Originally Posted by
lomapaseo
When does an airline captain take control of the plane in deciding who stays aboard and who leaves?
Is it when he enters the boarding door ?
When he accepts the manifest?
When the boarding door is closed ?
When he starts his engines?
The captain is rarely called upon to make that decision. If he or she is, it may be be before they even leave the crew room. In specific circumstances it could be in all of your examples and more besides. I have deplaned or refused to accept passengers before boarding (in the case of accompanied deportees) and prior to boarding, prior to taxi, prior to take off, diversion in flight, prior to landing, and after landing. I cannot recall the police ever being called to remove an overbooked passenger. There is always a solution such is the "art of the deal."