What began as a typical journey back from a magical trip to Disney World turned into a chaotic scene for the Johnson family aboard United Airlines. An unfortunate mix of inadequate preparation by the parents and a striking lack of empathy from the airline staff led to the aircraft making an unscheduled stop and the family being escorted off the plane by law enforcement. The situation escalated when their 15-year-old daughter, who has autism, was judged as too disruptive to remain onboard.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Sarah Johnson shared the ordeal. Her daughter, who is autistic, declined the food Sarah offered before departure. Once the plane was in the air, Sarah sought to get her daughter a warm meal since she prefers not to eat cold food. After explaining her daughter’s needs to the flight attendant, Sarah was met with a firm refusal to provide anything from First Class. She recounted, “For 40 minutes, I kept trying to think of something that they had that she would eat. He told me no every time.” In a moment of frustration, she asked the attendant, “Will you help her after she has a melt down and tries to scratch in frustration?” Eventually, the attendant returned with a hot meal, but his demeanor suggested he was far from pleased.
Shortly after, an announcement over the intercom declared an unexpected landing in Salt Lake City due to an issue with a passenger at the back of the plane. The Johnson family, seated at the front, was taken aback and assumed it had nothing to do with them. Sarah recalled, “The door opened and two paramedics came to the man two rows ahead of us, who insisted he was fine. They then approached my row and asked if everything was okay.” Confused, Sarah assured them that everything was fine. The paramedics inquired about her daughter, to which Sarah responded that she was also fine. The paramedics rolled their eyes and said they had real work to do and suggested the family might be asked to leave the plane.
Moments later, two police officers arrived and requested the family exit the aircraft. When Sarah asked why, they questioned if her daughter had been scratching anyone. Again, she clarified that no such behavior had occurred. She explained her efforts to prevent her daughter from becoming upset and mentioned the hot meal provided by the flight attendant. However, the officers insisted they still needed to remove them, explaining that the captain was uncomfortable flying to Portland with her daughter onboard. Throughout the ordeal, Sarah noted her daughter was quietly watching a video. A fellow traveler even recorded the family’s exit, with onlookers expressing disbelief, one person commenting, “this is ridiculous.”
The grounding of the flight and the family’s removal was unfortunate for everyone involved. However, it might have been avoided if the Johnsons had taken some proactive steps, like informing the airline about their daughter’s dietary preferences in advance. Likewise, the airline staff could have shown a bit of compassion and simply provided the food they were willing to pay for. It’s worth noting that threatening to mention potential scratching behavior wasn’t the best approach either.
According to Sarah’s account, the police took extensive statements before the family exited, and no one claimed her daughter had been disruptive. It seems the focus shifted to the parents rather than the child. When traveling with special needs, it’s crucial to make necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth journey. But airlines should also train their crew to recognize and accommodate passengers with special needs. There’s simply no justification for a 15-year-old girl quietly engaged in her own world being labeled as “disruptive” and removed from a flight.
This situation highlights a failure on both sides, showcasing the importance of communication and understanding when it comes to special needs passengers. For more insights on navigating such challenges, feel free to check out our other posts, including this one.
In summary, the Johnson family’s experience serves as a reminder of the need for better preparation from families traveling with special needs, as well as the importance of empathy from airline crews. Understanding and addressing the unique needs of passengers can prevent unnecessary disruptions and distress for everyone involved.