Boy with Tourette’s denied boarding after bomb remark

[TamanTun]

I was just thinking about the news article about the 13 year old boy who was denied boarding after shouted ‘bomb’ at the gate. His parents had warned the airline in advance, he had his diagnosis letter on him and was wearing a sunflower lanyard. Imagine a world where others would understand and be supportive in a case like this rather than what happened. The family had done everything they could to avoid something like this but yet it did happen. Why can we all not be more accepting? I suppose it comes with educating others and does depend on the situation.

Surely it's not about being more accepting, but following security protocols designed to keep everyobe safe? Difficukt for the family concerned, but not wrong of the airline.

It’s a difficult situation and I suppose once he had got on the plane he maybe would have still shouted out inappropriate things. Maybe letting him board before everyone else and then an announcement to everyone to explain about his condition. I think his parents did everything they could before the flight.

I don't think a sunflower lanyard is as powerful as a bomb.

I think it was more to do with the strict airline security measures.

This is really hard to judge. Feel so sorry for the boy, but if someone was shouting bomb on a plane (I understand he wasn’t yet on it) it would be quite distressing for everyone.

If I had been on that flight I would have been terrified. Well done to the airline staff for following protocol.

Could potentially distress an entire plane full of people. Pretty sensible really. Greater good, and all that.

Rights aren’t absolute. Disability accommodations are very important but so is safety.

In this case I disagree with the decision but it’s important that the nuance of competing rights, and safety, and every other consideration isn’t forgotten. There will be people on that plane with crippling phobias, anxiety, and other needs. This isn’t as simple as ‘everyone else be nicer’.

Lucky it happened in the UK. Plenty of countries where the police would have taken this a lot more seriously.

I was with someone (bit of a prat) waiting to board a plane and they were making remarks about bombs in an undertone so I quickly told them to —shut up— stop or we’d be denied boarding. Luckily they did but they took grave offence! Too bad.
Airlines take all this very seriously, I'm glad to say.

I understand how horrible and frustrating it must be for the family concerned. But some rules need to be absolutely rigid, and those around airline security fall into this category.
If they stretched the rules for him, they'd have to stretch the rules for others. And that could lead to manipulation. Anyone can fake a diagnosis letter and get hold of a sunflower lanyard and shout disruptive things to cause a scene and distract attention if they choose to, for nefarious purposes.
As PP have said, other passengers matter. Someone shouting 'Bomb!' could cause mass panic or a stampede, or other passengers trying to tackle him. Easy to imagine how quickly it could escalate. They have to say no.

This. Why should other passengers not privy to his Tourette’s be scared witless? It could cause a human crush, heart attack or worse.

Me too, imagine being on board with your kids and hearing that. I’m sorry but the needs of 1 person don’t trump those of everyone else on the plane whether he’s wearing a lanyard or not.

I feel like teens must shout bomb among eachother at airlines 🤔🤔 'for a joke'

I think he should've been let board, although i understand why he would've been stopped

Agreed 👍

Unfortunate for the boy and his family, but there are lines, and that crossed it.
Also have to consider the return destination might not have been as understanding as we are in the UK. The next headline would be 13 year old boy awaits trail in Cairo jail for bomb threats.

It’s a shame but I think the needs of the other passengers, particularly those who might be ND themselves, or children, or very nervous, should be considered seriously.

The correct decision really.

Accepting is understanding someone with Tourette’s may shout out inappropriate things.

im sure if he was swearing they’d have made accommodations.

However airport security needs to be tight. He shouted bomb. They had to take action.

imagine if they didn’t and then the worst happened ……

Of course the airline had to prioritise the safety of the majority, and also think about the company's reputation. It's hard on the whole family and I respect the parents for doing all they could to enable this trip to happen.

Was in a queue some years ago at EM airport and some wise ass made a remark about not packing his machine gun!! He was out of that queue and explaining his brand of humour to the Police. Feel sorry for the boys family but ......

People with tourettes should absolutely be allowed to fly. It just requires better management so letting them board first, announcement to the other passengers etc. Anything else is discrimination.

I do take the point about it being upsetting or frightening for the other passengers but a little grace goes a long way.

I also think that if anyone was actually planning to bring a bomb on a plane the last thing they'd do is announce it loudly.

I think the airline had to follow the rules. It can't just be left up to somebody's discretion. In any case it could cause a mass panic at an airport on a plane. Imagine if somebody was already anxious about flying. Correct decision.

But if their aim was to create panic and distraction...?

Exactly.

Inclusion is important, but there are limits, especially if the result is that everyone else is anxious or uncomfortable.

Reasonable adjustments for disabilities are just that.

Asking for an airline to make adjustments to their safely protocol because of tourettes is unreasonable.

It's a shit situation all round, and I'm not sure there's a better way this could have been dealt with.