[NAGDU] FW: [Njagdu] Blind woman and guide dog kicked off American Airline flight

Thu Mar 16 15:48:43 UTC 2017

Can we agree we only have one side of the story here, and a limited
one at that? No, an airline should not kick someone off a flight, but
to claim danger to the flight, to me, suggests there could be more to
the story. I have seen fellow guide dog users become rather adamant in
their defense of their rights, and in a sensitive mode of
transportation such as airplanes, passengers with a variety of needs
should be mindful of the hyper sensitivity the crew is exercising in
prioritizing security. I am glad complaints are being filed. If wrong
is proven, the airline should do a lot more than issue an apology, but
let's remember we only have limited facts surrounding the incident.

Best,

Joe

On 3/16/17, Buddy Brannan via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Apology hell! She wants assurances and proof that they've had training on,
> you know, things like what the ACAA says (how many ways can we violate that
> in one flight?). But really, Sue Martin should freakin' *own* her an
> airline. Just sayin. While this sort of behavior was more common 30 years or
> so ago, ask Mike Hingson, just...wow.
>
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: buddy at brannan.name
>
>
>
>
>> On Mar 16, 2017, at 11:06 AM, Chantel Cuddemi via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I saw that article on another list!
>> How horrible! I am very disappointed .
>> They owe her an apology for this.
>> Chantel.
>> On Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 10:58 AM Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I wonder, as airlines have started charging for sitting in the bulkhead,
>>> if
>>> it will be harder to switch to sit there.  I don't care myself, but some
>>> do.
>>>
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: NJAGDU [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger
>>> Kutsch
>>> via NJAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2017 9:41 PM
>>> To: New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Cc: Ginger Kutsch
>>> Subject: [Njagdu] Blind woman and guide dog kicked off American Airline
>>> flight
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Blind woman and guide dog kicked off American Airline flight
>>>
>>> Samantha York, WLBZ 7:24 PM. EDT March 13, 2017
>>>
>>> Video at
>>>
>>> http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/blind-woman-and-service-dog-kicked-off-ameri
>>> can-airlines-flight/422219883
>>> <http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/blind-woman-and-service-dog-kicked-off-american-airlines-flight/422219883>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> FRANKLIN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- After requesting a different seat --
>>> Sue
>>> Martin, who is blind, and her service dog were kicked off of an American
>>> Airlines
>>>
>>> flight -- she said the pilot claimed she was a "danger to the flight".
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sue Martin of Franklin has had her seeing eye dog, Quan, for the past
>>> year.
>>> She depends on him to navigate through her daily life. Martin had never
>>> run
>>>
>>> into an incident like this before her most recent trip to San Diego.
>>> There
>>> were several connecting flights -- all of which went smoothly until her
>>> connector
>>>
>>> flight from Washington DC to Dallas. She requested a different seat on
>>> the
>>> aircraft after she saw it would not accommodate her service dog. "There
>>> was
>>> not enough room for a 75 pound dog and three adult humans" Martin
>>> said.The
>>> two were asked to step off of the plane after several requests were made
>>> to
>>> change seats. "The man said, you have to leave the plane -- I asked him
>>> why
>>> and he said the crew had decided I was a danger to the flight" Martin
>>> said.
>>> "I've
>>>
>>> never had anything happen like this before". Martin claims there was no
>>> altercation between she and the flight attendants and that she couldn't
>>> understand why it escalated the way it did.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> She was traveling with her husband as well -- they had to re-book their
>>> flight with a completely different airline at a different airport. "I
>>> stood
>>> up, reached for Quan's harness and almost began to cry -- this is just
>>> so
>>> far out of the realm of anything I have ever experienced in all my years
>>> of
>>> travel" Martin said. "I felt helpless, I felt afraid, I was terrified.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Martin filed three separate complaints with the Airline -- it says it
>>> will
>>> be investigating the matter. NEWS CENTER reached out to the airline as
>>> well,
>>> a spokesperson said "We take all disability complaints very seriously,
>>> and
>>> are thoroughly investigating these allegations".
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Martin stated she's worried about traveling with the airline in the
>>> future,
>>> especially if she is alone.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Some reassurance that American will better train its personnel is the
>>> only
>>> way I will feel comfortable getting on another American Airlines flight"
>>> Martin said. "I mean if they can kick a blind person off a plane whose
>>> dog
>>> is perfectly behaved, what can they do next? I don't know".
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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