Videotape an altercation on a JetBlue flight? That's a handcuffin'!

[giza]

http://www.elliott.org/blog/grandmother-arrested-after-refusing-to-delete-jetblue-fight-video/

http://consumerist.com/5036981/jetblue-has-grandmother-arrested-for-refusing-to-delete-an-unflattering-video-recording

http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=16860 (The most detailed writeup)

To summarize, there was a verbal altercation in mid-flight between passengers on JetBlue Flight 195 over a noisy child. That in itself isn't too unusual. Passenger Marilyn Parver, who was sitting a few rows back, recorded a video from her seat, with a video camera. Also not too unusual.

The unusual part is when the flight crew came around asking questions about the altercation, and when Mrs. Parver reported that she had video of the incident, was summoned to the back of the plane by the flight crew, who asked to see the video. After she showed them the video, they demanded that she delete it from her camera. When she refused, they attempted to bully her, and made threats that she would be arrested.

Sure enough, when the plane landed, Mrs. Parver was removed in handcuffs by two police officers. JetBlue again demanded she remove the video. When Parver refused, and asked the names of everyone present, she was "arrested", and taken to the police station. By now, JetBlue's story had changed, and she had "taken pictures of the cockpit, the galley and other suspicious things on board".

The best part is that since an arrest wasn't officially made, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department doesn't have any actual documentation of this incident. Funny, that.

I can't help but wonder what is on that video tape anyway, and why JetBlue is so insistent that it be deleted? I hope it gets posted to YouTube.

Comments

[murakozi.livejournal.com]

I read about this earlier this afternoon. My gut reaction was that the flight crew was worried about what the video would show them doing, or not doing, in response to the situation.

[kittrel.livejournal.com]

That is creepifying. o.o

[zorinlynx.livejournal.com]

What's really creepy is that they can apparently have you arrested when you get off the aircraft for any reason at all.

There should be actual documentation of THE LAW BEING BROKEN before they can arrest you. Refusing instructions from a company to destroy your own personal property is NOT illegal. The company can refuse to do business with you again, but they should NOT be able to have you arrested.

It's as simple as that.

Who the hell gave the airlines this much power?

[giza.livejournal.com]

Please RTA, the specific thing which caused this lady to be arrested was when she asked for peoples' names instead of leaving the airport. Up until that, JetBlue were "only" being assholes.

That being said, the situation would have not escalated to that point if Jetblue hadn't seriousl overstepped their bounds (http://www.archival.tv/2005/08/26/you-have-the-right-to-videotape/).

[therustyhusky.livejournal.com]

She needs to sue JetBlue and the LVPD for everything they're worth.

What a disgrace.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

My response would have been to press a button and put it away, saying I'd done as they said. I'm not bound to surrender my property to them for inspection, so they can piss off.

Then, post to youtube on arriving home.

[neillparatzo.livejournal.com]

I'll have to remember that one.

Relatedly, Bruce Schneier knows...

[mapdark.livejournal.com]

It reminds me of the TV ad in Grand theft auto 4
where they say that police and security workers are fighting terrorism "one old lady at a time" .

So true XD

[sethb.livejournal.com]

If she wasn't arrested, then she was kidnapped. Notify the FBI.

[camstone.livejournal.com]

She may have been falsely arrested, but if it was anyone with a badge representing any agency, including a rental cop unit... then she was still arrested.

[sethb.livejournal.com]

LVPD claims she wasn't arrested. (Yes, they're lying; she wasn't booked.) I'd still suggest getting the FBI involved. ("Violation of civil rights under color of law" is a federal offense.)

no good for Jet Blue's brand!

[eelo8.livejournal.com]

Dr. Tantillo ('the marketing doctor') has a branding blog ( http://blog.marketindoctor.tv) on which he's twice done critical posts of JetBlue.

http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/05/14/jetblue-again.aspx
http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/05/07/tantillo-on-the-news-jetblue-needs-to-remember-its-customers.aspx

I can concede some points..but personally, Nearly all of my JetBlue experiences have been positive, and they are my first choice of airline to fly...(leg room, digital tvs, and friendly service - and uh..fewer old people flying who slow down the lines with their two huge roller suitcases? I feel like maybe those people are on AA..) - but it's unfortunate that JetBlue staff had this sort of reaction to the videotape.
Had the videotape been posted, there's no reason that it necessarily would have marred JetBlue's name. The altercation is in no way specifically tied to JetBlue and the service they provide - from the sounds of it, it's just a glimpse into the horrors or traveling with strangers in tight places, thousands of feet and hours from an exit with no chance of escape..) - It would smart of them Not to suppress this video/story and just enjoy the fact that it gets a younger/less-known company more visibility/more talked about.