A New Zealand native was fined and now has lost his job after berating a British Airways flight attendant of Indian descent for waking him up and demanding to be served by a white flight attendant. Once again, we have a case study in the perils of alcohol overconsumption while flying.
It was time for meal service and Peter Nelson was woken up on a British Airways flight from London to Rio de Janeiro by flight attendant Sima Patel-Pryke. Nelson became incensed and loudly yelled:
You Asians think you are better than us, I don’t want to be served by you lot, I’ve paid your wages for the last 20 years.
He then demanded to be served by a “white girl” and that he did not want to see Patel-Pryke again. Irate and boisterous, the crew prepared to use its restraining kits (zip ties) to restrain him, though that was ultimately not necessary.
The flight occurred in June 2018, but it was only this week that a jury delivered a unanimous verdict against Nelson, who was charged with one count of racially aggravated abuse.
Nelson will “only” be hit with a £2,000 fine, £500 of which will go to Patel-Pryke and £1,500 to court costs. But Nelson has also lost his job.
Nelson was on a business trip to Brazil for GlaxoSmithKline, who has fired him. He and his family are now considering leaving the United Kingdom and returning to New Zealand.
Judge Affirms Jury Verdict
Judge Edward Connell accepted the jury’s verdict and added:
You plainly displayed a contemptuous attitude towards the staff from the outset, when Ms Pryke, simply doing her job, came to wake you in order to take your food order.
You took immediate offense at her having the audacity in your view to wake you up.
It seems that that was the beginnings of what turned out to be on your part an opportunity for you to get very upset without any justification at all.
That manifested itself in the most unpleasant of ways.
It was thoroughly unpleasant period of conduct by you; such was your conduct that members of staff were called to deal with you and they had cause to contact the pilot.
It’s quite plain albeit this wasn’t the most serious case the court hears, that it had an impact on Ms Pryke who we heard in evidence was upset and ended up in tears because of your behavior.
It was completely unacceptable and I’m entirely satisfied that it was contributed by that you had drunk a significant amount of alcohol during the course of that flight.
I accept this conviction will have profound ramifications for you and your employability so I’m just persuaded that this can be dealt with with a financial penalty.
CONCLUSION
These stories are so sad, because they are so unnecessary. Whether you believe his punishment fits the crime, is far too harsh, or not harsh enough, the catalyst was alcohol, even though the underlying sin was racism. Next time you feel like that extra drink in business class to “unwind” or “get your money’s worth” consider water instead. Because a few seconds of drunken range can ruin your career. Just ask Nelson.
Errrr so…You’re ultimately blaming overt bigoted racism…. on alcohol?
I’ve partaken greatly of free booze on many a BA/ other airlines flights. I’ve never berated crew in a racist or otherwise fashion.
Perhaps you keep your racist views to yourself until awakened by booze?
Super weird conclusion Matthew.
Lemme guess…. “no no that wasn’t my point” will be your answer. Read your last summing up paragraph.
Not all. That you would twist my words suggests bad motives, Andy. The point is that too much alcohol brings all sorts of sins out in the open.
As I predicted you would say. I didn’t twist your words.
The blame was placed on alcohol. Not despicable racism.
100%. No word twisting. You clearly stated… don’t drink too much. That was the problem. Not racism. Drinking.
Do you see my point? Or no?
Are you making the guns don’t kill people, people kill people argument? Humanity is messed up; deeply flawed in all sorts of ways. But alcohol is what triggered this. It was the proximate cause of what occurred. His racism was always there. It would not have come out had he not had too much to drink. Too much alcohol brings out the worst in people in different ways. I very clearly said the catalyst was alcohol, not the underlying sin.
“the underlying sin was racism.” I think Matthew is being pretty clear and Andy is acting in bad faith.
Andy needs to go back to school and take reading comprehension classes. Matthew’s post is written logically. Because of the alcohol, the catalyst, the man’s underlying racism against Asian people released. It means alcohol is a or and the man is a racist. Andy I’m so sad for you because you are really stupid. Bless your heart.
I agree. Alcohol brings out certain things which otherwise would have remained unknown to other people. Racism was always there. Drinks made him bold to express. Feeling
Sorry I was typing too fast. I meant the man is a racist and alcohol helps us realize he is a racist. Both alcohol and the man were the problem.
BA don’t use zip ties to restrain passengers, the crew are highly trained in the use of handcuffs and are re-checked every year at their annual exams
Yes in Our Culture its Haraam to Drink Alchol or to buy and vice versa. Too Much or little Alchol leads to massive Destruction The Man should be charged highly and should be in prison for this act for 1 year atleast.
They are also working asa Workers not ur slaves
Its also abot Racism and Alchol both for your kind information
Andy I couldn’t agree more! These people that are calling out for you to take reading comprehension classes clearly need that themselves. The crime bring points out here is clearly not racism, rather alcoholism which is as a matter of fact low grade racism, veiled very thin by in effective ‘whitesplaining’. Some things will never change.
