A woman flying Delta from Detroit to Los Angeles was punched in the eye by another passenger. A flight attendant who witnessed the incident on Delta 908 asked the man, “Did you just punch her?”
It seems that the man “had been vaping, touching other passengers in appropriately” and causing a disturb. He appeared drunk. Crew escorted him to the back of the aircraft, where he was detained. Another passenger monitored hi in the back row to keep him from harming anyone else for the remainder of the flight.
The woman who was hit reported being shaken and with a sore eye. Police met the aircraft and she provided a statement about the incident. However, the Delta agent who met the flight “wasn’t even sympathetic.”
They told me they were aware this guy had caused trouble before the flight and that he probably should never have been allowed to board in the first place. Yet, somehow, Delta still let him on the plane.
After the flight, the woman reached out to Delta customer service. She was offered 4,000 SkyMiles as a goodwill gesture. She feels she should have been given greater compensation or a refund, but according to her, “Delta says they don’t get involved in conflicts between passengers.”
What do you think? On the one hand, while the customer wants compensation from Delta, Delta isn’t the one who assaulted them. It was a passenger. Shouldn’t they seek compensation from that passenger instead? On the other hand,
- They purchased a ticket on Delta for safe and reliable transportation. It turned out not to be safe. They were assaulted! They didn’t get the product they purchased.
- Delta had some obligation to screen passengers for fitness and safety, and didn’t catch this problem passenger. Do they have some liability for this?
I don’t think we have enough to really pin the blame here on Delta, but their customer wasn’t safe on their plane and 4,000 SkyMiles is an insult, since the currency is so low value and the number itself is so de minimis. They should do better here.
@ Gary — Even I who loathes Delta has to say not their fault.
I know that FAs are not allowed to serve pax who are already drunk when ordering alcohol. Is there no responsibility to deny boarding to drunk pax?
How many gallons of jet a would this voucher buy?
Unfortunately a lawsuit is the only way to get Delta to live up to their obligations, assuming that this story is true. Let’s hope the injured party has retained a mean one.
There are SEVERAL things wrong here.
1) Presuming (and I know, there is no proof) the passenger in question did indeed show signs of inebriation, a) he should not have been allowed to board, and b) he certainly should not have been served any additional alcohol.
2) The woman in question should have pressed charges. There is a question as to jurisdiction, if the District Attorney wants to get picky…did the battery occur in California airspace? Michigan? Utah? etc., etc.
3) Why was another passenger “assigned” to keep an eye on the individual who *clearly* was causing trouble on board? Doesn’t DL stock a few zip-ties on board for just such an event? Delta should compensate the passenger that was “drafted” into helping out the crew.
4) The 4,000 miles is a f*****g joke, and downright insulting. Delta should do better, much better. If the woman wanted to get assaulted, she’d fly Spirit.
5) The unsympathetic agent that met the flight needs to be “re-trained” in a) Customer Service, and b) what to do in the event of disruptive passengers — especially when law enforcement is called out to meet. the plane. But so should the entire flight crew, including those in the cockpit. It is the job of the Captain (and crew) to safely transport their passengers from Point A to Point B. They failed miserably.
The bar that over served the person is liable and Delta would also be partially liability “if” they knew the person was drunk before the flight. Delta could also be extra-liable if they continued to serve an already drunk person. This is the reason bars and restaurants carry liquor liability insurance but Delta likely self insures for this risk.
“4000 Miles”
Heh. Typical Delta. Over Promise. Under Perform.
When they Eff It Up Big Time, “Hey, here’s 4000 SkyPesos for your trouble”.
If Delta knew this passenger was a risk prior to boarding? yeah, it’s DL’s responsibility to keep the drunk-and-dangerous off the damn plane.
Wow 4000 miles
normally delta only gives 500 miles per passenger assault’s
How generous
Proud to fly Delta (roll eyes)
How much if you get stabbed and bleed 5000 ?
I bet accepting the 4000 let’s DL off the hook for any liability (like with an insurance settlement). Always read the fine print before accepting any offer
Delta is the most premium airline in the world. They are not at fault. Delta can do no wrong!
I got 5,000 miles for bag that didn’t get on the flight. So that is worth more than being punched in the eye!
How is the airline to screen every passenger for intoxication prior to boarding? I’m willing to put some money on there being more than a few people around this site (and certainly FlyerTalk) who can go on auto pilot from their local Sky Club onto a plane and into their assigned seat without arousing any suspicion (and wouldn’t be legal to drive).
Should they have devices like ignition interlocks to make the boarding pass scan?
@NedsKid
They call it Drunk-and-Disorderly for a reason.
DL staff admitted the pax was out of control before he boarded… So why was he boarded?
People have been pulled off DL flights for far less than this.
So she received about $50 worth of air fare?
They told me they were aware this guy had caused trouble before the flight and that he probably should never have been allowed to board in the first place.
Based on the above statement, Delta is culpable. The customer deserves at least a refund of her ticket.