Piece just aired on BBC Radio 4 in which 2 passengers on VS flight to Kenya described protesting to capt re treatment of illegal immigrant being removed on flight, only to be offloaded themselves and arrested.
Anyone have any direct personal experience of these circumstances and issues arising?
They said the rear 2 rows were allocated to the removal. Without commenting on rights/wrongs of any party in this case (as I don't have the facts) this type of operation seems more than a little incompatible with normal airline service - do airlines want their paying pax to hear screams of illegals being removed?
Don't know about now, but when I was flying routinely into FRA and LGA from RIX, if our agents in Riga boarded someone without proper papers and they were caught by immigration on arrival, they were detained and sent back to Riga on our return flt...
The back rows were usually allotted for this...Also, the airline had to pay a hefty fine...(the figure 5,000 comes to mind)
I think in this case, it was a planned removal of someone contracted by the Home Office, not someone who had come in on the inbound sector without the right papers; the report said there were 3 contractors from G4S restraining the individual.
This kind of "passengers" must never be on a scheduled flight IMHO It's just looking for troubles I dunno (not sure about) .. but (if he want) the captain can refuse those passengers to be boarded. At least I was whitness of a AF captain calling PAF at CDG for evacuate two police officers and a "passenger" .. just before leaving the gate on a scheduled flight to Angola (some screams and blood spread there ... ) The captain was with the PAF squad at the rear rows and his words were exactly: "maintenant vous me foutez tout cela dehors"
Someone can explain it far better than me, but as i understand it the Airlines do not have a choice, they have to convey the illegals. If given the choice im sure the airlines would prefer not to carry them
I had to brief the pax that a deportee was going likely cause trouble despite the two police officers he was handcuffed to.
Had the nice one to one with him with the c/c involved.. he was going to scream anyway.
My lingering doubt is that there were other ways of transporting him rather than by air.
That is a political problem and should not be made an operational issue,
Their case had gone on for several years costing the UK taxpayer millions in appeal after appeal and endless detention in unnecessary luxury at ruinous expense. "
Exceptionally tough situation for pax and crew. Dedicated air transport would appear more appropriate. Can understand the frustration of UK taxpayers but it's likely that periodical "con air" flights would be cheaper overall than extended collective detention at HM facilities.
There's much talk of "rights" by those who pay nothing into the treasury of society. I'd say the solution's a combination of inflight sedation and prisons that acknowledge not everybody seeks, nor would benefit from, rehabilitation. Essential funds could then be diverted to citizens - not freeloaders - who would truly benefit more from a relevant 'second chance'. Charity begins at home.
There's much talk of "rights" by those who pay nothing into the treasury of society. I'd say the solution's a combination of inflight sedation and prisons that acknowledge not everybody seeks, nor would benefit from, rehabilitation.
I can see an issue straight away there. Sedation. You would have some saying that it's not possible as the prisoner would not be able to respond in an emergency situation and, of course, the bleeding hearts would whine about forcing drugs into someone being yet another breach of their "rights".....
The Netherlands regularly deports people by booking them on KLM flights. Sometimes escorted by officials, so it results in a couple of booked seats per deportee. There is a complete protocol in place for such cases.
I would have thought that there were serious difficulties if the people were handcuffed and in leg irons, and presumably of necessity attached to the seat, in the event of an emergency.
I would have thought that there would be even more serious difficulties if these lunatics were not handcuffed and in leg irons, and presumably of necessity attached to the seat, in the event of an emergency.
So you get a crash at take off, and need to get them out fast because of fire. E.g. Airtours at Manchester. Are the security guys going to stop and unchain them, or just get the hell out and leave them to burn? (plus quite likely the CC who will be doing their damnedest to get everyone out - even when, judging by history, it often costs them their lives)
Santa's little helpers and Pinocchio
