To think the male American Airlines passenger punching the reclined seat should be charged with assault if legally possible.

[SiousieSoo]

I have watched the video of the man continually punching the seat occupied by Wendi Williams who had positioned it to recline. I am totally appalled that she was not given assistance when she drew the flight attendants attention to her predicament. This mans behaviour was totally unacceptable. I find it hard to fathom his behaviour and really feel a bit disturbed by it. I don't think he would have acted this way had it been a man in front... Am I being unfair in thinking this?

We should all salute a passenger who doesn't put up with her ridiculous behaviour, and follow his example. If people didn't put up with the bully that is that woman, she wouldn't chance her unreasonable behaviour.

They could have just swapped seats and why would anyone deliberately recline their seat during mealtimes.

Or he should have got a coughing fit onto her head, or tickled the top of her head to annoy her (but I admit I can be childish).

She sounds like an attention seeking idiot. She has a smirk on her face throughout. Ffs assault. That's an insult to anyone who really has been assaulted.

The lady did nothing wrong. She declined her seat, which was built to recline.

I understand that this will have been frustrating for the passenger behind her, but it is tough luck and did not justify his actions, which were disgusting.

I generally recline on flights. I travel mostly long haul though. I wait until after the first meal has been cleaned up/trays collected and then recline until the next meal, where I pull my seat up again, so the person behind can eat comfortably. Not always do I receive the same courtesy from the person in front of me, but I wouldn’t behave like this gentleman did.

Exactly what I was going to say.

@Rosebel. To me this is an assault, she perceives it to be and has consulted an aviation lawyer. Would you like low level punching directed to you via your seat ? I think not. It's physical attack via the seat.

She was deliberately nasty to him and he retaliated by being nasty back.

I hope the FBI charge her for being an idiot.

@Frippeno. All the news outlets describing his actions must be equally inept I guess

Let her crack on then, neither of them come out well and maybe she just wanted to wind him up. No thoughts of compo of course

To all those defending his actions.. Don't you think it odd that he hasn't come out to defend them?

They are both behaving horribly.

@SiousieSoo
It wouldn't be the first time that the press has been inept and not told the full story.

I think common sense should tell you there was more to the incident than what the video shows. As other posters have mentioned, she caused his drink to spill etc. I think the fact that airline staff didn't take her side 100% during the flight says it all! Also VERY convenient that she didn't manage to catch him punching the seat forcefully on camera. How niave can you be ffs. Not to say he was in the right, but she certainly fucking wasn't either!

Anyone who reclines their seat, tbh is an inconsiderate arse.

@Hypergear. again if there is more to this why aren't the airline or protagonist elaborating on or clarifying their actions? Perhaps it's you who is naive?

OP you must be this Wendi nutter. Maybe the guy isnt an attention seeking knob like this woman that's why he doesnt need to defend himself.

Sorry but having endured a 9 hour flight where the people in front reclined their chairs and refused to cooperate when asked to adjust them I think she ought to have been far more considerate and she should have been made to readjust her seat. It made the end of a holiday very unpleasant.

@Brazi well done ten out of ten. Describing somebody as a "nutter" is truly insightful. Good grasp of the richness of the English language you have there...

Maybe he and the airline cant be bothered fuelling this story, if she wants to hire a lawyer then who really cares. Why didnt she just suggest they change seats, she was filming him, for what purpose and then went to the press about a non story.

@HappyHammy not so much of a non story that the airline issued her with a passenger disturbance notice. Also she's the aggrieved party with no other redress so why shouldn't she come forward. None of this explains why he or the airline has come forward to defend their actions.

I experienced something similar on flight from NYC to Chicago. Immediately after take off the seat in front went full recline.
Well, 'unfortunately' my back went into spasm causing my knees to knock the seat... the person called an attendant to complain, but the attendant suggested that if she had not rammed the chair right back it would not have happened... she also suggested reclining was not necessary on a short midday flight... and perhaps my knees would not knock her seat if she put it in the upright position.

The attendant was my hero as she turned to me and winked! Seat went back to upright position and Bingo, no more issues for anyone!

@SiousieSoo
Yes maybe I am the niave one. Maybe I should just assume everything I read in the media is true word for word? Because it's not common in these scenarios that often one side of the story gets much more media attention than the other. Lol. Fucking hell have a word with yourself

I really think you should rewatch the footage if you think she wasn't smirking - there's a moment where you see her face.

They both behaved badly.

But I feel far more for the guy because he literally had nowhere to go with his own seat, it was a short-haul flight and just because a person can recline their seat doesn't mean it isn't bloody inconsiderate to do so.

@Hypergear. Do you rely on smoke signals as your source of news then?