ASSAULTED
If this story doesn't make your skin crawl you should rush to your nearest ACLU for a heaping dose of reality.
Japanese Anime t-shirt that nearly downed AA flight 2099
Attorney & Therapist Wanted
For the past couple of years I have been incapable of shaking the events of August 8, 2006. Not sure if it's my pride seeking revenge or the feeling assault leaves a person with but there is an unmistakable cerebral angst that torments me to the bone.
Recently, I wrote a letter to the ACLU, which is probably buried beneath a mountain of other reminders of civil injustice in this country, hoping for some sort of validation that I'm not alone here....aware that I consciously allowed the statue of limitations to run out, if there is one, never having sued anyone and not wanting to get tangled in a no-win fight with American Airlines and Homeland Security.
So in an effort to rid myself of this albatross I am sharing a condensed unedited account of this assault with OS somehow having convinced myself that the retelling of it will make it go away. I shall leave it here to die unless some brilliant person cares to right the wrong for me.
Facts
Date: August 8, 2006
Passenger: Harry Knapp
Flight: 2099
Seat: 16B
Airline: American Airlines
Aircraft: MD80
Flight: 2099
Captain: 84550
Flight Attendant: 29033
Destination: Chicago O'Hare to LAX
Departure: 7:05am
Arrival: 9:22am
Duration: 4 hours 17 minutes
Imagined transcript of Pilot
"LAX...this is Captain 84550 inbound from Chicago O'Hare on flight 2099"
Go 2099
"Tower... flight attendant 29033 has notified me that a male passenger seated in seat 16B, a Mr. Harry Knapp has threatened her, requesting officers at the jetway"
What is the passenger doing at the moment?
"Sleeping"
Probably drunk, notify flight attendants to be cautious, keep passengers seated until subject can be extracted from aircraft.
"Roger that"
The Story..."ASSAULT on AA 2099"
August 8, 2006
5am-A balmy Chicago morning finds me enroute to O'Hare with in-law John...cutting short a family vacation to interview for a job. John a notoriously early-riser has already run six miles and fed the dogs...me I'm barely conscious.
John navigates the airport like a Nascar driver and promptly delivers me efficiently and sufficiently on-time to the curb. A quick terrorist fist jab and I hit the pavement for the curiously bright lights of the terminal. Feels like they are especially bright today, maybe it's just my eyes adjusting...or maybe terminal lighting is too bright and sucks in the morning.
Standing in the security line, a long line, I'm cold since I always strip in advance of the security snap...my own special cadence to throw of the defense. The line is jammed as TSA security forces Mrs. flying with three kids alone to wake her sleeping baby from the carriage. Screaming.
My feet are getting cold and I'm only wearing a t-shirt so I'm now shaking like a guy guilty of something....wondering why the hell the AC is so high when the humidity is suffocating outside. Anyway, I'm getting close but now the TSA agents are forcing Mrs. 90 year old woman unable to walk from her wheelchair. Freak show.
It's my turn, no worries here I didn't bring any bottles of liquid over 4 oz. or my gun. TSA agent Dude lets party actually compliments me on my t-shirt..."Nice Anime Bro". Air terrorist fist jab.
On the plane. I'm always on the aisle so I can't crash until the window guy shows up and it will undoubtedly be somebody foul...that's my luck. This time is an older woman, I help her with her bag, bid her good morning and off to sleep hoping she doesn't need to use the bathroom for the next 4 hours and 17 minutes.
3 hours 17 minutes into the flight the 2 cups of coffee I shouldn't have had on the way to the airport come rushing to the exit forcing me to head to the bathroom. Not wanting to wake up I'm squinting walking to the back of the plane. In a blur I see the flight attendant coming towards me with a cart. I duck into an alcove near the coffee station area and wait for her to pass me...but she stops blocking me with her cart. Trapped.
She studies me for what seemed like a long moment and sternly tells me " You should go change that t-shirt"
Excuse me?
"You should go into the bathroom and change that t-shirt"
Why?
"Because it's offensive"
I'm alert now.
Offensive to who?
"Women"
What women?
"All women"
Now I'm in the WTF zone.
All women?
"Yes ALL WOMEN and it's a contradiction from your cross necklace"
Really?
I get it now...it's a religious thing.
"Really...so I would change the t-shirt"
Pissed.
Would you let me pass so I can use the bathroom?
She glares at me and moves the cart. Freedom!.
In the bathroom I'm trying to digest what just happened. I know what she did was wrong but I can't yell at her...that would land me in jail. I decide to return to my seat and think about it there. But as I exit the bathroom she is right there! waiting for me!
Unable to control my anger I very very calmly...quietly say to her...I would like you to write me a note of apology before the plane lands or I will have a talk with your boss when it does. Silence.
I return to my seat and fall back asleep for the remainder of the flight. When the plane lands the pilot announces that for everybody to stay seated. No problem here I'm not awake yet. The flight attendant opens the front door and two cops enter for a brief exchange at which time the pilot signals it's ok to get up.
Standing there believe it or not nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me. I helped the older woman with her bags and we headed down the aisle. As I approached the cops, a black male and a hispanic male, they seemed to be eyeing me but I still wasn't getting what was happening...UNTIL...the black cop leaned to the flight attendant and asked her..."Is that him". Still in denial that this could be happening I walked right past them thinking I wonder what's going on...when I hear from behind me...
