There is more going on in that aircraft than the public understands. By the comments here, many grok this and draw logical conclusions. But many others want to blame someone because traveling is a hassle these days. Taking it out on the flight crew is an easy target.

I wish we could explain a lot of what we do, but we are often restricted for many reasons. I wish people recognized the difficultly of our jobs and how many times a day we save your life. Just yesterday, three of my friends experienced in flight emergencies and landed their planes without incident due to their training and skill. Flying is as safe as it is because we know what we are doing. We have our lives threatened weekly. Not by terrorists, but by passengers. I had a woman tell me she was going to kill my family because our flight was canceled after the inbound aircraft suffered a lightning strike. We landed without incident; however, felt it was unsafe to fly again. But we also know that the bad guys are still out there.

Hear both sides of a story first and think through it before throwing the book at the FA. His/her daily job is something most people can't and don't want to understand. Hint: It isn't slinging drinks all day.

Otherwise, thank you. Excellent rebuttal.

I am not justifying the FA's behavior per se. She should have offered the alternative and suggested he use a lav in the back. But when we are outside the cockpit, we are trained, and sometimes armed, to stop ANY possible attempt to breach the cockpit. We do not, will not, will never let 9/11 happen again to any extent possible. I have no patience for anyone that violates these rules. I can't. There are people on board who are trained to watch for suspicious behavior. It is far better that he was yelled at, then physically restrained on board.

If I see anyone approaching the front of the aircraft when they shouldn't be, and they do not respond to the flight attendants request to sit down or use an alternate lav, I am fully ready to take any action necessary. I am not alone. You can complain about it all day, but this is our lives. The reality of what happened is never far from our minds. We lost friends that day. FAs are trained to keep the area clear when pilots are in the lav without drawing unneeded attention to it. I am sorry this situation happened, but nothing about it sounds racially motivated. He tried to walk past her. At this point, he is considered a threat to the security of the cockpit. Guess what a bad guy is going to do? Exactly what this guy did. Respect that the flight crew is trying to keep your asses from going into a building ever again. It may seem over the top, and there may have been a better way to handle it, but he admits to pushing past her. Regardless of your knowledge of the actual law regarding the lavs, every passenger is told repeatedly to obey the flight attendants. She said sit down. Sit the fuck down.

Unfortunatly, the terrorism that happens is by the governemnt, and the media (just read the definition of terrorism in the the Federal Code). Terrorism from the government is the only kind that the US citizens have ever really faced.

Call me back when you have bombs going off every week or two, or rocket/sniper attacks. , you know like we had in the UK in the 90s, from those nice (mostly American funded) Irish terrorists.

Why would ACTUAL terrorists have to attack? their job is done for them, by people like this stewardess, and by Glenn Beck, Obama, Leiberman, Bush, Pelosi, et al.

"until you guys understand that and start either running yourself or voting thrid party people in you're gonna keep having stupid laws like these."
Do you actually know what it's like to set up a 3rd party, or run in most states? I have been trying to set up a Us party in ANY state for 3 years. Now, bear in mind I speak english, a bit of French, and some spanish&italian. In the past 12 months I've managed to help form parties in Serbia, Poland, Russia, Italy, the Czech republic, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, Chili Brazil, and Peru. Ireland, Switzerland and the Ukraine. And Argentina. All those countries, which include several former soviet countries, are MORE DEMOCRATIC than the US. Easier to deal with them in their language, than with the myriad of Secretaries of State/Lt Governors (depending on state) in English. Arkansas for instance, needs 10,000 voter signatures collected within a 60 day period. Oklahoma's so bad, most of the '3rd parties' have banded together- http://www.okvoterchoice.org/ (was the only state without a libertarian presidential candidate in 04)

Would be nice if they stopped using that lie to quell people, but they won't.

Screw him for being stupid. Cudo's to her for doing what the FAA requires.

There is nothing in the story to make anyone believe that it's the PD's fault. The PD MUST convey offers to the accused. It's the choice of the accused to take that offer. And there's nothing in the article to suggest what the bail would be and whether it would be higher or lower than $2500. Even if he was released on no bail pending his trial, the doctor STILL might have taken the plea just to get out of there. It's not the PD's fault if that was the doctor's position.