As a flight attendant for many years, I never wake a passenger for meals or drinks. I keep checking on them throughout the flight and offer when and if awake. This passenger was absolutely wrong in this case.
BA customers complete a breakfast card on which they say if they wish to be woken for breakfast or just for tea/coffee before landing. Crew member would have been doing exactly what customer has wished
The impression I got from that part of the article was the man was already a racist, but alcohol consumed on the flight made it easier for this man to unleash his racist view. The drinker a person gets, the higher the chance of that person losing control.
What a horrible man! Some irony though in GlaxoSmithKline taking an ethical stance, given their long history of unethical practices, criminality, deceit and corruption, even worse than the OxyContin shysters. But the Kiwi deserves all he gets.
@Andy, if someone is racist, it’s easier to not drink than to not be racist. You are a hot of a twit.
Pretty bad but… should he lose his job? Is it related?
Where does it lead?
Agree. This is political correctness gone amok. What he said was bad, but it is so sad that he lost his job over this and became a social pariah over one mistake.
Actions have consquences, but this is overkill.
This wasn’t a mistake, this was his true personality laid bare for all to see.
This wasn’t a mistake. This was his true personality laid bare for all to see.
It was a mistake. A very costly one. Alcohol brought out the worst in him.
i drink alcohol all the time and i never say anything remotely racist. glad he lost his job, if he was my employee i’d fire him as well. Employment is always at-will.
What to say lost of job sad both job and fine not fare hurting family and friends
Well then he shouldn’t have been a racist pos. So we should let people do whatever they want just because it might affect their family? Come on.
It was perfectly correct that he lost his job. He’s travelling on business, representing GSK, on a flight they paid for. He brings there business in to disrupt (again), because of his poor judgement. Quite frankly we don’t know how often Nelson made a habit of this bullying that came from his position of privilege but thankfully this time someone stood up to him!
Then maybe a demotion would’ve been fair.
True. We’re all humans after all.
Why is Mathew being criticized for daring say the truth about alcohol this legal drug that destroys so many lives?I don’t think Andy is stupid but perhaps just looking to argue. His inner motive could be jealousy for maybe he would have loved to pen such an excellent article. Clearly the man is a racist but had he not ingested an excessive amount of alcohol none of that would have occurred. He deserved to be fired since he was on a business trip.
He will continue to be a racist prick though even more now that he is jobless. I’m pretty sure he is blaming the flight attendant and not himself. Thanks Mathew, a very good article as always.
Am I correct I’m my understanding. That you feel he was dealt with unfairly, and to use those words to a member of staff was acceptable, and it’s political correctness been used to cause him to loose his job. My question to you is. What would you deem as unacceptable.
Is it not true that this man it appears by his racist outburst is a racist. More-so By the words used to qualify his statement. ( re,paid wages for over 20 years).
If you are indeed of the understanding that it’s political correctness gone overboard. I’m inclined to think you’re both of a kind.
This disgusting racist b*stard should get few weeks emprisonment so he can rethink his aweful acts.
It is not “one mistake” when you are on a business trip, presumably paid for by your employer. The company is paying another company to take care of its employee en route and that “contractor” was treated in an absolutely unacceptable manner. If he had done this while in his company’s office, he would also likely be fired as well — not excused for making “one mistake.”
It was a business trip and the behaviour has impacted on the reputation of the employer so yes, I think it’s justified. You can’t behave like this at work and expect no consequences. If it was on his own dime maybe it would be different (still dickish behaviour, but less justification for discontinuing employment)
dont use slang abusive language
It will start to look justified when you accept the fact that racism is a worst kind of a crime against humanity. Any other physical crime would have been enough for him to lose his job. This was no less, if not more.
Although I am from India, Still I think the Court decision, bit Excessive, by jurisprudence standards. The poor Bloke losing his job for some Whisky induced RANTS, sounds bizarre. And overall International public reactions are getting too Thin – skinned and Neurotic. And same behavior in say a Bar in London wouldn’t have raised even an Eyebrow!! ! !! ! !! ! !! ! !
Well it SHOULD have ‘raised an eyebrow.’ Yes–even in a London Pub. STOP defending RACISM–its a scourge that needs to be ENDED–by any means necessary! CONSEQUENCES is a good start!
I was once an alcoholic, I’m speaking about starting off with Old Milwaukee, St. Ides, Stella Artois beers then making a major jump to Wray and Nephew yes 63% OVER PROOFED RUM. I drank it often and it got to the point where I did not feel the burn. For the most part I was different than others.
I was quiet, felt niceeeeeee, non violent and often made it home ( God only knows how) since I was so drunk!
One thing with myself and others I noticed is THE TRUTH COMES OUT.
HE IS RACIST, NOW UNEMPLOYED AND STUPID!
So when did you start drinking properly?
I have seen in the past this author accusing commenters of “twisting his words” when called out on controversial topics.
Alcohol did not turn this person into a racist. at most it helped surface his true nature.
