Have you ever wondered what has to happen for them to take you off a plane? Well, Jose Luis “El Puma”, the Venezuelan singer, has experienced it firsthand. It was recently, on an American Airlines flight between Quito and Miami, when he was forced to get off the plane, and we are going to tell you what happened.
The case of “El Puma”
The singer said he felt “humiliated” when the pilot told him a blunt “Disembark from my plane right now.” Everything started because of the placement of his carry-on luggage. According to him, he needed to have a bag with medicine within reach (remember he went through a double lung transplant in 2017). There was a comment in between, the crew got upset… and the captain decided it was better if he did not travel.
American Airlines quickly responded that they were applying FAA regulations, the ones that prohibit blocking exits or critical areas with luggage. Of course, the video went viral and many people are wondering what happens when they take you off a plane and what rights a passenger has in these cases, and we are going to tell you!
Can they take you off a plane?
Yes, it is the first thing you have to accept when you buy a ticket, and it is your job to know the reasons why they can make you disembark, here we go!
Overbooking
Airlines sell more seats than they have, in case someone does not show up, so that seat does not go to waste. If in the end everyone shows up… they have to look for volunteers to take another flight, and if no one wants to… they have to choose someone at random and that person will have to wait again.
Safety
When there are safety problems, unexpected changes, weight limits, technical failures or behaviors that the staff interprets as a threat, they may invite you (subtly) to leave the plane.
Any minimal risk could end with you on the ground saying goodbye to your plane.
The crew needs your seat
If the airline needs to move staff from one airport to another, they may leave a passenger on the ground to give them the seat. And yes, it is legal.
Not following instructions
Since 9/11 this became a top reason. Not stowing luggage, not turning off a device, unbuckling the seatbelt or arguing with the crew can end in immediate expulsion.
In the case of “El Puma”, the spark was precisely that not very pleasant verbal exchange between the passenger and the crew.
Inappropriate behavior
Of course, aggression, insults, offensive clothing or extremely strong body odor are not allowed (if you shower two days a year, make sure one of them is the day you get on a plane).
The FAA maintains a zero-tolerance policy, and breaking the rules can make you pay fines or even be banned from flying with some airlines…
Who is in charge on a plane?
Spoiler: the captain, always, and what he says is the most important. He has absolute authority to order boardings, delay or prevent takeoffs, divert a flight if he considers it necessary.
If he believes something can affect safety, even if it is a subjective interpretation, his decision is law in that moment.
What rights do you have if they force you to get off?
Everything depends on what happens and the reason why they take you off. If it was due to overbooking, you will have the right to financial compensation and relocation on the next available flight. But if you were expelled for bad behavior… you have no right to compensation.
But you can file a formal complaint before the DOT and appeal whatever you can appeal… You will just need luck.
The Dao case
It was in 2017 one of the most talked-about cases of expulsion from a plane, on a United Airlines flight, David Dao was dragged through the aisle of the plane. Social media, of course, denounced discrimination and the abuse of power they were exercising against this passenger.
The case of “El Puma” is another example that confirms that yes, they can take you off the plane, even for situations that seem small or based on the crew’s perceptions. Be very careful!