Everyone keeps talking about not knowing about breaking a law about standing in the aisle while the flight crew uses the lavatory, which is not the only reason why the man was arrested at LAS. He was arrested for not following a crew member's instructions, which, as stated at the beginning of every flight "it is federal law to follow all lighted placards and crew member instructions." She told him to go back to his seat, and he, in his own words, tried to push past her, which yes, can be seen as a threat to the aircraft, no matter who the person may be.

There are THREE lavatories on a Southwest Airlines 737. While he could have been directed to the rear of the aircraft, I'm sure his persistence in not following the crew's instructions didn't make them decide to be as helpful as possible.

The claims of racism are absolutely absurd and extremely over-hyped by the doctor. Who cares that he moved from India almost 40 years ago? This wasn't why the flight attendant was doing her job. On every flight I have been on where the flight crew needs to use the lavatory, the flight attendants always block the front of the aircraft from the first row on, the Captain or FO leaves the cockpit, and the front remains blocked off until he is back inside and the flight deck door is secured. On most flights (United, Continental, Northwest) they block the aisle with a serving cart, but WN doesn't use them so the crew must stand there to block the way. It doesn't even matter if the flight crew was using the lavatory or not, NO ONE can stand in the front of the aircraft while the forward lavatory is in use.

I'm probably the last person to stand up and defend the outrageous security procedures of the US Government, but when I see airline crew members doing their job properly, I will not stand back and watch person after person bash this poor woman for doing what any flight attendant in the country would do. It doesn't matter what may or may not happen, these are FAA regulations and the flight crew is required to follow them.

I'm not getting into whether or not the OP is correct (I don't understand why a Urologist would bother with a PD), I am simply going on the hypothetical that a man was refused access to the restroom without explanation, was assualted by crew (pushed), and detained and charged with a crime. Even if he was in the wrong, he shouldn't be charged because he was a dick on the plane.

Unless somebody who was a passenger on that flight speaks up, all we have is a he said she said, in which case neither party is ever telling 100% truth. Bottom line he broke a law whether he was aware of this law or not, he did in deed break it.

Get your facts straight about the intent of the ACLU. Don't just make stuff up to suit your agenda.

[www.aclu.org]

I doubt he'll hear anything from the ACLU (Anti-Christian Liberation Unit) b/c his case won't advance their cause of destabilization of the American society or undermining Christian beliefs.

[www.acluvamerica.com]

@Gokuhouse: What? I'm not sure I understand. I don't think revenge is something that usually makes it on our "to do" list.

@BeeBoo: Larry Craig couldn't get out of his guilty plea. I think this guy will have some trouble with it, too!

The guy made a mistake pleaing, and his public defender may or may not have explained this all to him, but he should have. If he didn't, then there's probably room to have the plea withdrawn.

According to the article, the doctor gets up to go to the bathroom and is told that he can't use it while the pilot is out of the flight deck. This is completely reasonable and there are FAA regulations cited in these comments to back it up. Add to that the FAA regulation at 91.3 which gives broad discretion to the way the pilot runs his plane and I don't see how that can be an issue. I don't think that anybody would disagree that the pilot's safety is at utmost importance when he's piloting a plane.

Anyway, according to the article, the doctor goes back to his seat until the pilot leaves the lavatory. It's difficult to say, but according to the attached article, the doctor was approaching the cockpit while the captain was out and while the captain was ostensibly returning to the flight deck. Obviously, to get in the flight deck, he'd have to unsecure and open the door. Again, when this is going on, passengers should absolutely not be approaching the cockpit.

According to the flight attendant, it was at that time that the doctor tried to push past her. She pushed him back.

According to the article, the doctor plead to misdemeanor assault. I assume that what that means is that when he tried to push past the attendant, he committed the assault. Note, he didn't plead to standing in the aisle while the captain was pooping or any other nonsense that other people have spouted on this board.

Also, note the other articles where it is described that the other passengers applauded the flight crew's behavior.

Based on that, I can't see where SWA was in the wrong here.

Why should someone have to stop their life-sustaining medication because a flight attendant is on a power trip or because there is some law no one seems to know about?

His record should be reduced he still violated a law regardless of how many people know this exists or not, a Law is a Law if you think it's unconstitutional then run for office or lobby them to change it.

