vary WILDLY(no pun intended). Young men growing up can be especially unpredictable at certain ages as they deal with new situations. I would think that there will be indications on security camera video that shows if he were aggitated OR extremely withdrawn before the flight, not to mention other passangers shooting their own photos.