A California family has said they were forced off a Delta Air Lines plane and threatened with jail after refusing to give up one of their children's seats on a crowded flight.
Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach were returning from Hawaii with their two toddlers when they were removed from the aircraft on 23 April. A video of the incident was uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday. In the footage, Mr Schear is heard explaining that he wanted to place one of his toddlers in a seat originally purchased for his 18-year-old son, who had flown home earlier.
Delta policy generally prohibits passengers from using a ticket bought in another person's name, although a Transportation Security Administration spokesman said federal regulations do not bar such a switch as long as the new passenger's name is run through a database. In the video, Mr Schear says the airline will have to remove him, to which a person off-camera replies: “You and your wife will be in jail. It's a federal offense if you don't abide by an airline crew's order.” A Delta supervisor then claims that federal rules require children under two to remain in a parent's lap throughout the flight.
That claim is incorrect. The Federal Aviation Administration “strongly urges” that infants be placed in a car seat, but it permits those under two to be held in a parent's lap. Delta's own website recommends that parents buy a seat for children under two and use an approved child-safety seat.
Delta issued a statement saying: “We're sorry for what this family experienced. Our team has reached out and will be talking with them to better understand what happened and come to a resolution.” The airline did not immediately explain why the family was removed from the flight.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of airline customer service after a passenger was dragged off a United Express flight. Congress held two hearings this week on the issue, with executives from United, American, Southwest and Alaska testifying. Delta was notably absent.