I don't know any Indians ever since maybe during WWII that might be considered Terrorists. I'm sure she didn't know the difference. Which is horrible, but common we're talking Red states here not exactly the smartest people in the world.

Racist? No profiling is a nessesary evil, and it's not just brown and blacks that are, if you're an irish person flying around you're probably gonna get asked a few questions (i mean real Irish).

Same if you are or look like a gypsy, they have a horrible reputation and most cops pretty much pigeon hold them. Sucks but it's life. Hippies want you to think everybody is equal and life is special, guess what it's not. We all have something bigoted about us the sooner you realize that the sooner you can be at peace with this.

see previous about ignorance of law.

Ignorance of the law does not excuse or Ignorantia juris non excusat. Don't like it? move.

If you take something that you know makes you pee, just don't take it, this isn't' a life or death pill i know people who take this and sometimes skip taking it a day or so.

People scare easy, that's why. Same reason you can't say bomb on the plane or in a crowd of people.

While I'm totally in agreement that the flight attendant could have been nicer, I don't want to hear that the pilot is in the john, especially in earshot of other passengers.

People might get ideas.

Cheers!

Or was she told to guard the aisle aggressively when the pilot came out to pee? Certainly she could have asked nicely instead of yelling the first time. But maybe she was ordered not to say the pilot was in the bathroom - maybe they don't want to advertise that the window of opportunity to break into the cockpit was open. Any flight attendants here that can weigh in on this? I'm just speculating, but maybe she was just doing her job, albeit very rudely.

The poor man though! What a horrible experience to go through.

@Difdi: sadly, last time I had jury duty, there were folks in the voir dire that thought a defendant exercising his 5th amendment rights also implied his guilt.

I wish they'd put in multiple bathrooms for coach.

In the airline's defense, when I've flown American they have been very clear that due to federal aviation law, only first class customers can use the bathroom up front. Everyone else, must go to the back. I assume it's mostly to keep people from wandering into the front of the plane in the event of a hijacker. Of course, what would stop the hijacker from buying a first class ticket in the first place? After all, he probably only needs a 1 way ticket....

In SWA's defense, they probably didn't know the full details of what happened to the doctor after the flight landed. They were probably just trying to apologize for their insane stewardess.

1. Fired? Head on a pike in front of SWA's headquarters as a warning to all employees that they take this sort of thing "very seriously".

2. What honestly makes you think this guy is EVER going to want to fly in the US - let alone on SWA - ever again? What about the $2500 he paid for bail after being arrested for this mess?

3. Bah, do you honestly think there is such a rule? The guy tried to go to the bathroom when no one was in there, and was yelled at and physically pushed back into his seat by the stewardess.

From looking at the article, our good doctor should be looking at filing assault and battery charges against the stewardess, a lawsuit for his pain and suffering against SWA, not to mention possible lawsuits against the Las Vegas police department for false arrest, any number of civil rights violations. It doesn't sound to me that he was actually charged with anything, and even when they couldn't find anything suspicious in his background, they still didn't let him go.

Next time he'll know better. He should have just dropped his pants, and urinated on the stewardess right there. As they say, if you're going to do the time, might as well do the crime.

I am thinking maybe Laura Lee didnt get some the night before the flight and she took it out on this poor man. Talk about being bitter and twisted! There are MANY ways of keeping passengers out of the galley area. Telling them that they would be informed when lavatory is empty is one of them. In extreme cases WARNING THEM that they COULD be reported to the authorities upon landing is the other. There are million ways to defuse any situation and FA's are taught those tactics in their training. She gives a bad name to thousands of Flight Attendants who have sense of diplomacy, delicacy and gentle ways of handling and enforcing federal laws. Yes, sometimes they have to be tough but unless a passenger is clearly aggressive, abusive or non-compliant, there is no reason for such extreme measures. She sounds very rough on the edges and someone that would be better suited for a jail warden or a customs officer position rather than that of a Flight Attendant.

Shame on you Laura Lee. I wonder how can you live with yourself for putting this poor man through such hell ... all for nothing.

I seriously laughed out loud when I read this. He spends a night in jail, pays a $2500 fine, gets treated horribly, and this is their response? It comes across as a slap in the face rather than a sincere attempt to make amends.