"What happened on that plane?"
Are you talking to me?
People are now rushing around me to get off the jetway. the hispanic cop takes me by the arm.
"What happened on the plane?"
Nothing happened on the plane.
"Look punk we can arrest you right here and do this in the back of a cop car if you want"
The only thing that happened is that I was verbally assaulted by a flight attendant on that plane...and what you're doing is even worse.
At this point they escort me into the American Airlines glass customer service center right off the jetway in front of hundreds of people waiting at that gate to board.
"Sit down"
What are you detaining me for?
"We're waiting for an AA rep...just sit there"
Tell you what why don't you arrest me instead of embarrassing and scaring all the passengers here that think you just apprehended a terrorist.
"Why don't you shut up!"
At that point the Administrative Service Manager Andrew S. Patterson walks up, standing and says "what can I do for you?"
Seriously? You're asking me what you can do for me? how about what you're doing to me?...how about what you're religious zealot flight attendant did to me?
"What would you like me to do?"
At this point I know he knows he's fucked.
Well for starters Andrew why don't you sit down, get rid of the heat and kill the smug face.
The cops are now furious..."We were just trying to help you"
At which time I said to them...you're black....and you're hispanic...and you don't get when somebody has just been raped of their civil rights?
The black cop..."You don't have to get hostile?"
Really? you embarrass me like this and I should remain calm {which I was]...do me a favor...leave.
At that point I turned back to Andrew...
Let me ask you a question...what is the criteria for a police escort from a plane? Doesn't the aircraft need to be in some imminent peril?
"Yes"
Was it?
"Look, the flight attendant told me the same story you told the officers, she made a mistake"
Is it your policy to condone the behavior of a religious zealot who has no business on your plane?
"It was a mistake, she shouldn't be voicing her religious beliefs to customers...so what can I do for you?"
This is not a free ticket moment.
Well Andrew I would like your card with the ID # of the pilot and flight attendant.
He filled out a card, handed it to me and walked away.
Stunned. I've walked out of the airport.
Since then friends and family have been outraged...wondering why I never pursued a lawsuit against these people. I don't know the answer to that, all I know is that it still bothers me today.
And I can't help but think if I hadn't had that coffee I could have avoided the nightmare.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Salon.com
Comments
Great piece, sorry it happened. GREAT T-shirt.
Peace,
Greg
I had a student in my class recently wearing something I found intensely misogynistic and racist. It took all my will power not to say something but since no other student complained, I kept quiet. I have learned the hard way that enforcing my moral code on people -- no matter how justified I believe it to be -- is just not worth the trouble. If it doesn't contravene school policy, which is obtuse at best, I let it go.
I personally don't care for your T-shirt, but I sure as heck don't feel that I have a right to stop you from wearing it.
Sorry this happened to you. (rated)
But: this incident happened TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. You weren't arrested; you weren't imprisoned, you weren't beaten. I assume you even made it to your job interview on time.
Are you aware that there are many, many countries in the world where people are imprisoned for decades, for crimes they didn't commit? Where they are forced into slavery and prostitution? Where, if you are so unlucky as to attract the attention of the police, you may very well end up destitute, limbless, or dead?
Have just a smidgen of perspective. Suing idiots doesn't make them any smarter; it just makes more people more hostile, more defensive, and assists the economy in its downward slide.
And if you travel in a suit, people might assume you are the litigous type, and thus treat you with the respect you deserve.
That said, this is my litigation, my public humiliation of them which is enough for me.
Greg...who ever you are...I am not a litigious person...but I wonder about litigating cases like this with awards going to fight future civil liberty abuses????
Emma...Your point is spot on...use your inside voice when you feel the need to censor. Good for you to allow your student the self expression he deserves.
Coyote...The one time I rise to adulthood...this is what happens!!
Aaron...It just doesn't seem right...and I wonder how many have been abused by these same people.
Pretty Lady....I think I hear "get over it douche bag"...."people in foreign countries have it much worse" ..."suit up for travel" ...Actually I have no idea WTF you just said but since we're both from Brooklyn I'm just going to say thanks for the comment girl.
And for the record, actually it's public record I have been in a foreign prison...Thailand...but that another trigger and a longer post!
Thank you all for your comments...I must now head over to visit my friend T-Bucket for a bit a reading.
liberal outlook.
A Tshirt with the F word might raise an eyebrow,
but that would be all.
Any derogatory remarks would just be shrugged off.
That does not mean that I personally condone the practice.
Maybe she had encountered a knockback,the night before,
and you happen to be in the firing line
Most airline and airport employees are just fine, but a select minority are really abusing this situation.
I won't get into detail, but the last two flights I had with them, were one example after another of incompetence, lack of professionalism, and abuse.
It's too bad you chose not to sue. Customer complaints alone don't seem to bother them, one could hope that paying out on a lawsuit might.
Your story reminds me of the Southwest girl http://abcnews.go.com/US/Travel/Story?id=3571435&page=1
Incidents like yours, and the Southwest girl, make me go, "WTF?!" It's crazy making.