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Would you assist in restraining and duct taping an unruly passenger on an airplane? (Original Post) SummerSnow Jan 2013 OP
No. But then, I'm an old lady. WinkyDink Jan 2013 #1
You are probably strong then you think davidpdx Jan 2013 #15
I don't fly, and that is why. nt bemildred Jan 2013 #2
I wouldn't… If he used a safe word nt MrScorpio Jan 2013 #3
What's "unruly"? n/t FBaggins Jan 2013 #4
No. I also probably wouldn't attack a terrorist hijacker. dkf Jan 2013 #5
I am an old lady but newfie11 Jan 2013 #6
I would definitely try talking to him first to calm him down. Prometheus Bound Jan 2013 #7
If It Was Obviously Required, Yes. Paladin Jan 2013 #8
^^^ This. Iggo Jan 2013 #16
Do you think that guy's civil rights were violated or something? randome Jan 2013 #9
I agree that taping his mouth was wrong. SummerSnow Jan 2013 #19
If need be yes madokie Jan 2013 #10
Do I get to kick his ass once he's secured? JoePhilly Jan 2013 #11
Sure - if that's what it took to make him a non-danger to others. nt jmg257 Jan 2013 #12
No way. They could have killed him by duct taping his mouth shut like that. bubbayugga Jan 2013 #13
Yet jaw surgery patients routinely have their jaws wired shut following operations pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #17
Explain it to the jury when he dies from choking on his vomit. bubbayugga Jan 2013 #26
Under constant watch, he was not going to die from aspiration pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #33
you weren't intoxicated. This guy was. You were unlikely to vomit. this guy as likely to vomit. bubbayugga Jan 2013 #39
Jaw surgery patients don't get intoxicated, lol? pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #40
Yes. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #14
It's hard with a hypothetical davidpdx Jan 2013 #18
A plane in flight Shankapotomus Jan 2013 #20
LOL. Right on. I'll start carrying some duct tape in case someone starts taking about Hannity or FSogol Jan 2013 #32
I'm an old lady and damn right I would assist - lynne Jan 2013 #21
This about his mouth obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #31
Why not? I've seen much worse things done with duct tape. Orrex Jan 2013 #22
I hope you remembered your safe word pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #23
(Problem is, if one's mouth is taped shut, they can't say it!) Buns_of_Fire Jan 2013 #24
If you're smart, your safe word is "Mmmmffff!" pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #25
Excellent! Buns_of_Fire Jan 2013 #27
Same here pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #37
It would really depend on the situation Marrah_G Jan 2013 #28
This is an case by case situation... Earth_First Jan 2013 #29
Yes obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #30
Absolutely.... diphthong Jan 2013 #34
FREE THE UNRULY PASSENGER!!! graywarrior Jan 2013 #35
Look who's talkin' pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #36
If it's like the 'unruly' guy last week, absolutely. sinkingfeeling Jan 2013 #38

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
15. You are probably strong then you think
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:16 AM
Jan 2013

Adrenaline can do funny things when a life is in danger. I'm not saying you'll be the car lifting champion of the world, but you have two arms, two legs, and two knees. If it was a guy it would only take one knee or foot in the right place to put him down for the count.

Prometheus Bound

(3,489 posts)
7. I would definitely try talking to him first to calm him down.
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:30 AM
Jan 2013

In fact, I would demand I be given a chance to do so before he was manhandled.

If that didn't work, and I thought he was endangering passengers, I would gently duct tape him if someone gave me a hand.

If you mean the erotic dancer on the Moscow to London flight in 2011, I would insist she be allowed to express herself as long as she wanted.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
9. Do you think that guy's civil rights were violated or something?
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:52 AM
Jan 2013

The guy was drunk out of his mind. You can't restrain a powerful man by sitting on him while an airplane is attempting to land. The duct tape was a valid response. It was a life-threatening situation.

The only thing they did wrong, perhaps, was to tape his mouth. As someone pointed out, if he inhaled his own vomit, that could be deadly.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
10. If need be yes
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:54 AM
Jan 2013

I believe in living and let live as long as one don't infringe on someone else's right to living

JoePhilly

(27,787 posts)
11. Do I get to kick his ass once he's secured?
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:58 AM
Jan 2013

I mean if you are going to do something, you should do it right.

Is there are Marshall or other law enforcement figure on the plan?

Did the pilot request the assistance in terms of passenger safety?

 

bubbayugga

(222 posts)
13. No way. They could have killed him by duct taping his mouth shut like that.
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:00 AM
Jan 2013

lots of people aspirate their own vomit and die every year. Lots of musician types too.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
17. Yet jaw surgery patients routinely have their jaws wired shut following operations
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:20 AM
Jan 2013

I don't know if they still do this, but years ago the patient would carry a pair of wire cutters, often on a lanyard around the neck, in case of emergency.