[www.nytimes.com]

[www.airliners.net]

@JackAshley:

I had never flown before 9/11 but have flown several times domestically and internationally since then. I have never heard of this law in the media or from an airline employee. For all I know, I've broken the law several times and gotten away with it.

If you're stuck, here's a starting point:

[www.pangloss.com]

@wongtam: He was probably in the toilet before the pilot left the cockpit.

In my linguistic anthro class, we were shown a video contrasting a typical white vs Indian interaction. Just how you say things is perceived differently (you'd have to see the video to truly understand what I'm talking about). What seems normal for an Indian (it was normal to me, I'm South Asian American) is taken as slighly belligerant by Caucasians. I don't care how long he was in this country, I don't think he changed the way he speaks. What seemed normal to him was probably seen as anger/threatening by the flight attendant. So I can see why the flight attendant did what she did.

However, still not excuseable. He's an older gentleman, and he stated that he's taking medication that makes him have to pee. That will make anyone anxious to use the restroom. To top it off, her excuse of don't stand in the aisle was moot after the door was opened and the potty was free. If she had said honestly from the start that he would have to remain seated for the time being because of security issues, but he would be able to go shortly, then that should be OK. Don't they have standard scripts on how to evade being completely honest, but still convey what needs to be done? For goodness sakes, they're trained on how the pilots like their coffee, why aren't they told how to deal with customers who need to pee at the same time pilots need to?

Unfortunately, he shouldn't have pleaded guilty. That seriously harms his case, since he technically didn't plead out of duress. I hope it doesn't count too much against him, and I hope he makes them pay, and that the stewardess (not flight attendant, but stewardess) is fired.

Either way, she made a HORRIBLE judgment call. She sucks at customer service, and she fails to say why the guy cant use the dang toilet. She shoved the guy (which she is not allowed to do). She could have said "oh, there's a VIP in the bathroom, I'll let you know when it's your turn." But NO! Instead she decided to be racist, rude, illogical, etc and look what happened.

That woman should be fired. That guy's record should be expunged. And employees need to be trained that not all Indians are terrorists, and not everybody that has to pee wants to kill somebody.

Also, I hate the 2-party system as well. But you're still wrong about the law/flight attendant/too-bad BS. :)

On recent flights with JetBlue, I noticed two things: the flight attendants always dragged the drink cart across the front bulkhead wall opening and stood behind it with their arms crossed, whenever a member of the crew came out for call of nature or coffee; and that the cockpit crew always used the bathroom one right after the other, that is, the co-pilot and the pilot always used the bathroom in sequence, so that the aisle only had to be blocked once. I think this is probably who the first user of the bathroom was in this case, the co-pilot, and then he was followed by the pilot who was named as such by the flight attendant.

Seeing as interfering with a flight crew can get you ridiculous amounts of time in Federal PMITA Prison, a night in jail and $2,500 doesn't sound half bad. In fact, a night in jail and $2,500 is pretty damn good for Federal offenses (something as simple as being a deported alien found in the US usually gets requires $30,000 just for bail!. Ultimately, it is the client's decision whether to accept a plea or not.

Hear hear!!

@BeeBoo: Is that your legal opinion? Police are given a wide degree of lattitude in what they can say and do to someone in custody (withint the bounds of the law). Pleading guilty is something an innocent person should NEVER do!

Along with Lora Lee Minton, That PD needs a swift kick in the behind. After that, the same justice can be applied to the prosecutor.

The proper term is SkyWaitress (unless the FA is a straight male...so like I said, it's always SkyWaitress!)

There's no excuse for government anymore. Stop stealing from me.

@What The Geek:

Your assumptions are just that, assumptions. You don't know how the flight attendant "described the situation".

I don't care whether the passenger just came over from Iraq or Iran yesterday, he deserved to be treated with respect. The first response should have been "Please stay in your seat for just a few minutes as a security precaution" or some other polite non-explanation (not revealing that the pilot is out of the cockpit), spoken in a polite tone.

Second of all, I would suggest not throwing around accusations of being an uneducated moron (you know, glass houses and all) if you think that the only terrorist threats are people from the Middle East. Most Muslims -- including a similar proportion of extremists -- live outside of the Middle East. Indonesia (south east Asia) has the largest Muslim population in any country. Remember the Bali bombings?

