This was published 7 years ago
US airline Delta bans Trump supporter for life after mid-air rant
By CHRISTINE HAUSER
Delta Air Lines.Credit: iStock
US airline Delta has banned a disruptive passenger who shouted pro-Trump and anti-Clinton remarks at fellow passengers on a flight from Atlanta to Allentown, Pennsylvania, last week, the airline's chief executive said Monday.
The chief executive, Edward H. Bastian, said in a memo published on Delta's website that other travellers on that November 22 flight would receive refunds for their tickets.
"This individual displayed behaviour that was loud, rude and disrespectful to his fellow customers," Bastian said in the statement. He added, "We must require civility on our planes and in our facilities."
The decision by Delta came after the airline received criticism on social media for its initial response to the episode, which a passenger identified as Emma Baum videotaped and released online and to news organisations.
Baum was quoted by The Morning Call on November 26 as saying that she had first noticed the man, who was not identified, shouting pro-Trump slogans in the terminal while waiting to board Flight 248. The man ended up sitting next to her, and she told him she had been out of the country and asked him about the election, she said.
Baum told The Morning Call that as the man became animated, jumping out of his seat, she began recording him with her mobile phone. In the video, the man is seen clapping his hands and shouting at other passengers.
He says in part: "Donald Trump, baby! We got some Hillary bitches on this plane?"
The man also yelled: "Donald Trump! It's your president. Every goddamn one of you. If you don't like it, too bad."
A Daily Beast writer was also provided with a copy of the video.
Baum said the man was briefly removed from the plane and then allowed back on the flight before it took off. She said she reported him to the authorities when the plane landed.
After the video was posted online, Delta issued a statement apologising to customers for the disruption.
Bastian said in the statement Monday: "If our colleagues had witnessed firsthand what was shown in the video, there is no question they would have removed him from the aircraft. He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane."
The New York Times
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