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[Dalek]

‘I tried to hold it’: A Delta passenger said he was kicked off a plane for using the restroom

Video at link

A Wisconsin man said he was removed from a Delta Air Lines flight because he had to get up from his seat to make an emergency restroom run.

A video shows the passenger, identified as 39-year-old Kima Hamilton, attempting to explain the situation last week to an agent who was instructing him to depart the plane traveling from Atlanta to Milwaukee.

“I need more information, sir,” Hamilton said. “I haven’t done anything. I’ve paid for this ticket and I actually have to get home.”

“I’m going to share this with you outside,” the agent replied, waving for him to move. “We’re not going to discuss this right here.”

“I’m not really clear on why I’m being asked to leave the plane. I’ve purchased this ticket. I had an emergency — I had to pee,” Hamilton said. “I tried to hold it the first time. … I absolutely couldn’t. Now I’m being kicked off the plane.”

“You’re not being kicked off,” the agent said. “I need to talk to you outside.”

The issue arose midafternoon on April 18 on board Delta Flight 2035 when Hamilton said he needed to use their airplane lavatory.

“We weren’t taking off. We were still. The plane isn’t moving,” Hamilton later told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He added that he had not used the restroom before boarding the plane because “I don’t normally pee right before I get on the plane, and I’ve never had a problem like this before. I don’t remember drinking an abnormal amount of water.”

Hamilton told the newspaper that he made his way to a lavatory in the back of the plane, where a flight attendant told him if he used the restroom at that moment, the plane would lose its place in the line.

He did not want to be a disturbance, he said, so he returned to his seat.

However, after more time sitting on the tarmac, he described it as an “emergency” situation and went to the restroom to urinate.

“The pilot came on and said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry for the inconvenience but we have to return to the gate and remove a passenger,’ ” Hamilton told the Sentinel. “It escalated to that point that fast.”

In the first video, Hamilton expressed concerns that as soon as he exited the plane, it would leave him behind, and the agent would not ensure his spot on the flight.

Other passengers could be heard in the video wondering aloud why Hamilton was seen as a problem. Some agreed with him that as soon as he stepped off the plane, it would take off without him.

“I haven’t done anything. What have I done? If I can even understand what you’ve been told, we can have a human to human interaction,” Hamilton said, starting to show frustration. “A situation is being created where everyone’s on the plane and I’m holding the plane up, when I’m just asking to understand why I’m being asked to move.”

A second video showed another employee trying to level with the passenger.

“I don’t understand why I have to get off this plane,” Hamilton launched again into the issue. “I had to use the restroom. So everyone who has to use the restroom has to get off the plane?”

“Yeah,” the agent responded, “if it’s during takeoff …”

“Everyone who has ever had to use the restroom during takeoff has to get off a plane?” Hamilton interrupted.

“Well we haven’t had that scenario, sir,” the agent said.

After Hamilton continually refused to leave the plane, all passengers were removed and soon after re-boarded, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Hamilton was reportedly not allowed back on the plane.

Delta said that the flight crews are “extensively trained to ensure the safety and security of all customers.”

“It is imperative that passengers comply with crew instructions during all phases of flight,” the airline said in a statement, “especially at the critical points of takeoff and landing.”

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

 

[Makonero]

should have peed in the seat

 

[Sylas]

Thus does every jackass who gets kicked off a plane for disobeying the simplest of rules get a new story. Hell yeah.

 

[Goldenroad]

Piss in the barf bag and hand it to the flight attendant.

 

[akira28]

Thus does every jackass who gets kicked off a plane for disobeying the simplest of rules get a new story. Hell yeah.

seriously guy?

so he goes to pee, finds out he violated some rule, and gets removed from a plane. and youre the one inconvenienced?

 

[excelsiorlef]

“I’m not really clear on why I’m being asked to leave the plane. I’ve purchased this ticket. I had an emergency — I had to pee,” Hamilton said. “I tried to hold it the first time. … I absolutely couldn’t. Now I’m being kicked off the plane.”