While we're at it, if it's ok to profile people based on prior terrorist attacks, shouldn't I be terrified and react irrationally toward white American ex-military guys? Remember Tim McVey?

Frankly, I'm more terrified of Christian extremists than of Muslim extremists... After all, nutty Christian extremists have committed far more terrorist attacks on US soil than Muslims have (remember that spate of abortion clinic bombings, what, 10 years ago or so?).

@Mfalconieri: Lora Lee is a bitch...or c*&t if you prefer as I do.

John McCain prefers also it when referring to his wife.

I find it amazing in this day and age that people can't tell the difference between South Asian and Arab people just by looking at them, or at least by talking; I can tell the difference between Indian and Pakistani accents, and I'm certainly no expert. If someone is going to start racial profiling, they should at least note differences other than brown skin.

And don't the stewardesses have flight manifests of the passengers on board? If the bimbo had read the man's name on paper she would know right away that he's of Indian descent and a US citizen...unless, of course, she's a typically uneducated moron who doesn't know anything outside her own borders, which should be shameful considering her job.

"We are hard at work designing a system that will allow us to accept and respond to e-mail, yet maintain that personal touch that you have come to expect from Southwest."

Unbelievable. Apaparently email is too much for this airline to master.

For the topic at hand, I think we don't have enough info. I'd bet, though, that he did the criminal equivalent of cashing a 10% refund check.

Wow.

Well said, sir.

I had a similar (though less legally entwining) incident on a Jet Blue flight just a few weeks ago. At one point, I got up to go to the bathroom, and went to the back of the aircraft because there was someone in the front. I found both were occupied, so I looked back up front and found the other unoccupied (light outside the door).

I started to walk up and found the attendant standing in the way, so I pointed to the bathroom, and she goes "You need to sit down. I'm going to need you to sit down RIGHT NOW!"

I should mention here that I'm a 6'4" white male.

She sounded stressed and annoyed. Naturally, I did, not wanting to piss off a woman who could have me arrested, regardless of what I did or didn't do (see OP).

After a moment or two, the pilot did exit the bathroom, and they went back and forth, and finally, after all was said and done, she stood out of the way again, and I finally got up and went to the bathroom without so much as eye contact with that woman.

Still, the OP makes the best point. IF this is a rule and they don't want shit, JUST SAY SO! It's not hard. Besides, this kind of incident WOULD make me want to harm a flight attendant.

I think one of the biggest problems is that police and FBI are so willing to arrest and charge based entirely on what an airplane waitress says.

Flying in the post-9/11 world seems like a weird Russian Roulette, which rapidly turns into a Kafka-esque ordeal if you randomly lose. For example, when my sister died of cancer, I bought a plane ticket for the next flight as soon as I could. Spin the chamber! Pull the trigger! And...? Oh no, apparently buying a ticket on short notice is "suspicious"! Off to security I go for grueling questioning and searching...

People like Skankingmike, who very briskly dismiss other people's misfortune, are always the first to go apoplectic when it happens to them.

Every. Single. Time.

This happen to you Mike, you'd be suing for $50,000,000,000,000.

Of course, I know what the next thing you'd say, too. "Oh, this would never happen to me..."

Which is why people like you go apoplectic when it happens. You secretly think that anyone arrested must be guilty of something and don't quite get that is very often not the case.

Reason 217 not to fly Southwest!

We are told to look past color because it is racist not to. And yet even as the average citizen feels and acts as if racism is a horrible crime, our government, the police, and others with power, continue to act and be racist with impunity. They should be held to the same standards as the average American, even higher.
The police should have listened to his story at the airport. He then should have been released after a quick background check showed he had no history and other passengers questioned affirmed his story. The flight attendent should have been sighted for filing a false report. End of story. But those with power tend to abuse that power if they are not people of honor and integrity (Lora Lee Monton, prime example).
This isn't an isolated event, there have been several stories in the media about flight attendents abusing their power and causing mental, physical, and emotional abuse on innocent passengers on their flights. If flight attendents are going to have the power to "punish" passengers on their flights, on a whim, because of the new homeland security guidelines. They should have to have background checks and training and be licensed before they are given this authority. Unfortunately, the leaders making these guidelines are just as badly qualified as the people that they allow to use this unseemly power. Racial profiling is wrong for everyone to use and those caught using it should be the ones arrested and punished, not the innocent person they have chosen as their victim.