In this case, passengers and crew reportedly kept a constant watch on the restrained passenger for his safety.

 

bubbayugga

(222 posts)
26. Explain it to the jury when he dies from choking on his vomit.
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:23 AM
Jan 2013

I may have restrained this guy but duct taping his mouth shut wasn't a necessity and it endangered his life. If I were him, I would sue.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
33. Under constant watch, he was not going to die from aspiration
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:35 AM
Jan 2013

Should I sue my doctors for wiring my jaw shut 5 times--each time for 8-10 weeks-- in connection with a traumatic jaw injury and reconstructive surgeries?

In distress, the guy's duct tape could have been removed far more easily than my wires, which I would have had to cut with wire cutters, one at a time.

Gimme a break. Having one's mouth covered is not a death sentence. This is something that is routine for oral surgeons and their patients.

 

bubbayugga

(222 posts)
39. you weren't intoxicated. This guy was. You were unlikely to vomit. this guy as likely to vomit.
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 11:24 AM
Jan 2013

Restraining him was appropriate. It wasn't necessary to duct tape his mouth shut however. This was done for the convenience of the passengers and crew, not for their safety. Furthermore, the airline shouldn't allow people to drink if they don't want people to get drunk. Their policy contributed to this situation. Multiple studies confirm that a person's tolerance to alcohol decreases significantly at high altitudes. This guy, like countless other airline passengers over the years, didn't understand that before he started drinking like normal. He made a mistake but that was no reason to endanger his life. As far as keeping him under constant watch, I don't think that is sufficient. It doesn't take a lot to cause an aspiration morbidity or mortality. It was an unnecessary risk. I think a good lawyer could really make a case here which is something I would love to see because I fucking hate the airlines.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
40. Jaw surgery patients don't get intoxicated, lol?
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 12:26 PM
Jan 2013

Hell, my traumatic injury was from AK fire in Vietnam and I got intoxicated as soon as I was able. Among the jaw casualties on my Army hospital ward we had plenty of jokes about our intoxication and our wired jaws and our wire cutters.

If you consider the incident as simply a matter of "convenience" for the passengers and crew, you're way off base. Anyone who is so out of control as to endanger an aircraft, its passengers and its crew should be restrained for the safety of everyone involved. Even his mouth, as he reportedly was cursing and spitting at people.

You might have a case if he'd been left alone with his mouth taped. But he wasn't left alone.



davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
18. It's hard with a hypothetical
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:21 AM
Jan 2013

If it was just an unruly passenger I'd probably watch the flight crew to see how they react. You could probably tell by their behavior if they had it under control.

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
20. A plane in flight
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:29 AM
Jan 2013

is no place to mess around. If you're causing problems on a plane in the air you deserve everything you get.

Give me the duct tape. You don't even have to be "unruly". Just open your mouth and sound stupid. I'm not dying for your drunken ass.

FSogol

(45,360 posts)
32. LOL. Right on. I'll start carrying some duct tape in case someone starts taking about Hannity or
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:33 AM
Jan 2013

Rush (The band or the blowhard).

lynne

(3,118 posts)
21. I'm an old lady and damn right I would assist -
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:31 AM
Jan 2013

- as anyone threatening, touching, grabbing, screaming at passengers on an airplane needs to be restrained for the safety of the passengers and crew.

Oh, and that silliness about not taping his mouth - it's not like he was left alone. He had a whole plane full of people with their eye on him and they could remove that tape in one swift yank if necessary. Anyone screaming that the plane is going to crash deserves to have their mouth taped shut.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
31. This about his mouth
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:32 AM
Jan 2013

Why should the passengers have to listen to his screaming? Why should the FAs? Or the crew??? It endangered the safety of everyone on that flight.

Buns_of_Fire

(17,121 posts)
27. Excellent!
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:25 AM
Jan 2013

Surely something to remember should I find myself in that situation.

Anyway, back to the OP: Sure, I'd do what I could. It's amazing how a lunatic at 30,000 feet could get those ol' berserker juices flowing.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
37. Same here
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:57 AM
Jan 2013

First response would be crew, who would not want passengers interfering unless it was necessary. If necessary, though, the safety of the aircraft, passengers and crew would be paramount, and passengers would be justified in restraining someone who presented a danger to the lives of others.

Earth_First

(14,910 posts)
29. This is an case by case situation...
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:29 AM
Jan 2013

I've knocked on windows of cars at the gas stations where a man was most definately making me nervous the way he was berrating a woman.

It's not beyond me to intervene in a situation where it's necessary.

 

diphthong

(21 posts)
34. Absolutely....
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:38 AM
Jan 2013

Hell, I'd even consider taping up a fat guy in the middle seat that was oozing into mine - just to strap him in to his own a little more...

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