A B747-400 CAPT RPTED THAT A MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED PAX DISTURBED OTHER PAX DURING A FLT FROM LHR TO IAD. THE RPTR MADE A GOOD SUGGESTION ABOUT THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH PAX.

Date: 2003-12 · Aircraft: B747-400 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-illness-injury|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-passenger-misconduct

Synopsis

A B747-400 CAPT RPTED THAT A MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED PAX DISTURBED OTHER PAX DURING A FLT FROM LHR TO IAD. THE RPTR MADE A GOOD SUGGESTION ABOUT THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH PAX.

Narrative

FLYING FROM LHR TO IAD; OUR FLT WAS DELAYED 20 MINS TO ACCOMMODATE 2 LATE ARRIVING PAX; A YOUNG MAN (WHO WAS BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED); AND HIS FATHER. ABOUT 1 HR INTO THE FLT; THE PURSER CAME INTO THE COCKPIT AND TOLD THE CAPT ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN; AND SAID THAT HE WAS 'VIOLENTLY FLAILING ABOUT IN HIS SEAT; STRIKING; SPITTING AND BLOWING HIS NOSE ON THE MAN WHO WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM.' THE MAN WHO WAS BEING ASSAULTED; ASKED THE FLT ATTENDANTS IF HE COULD BE MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION. THE FLT WAS COMPLETELY FULL; SO THE PURSER ASKED THE CAPT IF THIS MAN COULD USE ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEATS. FOR THIS MAN'S SAFETY; AND BECAUSE OF THE BODILY FLUIDS INVOLVED; THE CAPT TOLD THE PURSER THAT THIS MAN COULD MOVE TO A FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEAT; AS LONG AS HE RETURNED TO HIS ASSIGNED SEAT FOR THE LNDG. THE CAPT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY RESTRS REGARDING THE FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEAT; SINCE THIS ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED IN OUR FLT MANUAL. IN ADDITION; SEVERAL OF THE PAX IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THIS DISABLED MAN; WERE ANNOYED BY HIS BEHAVIOR; AND WERE VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO THE DISABLED MAN'S FATHER; AND TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY ALL EVENTUALLY WENT TO SLEEP; AND THE MAN (WHO SAT ON THE FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEAT); RETURNED TO HIS ASSIGNED SEAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. THE FLT LANDED SAFELY AT IAD. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE HAD A DESIGNATED SEAT LOCATION FOR SUCH DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. FOR EXAMPLE; IF THIS DISABLED PERSON HAD BEEN SEATED BEHIND A BULKHEAD; AND NEXT TO THE WINDOW; WITH HIS FATHER BTWN HIM AND THE OTHER PAX; HIS IMPACT ON THE OTHER PAX WOULD HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.