This is unacceptable on the part of both Southwest and all authorities who were involved. Whether technically legal or not, their actions were irrational and against the spirit of laws meant to protect people from real danger.

Even after explaining my medical need, the only response I got was "GO TO THE BACK OF THE PLANE. GO TO THE BACK OF THE PLANE" being yelled in my face.

I guess I'm lucky I'm wasn't arrested for not wanting to pee myself.

The end of airline personnel abusing passengers - and passengers abusing airline personnel.

There will be less bogus reporting like this and when there is an incident, you can just say "let's go to the videotape."

Dr. Madduri sounds quite sincere and I believe him.

It is possible that he plead to a misdemeanor, and I am not privy to sentencing procedures for Federal Misdemeanors. I know in New York, the maximum fine for misdemeanors is $1,000. That said, I just found a case with the fine for a Federal Misdemeanor (DUI) was $5,000, so my suspicion may be misplaced.

If there was a bathroom in the back of the plane, the sensible thing for the flight attendant to do would be to tell him that that particular restroom was unavailable and direct him to the one in the back.

Having plead guilty also pretty much ruins his right to sue the Feds for wrongful arrest (since the arrest lead to a valid conviction). I suppose he could try suing Southwest and the flight attendant (who I doubt has much money), but it will be very hard to have a jury find that the airline acted improperly when the Doctor ended up pleading guilty after the FA did her thing.

1- Lora Milton should be fired.

2- Southwest should make an actual apology. Go visit the guy in person (you can afford it, you run an airline!) and apologize in person. Offer him free flights for a year. This is a huge PR disaster and will only get worse if Southwest continues to offer $100 "we're so sorry and we take this seriously" apologies.

3- Ensure that this does not happen again by instructing cabin stewards to tell the passengers why they can't go to the bathroom. Make this part of the "here's how to buckle your seatbelt" spiel.

So the question, for me, really becomes: can you break a law that you didn't know existed, and were never notified that you were violating, even at the time of the infraction? I know the technical answer to my question is "yes, a law is a law whether or not you know about it." It seems, though, that we have the right to know the laws so that we can either choose to abide, or choose to not abide. Hell...even when people get CAUGHT breaking KNOWN laws (i.e. speeding), there is some leeway to excuse first-time offenders or unusual circumstances. It seems really shady to drag this guy through the federal system for something that amounts to lack of notification and piss-poor customer service.

If they are going to make it an enforceable law, then they need to make the public aware of it. Especially if the punishment is a night in jail and a $2,500 fine. This man is a doctor. He can afford the fine more than most people. The average person in MO (per-capita income in 2006, $32,793) would find it more difficult to come up with $2,500 to cover a fine for a law that they did not know they broke. In addition, he now has a criminal record that is going to bite him in the ass every time he boards a plane. All of this because he and the pilot both had to pee.

he did break the law, and he did disobey the flight attendant.

If my options are disobey the flight attendant or piss my pants, she can take a seat.

it's not like they're gonna announce this rule at the beginning of every flight and scare people.

I fail to see how this would scare people. Telling people that it is illegal to tamper with the pilot's pacemaker, I can see how that would scare people. Not telling people to sit down when the pilot has a twosie on deck.

Should have just pissed on the seat. Refusing basics such as sanitary conditions (which includes a bathroom) is a violation of civil rights in most cases. Even teachers can't really refuse to let a student use the bathroom (though you likely won't learn that until college that it was just a bluff).

anyone else found it yet?

I hope this Doctor sues the pants off all involved.

@KhaiJB: Exactly. I had no idea this existed. If I was told of this, I would've complied - Lora Lee's false assumption was that everyone knew the new rule and when that didn't turn out to be the case, Dr. Madduri's "disruption" turned into Lora Lee treating him like dirt.

@cmdrsass: Yeah, I'll be sure to notify the flight crew that yes, I do use the bathroom. Can't take too many chances.

Or maybe I'll wear diapers.

and why did'nt she tell him of this law on the aircraft? why did he only hear of it at his arrest?

has anyone looked this law up as yet?