“You’re not being kicked off,” the agent said. “I need to talk to you outside.”

Hamilton was reportedly not allowed back on the plane.

Sounds about right....

 

[AlexFlame116]

Thus does every jackass who gets kicked off a plane for disobeying the simplest of rules get a new story. Hell yeah.

Excuse me?

 

[Deepwater]

Spirit must be sending sleeper agents to all of these rival airline flight crews to create PR disasters for themselves. I'm convinced, they're the only ones who haven't been in the news from what I've seen.

 

[Mimosa97]

Thus does every jackass who gets kicked off a plane for disobeying the simplest of rules get a new story. Hell yeah.

jackass ?

What kind of dystopian world do you want to live in ?

 

[Sylas]

seriously guy?

so he goes to pee, finds out he violated some rule, and gets removed from a plane. and youre the one inconvenienced?

Excuse me?

It's irrelevant and if this sort of thing gets a news story every time it happens, people are likely to pay less and less attention to actual things that need to be addressed. So, yeah. It's kinda shitty that a total nothing story got picked up by the WaPo. You are straight up told to not use the restroom while the plane is on the tarmac. He broke a rule and was calmly asked to leave the plane. What's the big deal?

 

[Dalek]

It's irrelevant and if this sort of thing gets a news story every time it happens, people are likely to pay less and less attention to actual things that need to be addressed. So, yeah. It's kinda shitty that a total nothing story got picked up by the WaPo.

 

[Trojita]

Sounds like they took more time to "punish" the customer than it took him to pee.

Rookie mistake to say you never pee before getting on a plane.

 

[Mick Swagger]

It's irrelevant and if this sort of thing gets a news story every time it happens, people are likely to pay less and less attention to actual things that need to be addressed. So, yeah. It's kinda shitty that a total nothing story got picked up by the WaPo. You are straight up told to not use the restroom while the plane is on the tarmac. He broke a rule and was calmly asked to leave the plane. What's the big deal?

The excuse given was the plane would lose its place in line but according to the article after a few minutes the plane had still not begun to move?

 

[DaytimeWhiskey]

Had a similar situation happen to me last year. Not sure if it was Delta or United. I tried to use the restroom and a flight attendant told me I had to wait until we were in the air and it was safe to remove the seatbelts. The plane hadn't yet even begun to move from the gate and I tried to reason with her until she finally said something along the lines of "OK, Im gonna go tell the pilot we aren't taking off now."

I punked out and went back to my seat before she got up. Barely made it by the time we were in the air

 

[Deepwater]

It's irrelevant and if this sort of thing gets a news story every time it happens, people are likely to pay less and less attention to actual things that need to be addressed. So, yeah. It's kinda shitty that a total nothing story got picked up by the WaPo. You are straight up told to not use the restroom while the plane is on the tarmac. He broke a rule and was calmly asked to leave the plane. What's the big deal?

ok, but he used it anyway. What do you gain by kicking him off after he does it?

If the time tables get pushed back for the flight, well that literally happens all the time. I'd rather get to my destination 30 minutes later than sit next to someone who pissed themselves.

 

[Trouble]

I'm pretty sure this veers hard into FAA regulation territory. There are a bunch of post-9/11 rules especially around takeoff and landing. The crew might not have actually had any leeway there.

 

[Reptars Revenge]

Dicks out for Delta. If you are leaving go out in style.

 

[Septimus Prime]

What is the reason the plane can't take off? Now I'm going to be all paranoid about this next time.

 

[OG Shaka Zulu]

It would have taken a minute max to pee. The airline created this whole problem.

What rule did he break? The first thing I do when I board the plane is go take a piss and there's never been a problem. I fly Delta like 90% of the time too.

 

[zeemumu]

 

[Megatron]

Thus does every jackass who gets kicked off a plane for disobeying the simplest of rules get a new story. Hell yeah.