I don’t feel the commenter is supporting the corrupt NRA guns position by stating that the article goes perhaps too light on the root cause (racism) while emphasizing the trigger factor.
“Alcohol did not turn this person into a racist”…”it helped surface his true nature.”
That’s excatly what Matthew said.
Plain racism!!!
The way you wrote the article, I also read it as you are blaming alcohol-ism for the racist behavior. “Next time you feel like that extra drink in business class to “unwind” or “get your money’s worth” consider water instead. ” — this is not the conclusion of the story. I could drink more and end up puking on the floor. That incident would warrant the same conclusion.
Not sure you intended it this way… but it can be clearly read that way since the focus is alcoholism vs racism. The alcohol did not make him racist.
I would say the alcohol brought to the surface his ugly racism. The abuse of alcohol brings all sorts of bad things to the surface.
You just did it again…you could have just stopped after the first sentence. The 2nd sentence diverts from the real issue.
Wow, is that what you got from the article?! Really? I’m a bit lost for words!
“Once again, we have a case study in the perils of alcohol overconsumption by racists while flying.”
Fixed it for you.
I’ll agree to that.
The man is an utter idiot and racist which has cost him is privileged job. Such stupidity. Alcohol or not, racism is unacceptable. Does everyone agree?
Sin is sin is sin.. The sin of racism IS the real answer. Alcohol is the beast that released the sin animal from its cage. This comes from one who grew up with an alcoholic mentally I’ll “dad.”
I’ve heard this old saying time and time again.
“People Invariably Speak The Truth In two situations:
1. When They Are Angry &
2. When They Are Drunk.”
I like this adage, too: Drunk words are sober thoughts.
Absolutely!
While I agree with Mathew that getting drunk on flights is a serious problem. I am having trouble with the concluding observation. We do not have enough knowledge about the offender’s past. The facts presented are not sufficient to solely blame over consumption of alcohol for such an outburst. Judge simply observed that it was a contributor. I believe drunk or not, no organization should tolerate such behavior. There is a reason why alcohol consumption is not considered a valid defense for crimes.
He was on a flight in the capacity of an employee hence his seat in business class paid for by the employer.Now, although he’s not technically in the office and therefore bound by the usual office conduct rules, he nevertheless has as the saying goes “brought the name of the employer into disrepute by his actions.” As such I think the employer here (GSK) has been correctly justified in it’s sacking of this person. Whether here the discussion is about racism or alcohol who can say what his tolerance lumit to the drink was and so whether it indeed contributed to his outburst. What is undeniable is what he said, and it could’ve been said under any other circumstance or situation. Maybe the alcohol emboldened him to say what he said but it’s not definive if alcohol was the definitive casual link since people are individuals and hence are different to one another. Whatever the case, he’d already been harbouring these views, and got caught saying them aloud. With such negative publicity his global employer had to let him go and good on them too, I say!
People like these ought to recognise that the staff are there to work. To make him feel comfortable and not to be insulted by these rich folks who feel it’s ok to look down at others and make disparaging, abusive or indeed racist remarks and not expect to be reprimanded very firmly for such a behaviour.
Had he used just one word as an outburst. But to qualify his emotions ,and intent to insult or offend her with the other parts of his comments. Tells me this man is contemptuous and racist.
That idiot deserves the punishment… Racist will have the same behavior, even not drunk.
I used to work with someone who never, ever went out for dinner with his wife, mainly because she was worried someone who wasn’t white would be involved in the food preparation. She wasn’t an alcoholic, just a racist.
So, if the verdict is based on the passenger getting faced DURING the flight, why isn’t the airline/flight attendants not held up to the same standards as bar-tenders who “give drunks their car keys”? I’m not excusing or justifying the behavior, but I fear that the passenger may be able to sue the airline and the respective crew for a whole slew of Endangerment, Entrapment and most of all, losing his job and income damages. Is there a lawyer on these boards who can back-up or debunk my theory of Opening a Can of Worms on this one?
GSK was absolutely right to fire Mr. Nelson, as was the state to prosecute his wrongthink (physical restraint was not even necessary, it seems, much less arrest). Abstinence from alcohol aids one in the practice of crimestop. Here the Leviathan and shariah should agree.
These incidents are going to happen again, again, and again, as long as commercial airlines serve alcohol on flights. Alcohol can bring out the worst behavior in some people. However, the airlines want it both ways. They don’t want disruptive behavior from passengers, as a result of alcohol consumption. On the other hand, they don’t want to give up the lucrative revenue, which they receive from serving booze. If the airlines have banned smoking on flights, there is no reason why they can’t ban liquor on flights. If passengers claim that “they must have a drink to relax”, let them take another means of transportation. A Captain can not just pull over and dial 911, when there is a disruptive passenger, acting up at 35,000 feet. Not all flight crews are trained in defensive combative techniques, when dealing with disruptive passengers. If everyone remembers, when the shoe bomber, Richard Reid was captured on an American Airlines flight, in November, 2001, it took no less than 8-10 people to restrain that psycho, and he wasn’t using alcohol.