@the Goat: I tend to agree that it doesn't seem racially motivated, but I would have to review the law to see what it says about pilots; that's not something I'm familiar with. I do agree that she definately needed to explain herself better to the doctor.

In almost every penal code system, "Ignorance of Law" or "Mistake of Fact" are not an affirmative defense to prosecution. Every licensed driver is expected to obey every traffic law or risk citation. If you start reading your state's transportation code, you'd be suprised for the little things you can be ticketed for (i.e.: a burnt out high-beam indicator light on the cluster panel). Most parents are still unsure of their rights regarding punishment of their children even though it is covered in most state's family or juvenile codes.

Also, he didn't state what he was being charged with? I'd be interested to see what they convicted him for. It also seems like he should have had his own lawyer there and not have been assigned a public defender who looks like was trying to get the case over with quickly with little regard to who he was representing.

It seems like he may not have been fully aware of his rights, but, again, that isn't necessiarly a defense to prosecution, especially if he stated, verbally or in written form, that he knew his rights. The Miranda Warning does not have to be read to you until you are formally questioned by law enforcement regarding the case, unless exigent circumstances are present.

Of course, this is federal law, so things are somewhat different than I have been used to.

I don't understand why he just didn't use the bathrooms in the rear of the airplane. He clearly "needed to go." I agree that what the flight attendant did was not right, but it seems to be that it could have been avoided by using the other restrooms.

I urge you to send the story to your local news. Southwest played nice after the news media got hold of the skimpy-dress story. Here is more Southwest acting ridiculously. Contact your newspapers, local and national tv stations, and editors.

Perhaps Frederick Taylor Jr moonlights as a flight-attendant trainer? Senior manager my foot.

Mommy, will the nightmares end soon?

You should call yourself "the Sheep", because you have clearly shown yourself to be one by stating essentially that he should blindly follow instructions.

Also, learn how to spell. The word is break, not brake. Brakes are on cars.

1.) Who on that plane knew this mans story? Nobody i could claim to be the pope on the plane doesn't mean squat.

2.) Why would you tell people the captain is out of the cock pit using the bathroom? That's an invitation to disaster if there was somebody on board that wanted to cause trouble.

3.) yes our imprisoning of people without bail or legal rights is horrible, but you people keep electing these politicians so stop complaining and start acting, Dem's and Repub's are all the same and until you guys understand that and start either running yourself or voting thrid party people in you're gonna keep having stupid laws like these.

Do i feel bad for this guy? sure, he didn't deserve all that, but he did break the law, and he did disobey the flight attendant.

Say what you will but flying is different now in the US. She made a judgment call and she knew the laws no body is to be up when the captain is going to the bathroom, it's not like they're gonna announce this rule at the beginning of every flight and scare people.

This should never have happened, based on what I've read. Southwest is clearly in the "wrong". The flight attendant should have explained why he couldn't use that bathroom at that time. Although I don't know why he wasn't allowed to use it after the pilot had gone back to the cockpit. It really does sound like racial profiling.

It's even easier to break the secret regulations. Those are easier to create.

I hate all these racist, fearmongering people out there who think anybody that's not white is out to kill them! (Full transparency: I'm a white Texan, 21yo.)

I try my best to point out whenever people are being illogical, paranoid, delusional, racist, fearmongering, etc... but damn I'm only one person.

This story itself is EXACTLY why I hate most people. Why do I HATE them? ("Wah, hate is a strong word, *whine whine*.") Because they cause massive damages in society by their stupidity, illogical behavior, fearmongering tactics, paranoid conclusions, and delusional fantasies.

Please, people. Educate your children WELL. Encourage positive changes to public education that DO NOT involve brainwashing but instead rely on LOGIC. Vote for more politicians who who do the same (good education, good rationale, etc). This country is going downhill economically and intellectually as we continue to let these things happen. If in 5-10 years NOTHING changes to stop this slipperly slope, I'm out of here!

I hope SWA gives this guy a golden ticket for his trouble. That probably is the least they can do for him.