Apparently so. Jesus man, go before take off. How hard is that? Dont go in the exact few minutes they tell you you cant get up.

 

[akira28]

I'm pretty sure this veers hard into FAA regulation territory. There are a bunch of post-9/11 rules especially around takeoff and landing. The crew might not have actually had any leeway there.

You're not that sure unless you can cite an actual regulation. And if that is the case they probably need to make it more well known that you will be removed by a Flight Authority agent.

 

[RinsFury]

I'd would just piss myself right there in the seat if they wouldn't let me go. Sometimes you just can't hold it.

 

[Prologue]

It would have taken a minute max to pee. The airline created this whole problem.

What rule did he break? The first thing I do when I board the plane is go take a piss and there's never been a problem. I fly Delta like 90% of the time too.

Sounds like he went while they were on the run way waiting.

Technically, thats an FAA violation.

Even then, I wouldnt bring someone back just for that lol.

 

[Makonero]

this is why a piss jar in your carry on is always handy

 

[Skellig Gra]

Piss before you get on the plane. It's not that hard.

 

[norm9]

Shoulda forced something out before getting on the plane.

 

[akira28]

Piss before you get on the plane. It's not that hard.

dude its fucking piss.

 

[Darth Pinche]

This is pretty much the reason why they say stay in your seat. Plus, he could injure other passengers. People forget they are not in a fucking bus.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Huh, didn't know the restroom stuff was so strict. At least not in the air. I see tons of people just get up and go even while the "fasten seatbelt sign" is still lit, with attendants not batting an eye.

 

[gutter_trash]

so he went to pee prior takeoff? I don't get it.

tripple check you pee before you board.

I am insane, I force pee 2 or 3 times BEFORE boarding to make sure that the first hour I am peeless on the plane

 

[Violence Jack]

I don't know. Airlines have strict rules when it comes to being in your seat when departing. Even if they were sitting still at the moment they could've been getting ready to back out and take their place in line for takeoff.

But I'm pretty sure it would have taken him less time to go pee and get back into his seat before takeoff, than it did to remove him and delay other passengers.

I always advocate trying to go to the bathroom before boarding a plane, even if you don't have to go that badly.

 

[Kayhan]

Had a similar situation happen to me last year. Not sure if it was Delta or United. I tried to use the restroom and a flight attendant told me I had to wait until we were in the air and it was safe to remove the seatbelts. The plane hadn't yet even begun to move from the gate and I tried to reason with her until she finally said something along the lines of "OK, Im gonna go tell the pilot we aren't taking off now."

I punked out and went back to my seat before she got up. Barely made it by the time we were in the air

You should have pissed yourself and sued them for millions.

 

[SoRuffShoNuff]

It would have taken a minute max to pee. The airline created this whole problem.

What rule did he break? The first thing I do when I board the plane is go take a piss and there's never been a problem. I fly Delta like 90% of the time too.

There is probably some sort of FAA regulation that the plane isn't allowed to push from the gate unless all the passengers are seated. The captain has to report to ATC that everyone is seated before they will get the OK to enter the taxiway. If that's the case it's out of the airlines hands.

 

[Big-E]

Sometimes planes are waiting for like an hour or more before takeoff. There is no way that this has not come up before. I bet employee error again.

 

[Squirrel Killer]

It would have taken a minute max to pee. The airline created this whole problem.

What rule did he break? The first thing I do when I board the plane is go take a piss and there's never been a problem. I fly Delta like 90% of the time too.

From the story, it sound like he broke the rule about not getting out of your seat while the plane is taxiing (even if it is stationary.)

 

[Sylas]

You're not that sure unless you can cite an actual regulation. And if that is the case they probably need to make it more well known that you will be removed by a Flight Authority agent.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/121.317

(f) Each passenger required by § 121.311(b) to occupy a seat or berth shall fasten his or her safety belt about him or her and keep it fastened while the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is lighted.

