Re: Autistic Boy and Mom Kicked Off Plane

[Guest guest]

**Autistic Boy and Mom Kicked Off Plane**

**Mother Says Flight Crew Should Have Been More Understanding**

By STEPHANIE DAHLE and JONANN BRADY

June 25, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5238571 & page=1

There were no weapons on board or concerns about terrorism, but an

American Eagle flight about to take off from the Raleigh-Durham,

N.C., airport was turned back to its gate on Monday to remove two

passengers.

American Eagle flight crew diverts plane to remove 2-year-old.

The culprits? An upset, autistic toddler and his mother.

By all accounts, two-year-old Jarret Farrell wasn't a happy traveler.

But his mother, Janice Farrell, who said she tried everything to calm

her son, believes there was no reason for the airline to kick them

off the plane.

The airline disagrees, saying they were removed primarily because

Janice Farrell kept her carry-on bag on the floor in front of her

seat, but that Jarret's behavior added to the tense situation.

" The child had been crying and screaming uncontrollably, to the point

where the child's well being was in question, " American Airlines, the

parent company of American Eagle, said in a statement. " Though,

ultimately, the parent's violation of FAA regulations was the cause

for removal, both situations contributed to an uncomfortable and

potentially unsafe atmosphere for our passengers and crew. "

But Farrell told " GMA " she allowed the flight attendant to place her

bag in an overhead compartment. And, even though Farrell said she

explained Jarret's autism to the flight crew, they only made the

situation worse by reprimanding and yelling at the toddler.

" kept coming over and tugging his seatbelt to

make it tighter, 'This has to stay tight.' And then he was wiggling

around and trying to get out of his seatbelt. And she kept coming

over and reprimanding him and yelling at him " Farrell told ABC News'

Raleigh-Durham affiliate WTVD.

Farrell said that a pilot came into to the cabin and told Jarret,

" You have to get in your seat, young man. "

Farrell said she started crying then, which just exacerbated

Jarret's behavior.

" He just melted down. He saw me getting upset. He was upset. He was

on the floor rolling around, " Farrell told WTVD.

That's when the pilot turned the plane around and headed back to the

terminal, where Farrell and her son were escorted off the plane.

The Farrells, who were on the way to visit family in New Jersey, were

originally supposed to takeoff on Sunday, but the flight was cancelled

when the plane was on the runway.

Jarret was perfectly fine on that flight, Farrell said, with crew

members letting her son walk around the plane and watch his DVD

player.

Farrell said that had the flight crew been more patient and

understanding, the situation might not have escalated. She suggested

that airline flight attendants and other crew members should be

trained to deal with special needs children.

This story was originally reported by Ed Crump at ABC News affiliate

WTVD.

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