"This bath room is occupied" does not in any way imply that you can't stand up again when you can see that the person in there is leaving.

it's unfortunate that dr. madduri chose the path of least resistance, but i don't blame him. "go home tonite or face a protracted federal court battle 1500 miles from your home". lord knows if they would've even released him - he's a terrorist! he's a flight risk!

the only consolation (if you can call it that) is that this is now happening to good, mainstream, law-abiding americans. only when the tyranny begins to affect the average joe does he begin to care enough to get off the couch & do something about it.

@BlondeGrlz: True. Like I said, I hope it works.

The Courts don't seem to be taking much chance with national security though.

I agree that the flight attendant could have handled it MUCH better than she did.

Personally, I don't fly, so I didn't even know about the rule that you can't get up while the pilot is out of the cockpit.

The problem that I see is that he did plead guilty. You should never ever plead guilty. As expensive as it is to have to hire an attorney, at least you know that your rights will be protected. And his public defender should be smacked upside the head for telling him to plead to it.

I would hope that everyone could get together and just agree to:

a) Withdraw the guilty plea and clear his record

b) Issue a public and written apology from the Airline and the employee that sounded the false alarm.

c) Refund the man (or anyone else that paid for that ticket), giving a voucher here is insulting.

d) The flight attendant should be fired.

e) If there are any new rules and regulations, or laws, that state you cannot be up from your seat when the pilot is out of the cockpit please direct everyone to them before the flight and during the pre-flight announcements.

But no, Lora Lee, by the accounts here, decides she is going to be the bitch in this situation and everything spirals out of control both for the paying passenger and the airline.

Lesson here? Yes! All workers in service industries need suitable training to deal with customers, clients, the general public in a way that maintains a professional and appropriate relationship. Those that can and do maintain this professional relationship need to be rewarded. Those that fail to maintain this professional relationship need to be fired.

If I were that doctor, I would be tempted to pursue this through all avenues, the courts, the press, and the Consumerist and not stop until I had Lora Lee's head on a platter.

...or take the train...

In my opinion, never plead guilty unless you are guilty - or it is impossible to prove you are not guilty :|

Telling someone "sign this and you can go home" after they are put through 24 hours of misery sounds rather predatory to me.

Did he break the law? How can one break a secret law that he didn't know about?
It seemed like he calmly explained the situation to the stewardess, who didn't want to hear excuses, she just wanted him to do what he said without question.

"Power corrupts...". This woman, and many more people like her, have been given power and responsibility that they cannot handle.

Also, these cretins may have power, but you can still have power and be nice.
Politeness goes a long way, even for people with power. Needless to say, this whole situation could have been avoided if she had been trained properly and was polite to the victim here.

@Flame: It seems to me if the charges turned out to be false or unfounded he could get the guilty plea overturned fairly easily. You can't be guilty of something that didn't happen, even if you claim you are. That letter from Frederick Taylor Jr calling the flight attendent's behaviour "bizarre" should be exhibit A in his new court case.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go sit in the corner quietly while my rights are stripped from me and our government spends our great grandchildren into debt.

I know the circumstances are different, but Larry Craig isn't having much luck getting out of his guilty plea....

Having said that - this is federal law, not Missouri state law. Federal law allows for the withdrawal of a guilty plea in four differen ways. The first part probably won't apply, but that last one might.

Source:

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(d) Withdrawing a Guilty or Nolo Contendere Plea.

A defendant may withdraw a plea of guilty or nolo contendere:

(1) before the court accepts the plea, for any reason or no reason; or

(2) after the court accepts the plea, but before it imposes sentence if:

(A) the court rejects a plea agreement under Rule 11(c)(5); or

(B) the defendant can show a fair and just reason for requesting the withdrawal.

These are fairly amiguous terms though, and I don't have time to check for case law.

Hope the guy is able to reverse his plea. I wonder, though, what the rest of the terms of the agreement were. Does he now have a criminal record? Was he given a withheld judgment? Anyone know?

@the Goat: I know, they should have totally shot him, execution-style, on the tarmac. That would have been what criminals like him deserve.

Full disclaimer, I'm white, and my avatar is a black puppet. Go diversity!

You don't see race playing a role here? Really?

When a member of the airplane's crew tells you to do something you have to do it. End of story. In his description he states that he disregarded the crew's instructions and tried to push past them. Clearly he broke the law.

I hope he gets a good lawyer that can expunge the guilty plea and get him a good settlement from SWA.