Man restrained and "beaten" on EK flight
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Here's an earlier statement from Emirates on the incident:
"Emirates can confirm that Mr Ukesone was a passenger on flight EK235 from Dubai to Chicago on 23 January, and that he had to be restrained by cabin crew due to unruly behaviour during the flight.
"Despite the best efforts of our crew to intervene and reason with him, Mr Ukesone repeatedly disturbed other passengers, refused to remain in his assigned seat, and forced his way into another cabin class.
"He also assaulted crew and bit another passenger. As a consequence he was restrained by our crew. Our cabin crew are highly trained to ensure the safety and security of our passengers, and constantly monitored Mr. Ukesone’s welfare throughout the flight.
"The safety and security of our passengers and crew is of the utmost importance and will not be compromised.
“Upon arrival at the airport, the passenger was handed over to the authorities in Chicago. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the other passengers on the flight for their understanding, in particular the individuals who had assisted our crew during the flight,
"Despite the best efforts of our crew to intervene and reason with him, Mr Ukesone repeatedly disturbed other passengers, refused to remain in his assigned seat, and forced his way into another cabin class.
"He also assaulted crew and bit another passenger. As a consequence he was restrained by our crew. Our cabin crew are highly trained to ensure the safety and security of our passengers, and constantly monitored Mr. Ukesone’s welfare throughout the flight.
"The safety and security of our passengers and crew is of the utmost importance and will not be compromised.
“Upon arrival at the airport, the passenger was handed over to the authorities in Chicago. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the other passengers on the flight for their understanding, in particular the individuals who had assisted our crew during the flight,
On Saturday, 74-year-old David Ukesone appeared at a press conference at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago with bandages around his ankles and wrists after he said he was bound with metal wires for eight hours on board a flight last month.
“They come to the other side and grabbed me here, with iron wire and tied me up,” he said.
Ukesone was flying from Nigeria via Dubai to Chicago on Jan. 23 when he says that airline attendants and security beat and bound him.
“I was tortured,” he said.
Rev. Jesse Jackson said Emirates Airlines used “excessive and unnecessary” violence against him.
Emirates Airlines disagrees, however. The airline issued a statement:
“Mr. Ukesone behaved in an unacceptable manner during the flight, disrupting other passengers and endangering himself and others on the flight…Our crew made every effort to speak with him and to defuse the situation, but he became agitated and was not to be reasoned with. He assaulted our crew and even hit another passenger.”
Passenger Chad Birkholz was on the flight with Ukesone and sat one row over from where the incident took place.
“I’d say he was just confrontational with every flight attendant, even though I saw them a number of times come over and ask him what the issue was.”
Ukesone’s attorney denies that he was disruptive on the plane, and says his client was not charged with a crime. Ukesone says he spent several days in the hospital due to injuries he says he sustained during the restraint.
Rainbow PUSH says they are requesting meetings with Emirates Airlines and Nigerian officials, and also say they are planning on filing a lawsuit.
“They come to the other side and grabbed me here, with iron wire and tied me up,” he said.
Ukesone was flying from Nigeria via Dubai to Chicago on Jan. 23 when he says that airline attendants and security beat and bound him.
“I was tortured,” he said.
Rev. Jesse Jackson said Emirates Airlines used “excessive and unnecessary” violence against him.
Emirates Airlines disagrees, however. The airline issued a statement:
“Mr. Ukesone behaved in an unacceptable manner during the flight, disrupting other passengers and endangering himself and others on the flight…Our crew made every effort to speak with him and to defuse the situation, but he became agitated and was not to be reasoned with. He assaulted our crew and even hit another passenger.”
Passenger Chad Birkholz was on the flight with Ukesone and sat one row over from where the incident took place.
“I’d say he was just confrontational with every flight attendant, even though I saw them a number of times come over and ask him what the issue was.”
Ukesone’s attorney denies that he was disruptive on the plane, and says his client was not charged with a crime. Ukesone says he spent several days in the hospital due to injuries he says he sustained during the restraint.
Rainbow PUSH says they are requesting meetings with Emirates Airlines and Nigerian officials, and also say they are planning on filing a lawsuit.
Just because he was not charged with a crime dies not mean he did not commit one.
The assault would only have been charged should the crew wish to take that route. It's voluntary and up to them.
And unfortunately sexual assault of crew is very common and often follows unruly behaviour. (Although you may not think of the same things as I do when reading the words "sexual assault", unwanted touching does fall into that category and pretty much every female and a good portion of male crew experience this)
As for metal wires, I call BS. Without going into specifics that's not possible.
The assault would only have been charged should the crew wish to take that route. It's voluntary and up to them.
And unfortunately sexual assault of crew is very common and often follows unruly behaviour. (Although you may not think of the same things as I do when reading the words "sexual assault", unwanted touching does fall into that category and pretty much every female and a good portion of male crew experience this)
As for metal wires, I call BS. Without going into specifics that's not possible.
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: United Arab Emirates
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm actually surprised they're continuing to push for a lawsuit even with direct statements from the airline and witness statements which back up the crew. But then this is America...stranger things have happened by far and they love a good lawsuit.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston
Age: 51
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
