EK Air rage DXB-MEL 20 08 15

[Hvr]

Rumour File confirmed: Passengers had to tie down a crazed passenger who allegedly assaulted a flight attendant in a horror trip from Dubai to Melbourne overnight.


Melbourne man Matt Naylor, who helped subdue the enraged man, told Ross and John how a seating dispute descended into a horrifying six hours.

He was very agitated, very worked up, crying, yelling - quite unpleasant.
Matt Naylor, on 3AW Breakfast​

The man, who was aboard the Emirates flight with a young child, allegedly chased after a female attendant and punched her in the face several times after she told him he could not lying across multiple seats

Barring medical issues I doubt this person will ever be allowed to fly again.

Kudos to the staff and other pax for restraining this person.

 

[TomVexille]

Yet he's likely to get off with a slap on the wrist.

 

[spudwa]

Why wouldnt he be allowed to lie across multiple seats? In the past when I've done it the only requirement was that the seaf belt was visible

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why wouldnt he be allowed to lie across multiple seats? In the past when I've done it the only requirement was that the seaf belt was visible

Maybe something more to the story? Dunno the seating arrangements, but possibly the child was lying on the floor while the adult was taking up the seats? Maybe the adult was lying on the seats and the child was left unattended in another seat somewhere else?

 

[RooFlyer]

Why wouldnt he be allowed to lie across multiple seats? In the past when I've done it the only requirement was that the seaf belt was visible

Many airlines forbid this; in fact I'm surprised if any allow it any more. As to 'Why?', there could be any number of reasons - the seat belt type may be unsuitable (technically ineffective) for lying diagonally across a sideways body; but I'd bet the main reason is that forbidding the practise stops pax competing for blocks of spare seats.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Many airlines forbid this; in fact I'm surprised if any allow it any more. As to 'Why?', there could be any number of reasons - the seat belt type may be unsuitable (technically ineffective) for lying diagonally across a sideways body; but I'd bet the main reason is that forbidding the practise stops pax competing for blocks of spare seats.

Sorry to disagree - but I'm not aware of any airlines forbidding this practice... unless Emirates has an official policy on it (which would be the first airline I am aware of).

Seat belts can be secured around you while lying down. In flight they are only required to prevent you hitting the ceiling in the event of turbulence - they don't need to be securely fastened around your waist.

Almost all airlines make an announcement that sleeping on the floor is prohibited.

(Air Asia even allows you to bid via auction for multiple seats to lie flat: http://www.airasia.com/au/en/inflight-comforts/optiontown-empty-seat-option.page)

 

[TomVexille]

Why wouldnt he be allowed to lie across multiple seats? In the past when I've done it the only requirement was that the seaf belt was visible

The story I heard was that there was a passenger occupying one of the seats that he wanted to lie across.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The story I heard was that there was a passenger occupying one of the seats that he wanted to lie across.

lol - that seems a pretty good reason

 

[RooFlyer]

Sorry to disagree - but I'm not aware of any airlines forbidding this practice... unless Emirates has an official policy on it (which would be the first airline I am aware of).

Seat belts can be secured around you while lying down. In flight they are only required to prevent you hitting the ceiling in the event of turbulence - they don't need to be securely fastened around your waist.

Almost all airlines make an announcement that sleeping on the floor is prohibited.

(Air Asia even allows you to bid via auction for multiple seats to lie flat: AirAsia | Optiontown | Empty Seat option (ESo))

OK, I'll retreat to 'some' rather than 'many'. But seat belts are designed to be worn in a particular way - around the waist and hips. If a pax is lying sideways, and has the belt loose around their middle body (and it must be diagonally across their body if they are lying sideways), then there would be a chance that the belt would slip (or they would slip) sideways, and in the event of sudden 'ceiling hitting' turbulence, you can imagine that the belt would come tight on somewhere not at their hips and therefore risking further injury. Unlikely perhaps, but air safety is often carried to lengths we think unreasonable and an airline might want to strictly follow the seat belt manufacturer (or the airline's regulator's) recommended practice.

And what Air Asia allows doesn't convince me that the practice is either safe or reasonable! (Maybe their seat belt maker has OKed the practice.)

 

[UP4014]

I haven't heard of any airlines not allowing snoozing across several seats, please do name a couple.

While some people obviously want to give the passenger a hard time, let's see what transpired and keep an open mind until then.

Matt

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK, I'll retreat to 'some' rather than 'many'. But seat belts are designed to be worn in a particular way - around the waist and hips. If a pax is lying sideways, and has the belt loose around their middle body (and it must be diagonally across their body if they are lying sideways), then there would be a chance that the belt would slip (or they would slip) sideways, and in the event of sudden 'ceiling hitting' turbulence, you can imagine that the belt would come tight on somewhere not at their hips and therefore risking further injury. Unlikely perhaps, but air safety is often carried to lengths we think unreasonable and an airline might want to strictly follow the seat belt manufacturer (or the airline's regulator's) recommended practice.

And what Air Asia allows doesn't convince me that the practice is either safe or reasonable! (Maybe their seat belt maker has OKed the practice.)

I understand your observations regarding the use of seat belts, however I'm not sure that's actually an issue. Passengers in flat beds only have seats belts loosely fastened around them and can sleep in all sorts of positions! (for example no requirement for them to be lying on their backs with seat belts around their waist) And some beds have pax lying on the diagonal (so not facting fully forward... VS/NZ are examples).

I agree if the person was lying down but only had the seat belt over their lower legs that probably wouldn't be sufficient.

I'm still not aware of any airline banning the practice (provided the passenger is able to reasonably wear a seat belt while lying down).

 

[Happy Trails]

According to this article the guy was allowed to continue on to AKL, so I'm wondering how serious it really was. Seems hard to credit if he had in fact assaulted the FA.
Also mentions he might have been deaf.

Man 'bound' on Emirates flight after 'punching flight attendant'

 

[JessicaTam]

I have slept across seats in the past, most recently with EK on a 777 a couple of months ago.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I doubt that the full story has yet been told.

 

[JohnK]

Why do they always dance around the real story in these situations?

 

[drron]

As I said OT-the AFP interviewed him,did not charge him and let him get his connecting flight in NZ.
Seems there is more to the story.

 

[puppysparkes]

I haven't heard of any airlines not allowing snoozing across several seats, please do name a couple.

While some people obviously want to give the passenger a hard time, let's see what transpired and keep an open mind until then.

Matt

It I'm not sure whether it is authorised however it happens. Jetstar DRW-BNE. Departs around 1am and lands at 5:30am. I usually select from row 26, 27, or 28 C or D towards the back. I also keep checking the seat map prior to the flight. Sleeping across 3 seats allowed me to head home then straight to work after a shower. I've done that trip over 8 years and have not been questioned. Just don't take the last 2 rows as the crew need a nap too.

 

[ellen10]

Yes I have slept across 3 seats on QF last year.

 

[UP4014]

Yes I have slept across 3 seats on QF last year.

Did it two months ago on QF.

 

[maninblack]

Story sounds inconsistent and frankly absurd. He was allowed to continue to Auckland? Emirates agreed to carry him there?

Remind me not to fly Emirates. Oh yeah, already don't!