The most prominent reason off the top of my head for the law/rule is that there's always the potential that someone is in the bathroom/out of their seat during takeoff and that would be bad. If you gotta go, ask. If you're told no, wait.

 

[Psychoward]

I'm leaving satisfied.

 

[Deepwater]

Sometimes planes are waiting for like an hour or more before takeoff. There is no way that this has not come up before. I bet employee error again.

I've waited 30-40 minutes on the tarmac without even being given an explanation.

 

[Trojita]

Is there a time span for how long they were sitting in between when he first tried to go to the bathroom, and was told no, and when he decided to do it anyway? It only says they continued sitting on the tarmac.

”Everyone who has ever had to use the restroom during takeoff has to get off a plane?" Hamilton interrupted.

If the seatbelt sign was up, it is actually illegal to get up and use the bathroom.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/121.317

The law probably won't be on his side unless there wasn't an indication they weren't taking off soon, but the airline was being petty.

At least none of us have had to deal with a 2.5 hour flight that took off with a broken bathroom

 

[Psychoward]

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/121.317

(f) Each passenger required by § 121.311(b) to occupy a seat or berth shall fasten his or her safety belt about him or her and keep it fastened while the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is lighted.

The most prominent reason off the top of my head for the law/rule is that there's always the potential that someone is in the bathroom/out of their seat during takeoff and that would be bad. If you gotta go, ask. If you're told no, wait.

But it wasn't during takeoff and it wasn't going to be near takeoff.

 

[Big-E]

I've waited 30-40 minutes on the tarmac without even being given an explanation.

Same. There are probably kids right now in a plane waiting to takeoff that need to pee. I don't think all of them are getting booted.

 

[Squirrel Killer]

You're not that sure unless you can cite an actual regulation. And if that is the case they probably need to make it more well known that you will be removed by a Flight Authority agent.

https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/regs/acob/media/acob228.pdf

 

[DOWN]

seriously guy?

so he goes to pee, finds out he violated some rule, and gets removed from a plane. and youre the one inconvenienced?

They already told him it was a rule twice and he didn't bother going before he got on the plane. The airline gets fined sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars if they interrupt the flow of takeoff at airports. If they answered air traffic control asking if they were ready with "someone just went into our restroom" the plane itself would be kicked off the lineup. If the plane and pilots have to follow that rule, so does everyone else. Glad he didn't wet himself, but that's the consequence I guess.

 

[Sylas]

But it wasn't during takeoff and it wasn't going to be near takeoff.

When a plane is sitting on the tarmac it's considered taxi'ing and "waiting in line," so to speak. My understanding is that once you're given the all-clear for takeoff, that sumbitch is in the sky within 30 seconds - 1 minute. The pilot doesn't know when they're going to be given clearance. General rule of thumb is that if a plane has departed from the gate and is sitting on the tarmac, you're officially in line for takeoff.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

I miss that show so much.

 

[BlazinSkatinAxel]

United: Jackpot.
American Airline: Well. Top this!
Delta: Hold my beer. I gotta piss.

 

[Trojita]

Delta reportedly refunded the cost of Hamilton’s ticket from Atlanta to Milwaukee, but not the taxes and fees, and left him to find his own way back to Wisconsin.

Shiiiiiiiiiet.

 

[adamantypants]

But it wasn't during takeoff and it wasn't going to be near takeoff.

Technically, it was. They were taxiing for takeoff. Sure, they were stationary on the tarmac but the airline was correct to the letter of the law.

Could be worse, they could've beaten him and dragged him off.

 

[Trouble]

You're not that sure unless you can cite an actual regulation. And if that is the case they probably need to make it more well known that you will be removed by a Flight Authority agent.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/121.311

Section (b) is the relevant part.

(b) Except as provided in this paragraph, each person on board an airplane operated under this part shall occupy an approved seat or berth with a separate safety belt properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing.