Maybe it was the fish? After vomiting all over the rear of the aircraft so badly it could not be cleaned, a United Airlines flight diverted. But on the ground, the passenger refused to get off, saying he had made a full recovery. Should he have been allowed to continue his journey?
Man Creates Biohazard Onboard With Vomit, Forcing Diversion, But Then Refuses To Get Off Airplane (“I’m Fine”)
From Reddit, a passenger shared the following story which occurred on a United Airlines flight from Newark to San Francisco:
We were on a flight from NYC to SF, and an hour and 45 minutes in, a man threw up in the back of the plane, all over the walls. It was so bad they couldn’t clean it, six people had to move to new seats, and we were diverted to Chicago to have the plane cleaned. The flight attendants said it was a medical emergency and a biohazard that wasn’t safe for the crew or passengers.
It was frustrating to get delayed, but I am glad we diverted because it sounded like hell for the people in the back. But once we were there, the flight attendant said the man who was sick wasn’t getting off the plane, he said he was fine, and they couldn’t make him leave.
There was no turbulence; it was a completely smooth ride, so I am not sure he was sick because of motion sickness. Here’s what I am wondering: how was this man not asked to leave the plane? It was so much of a biohazard we diverted hundreds of people to Chicago, but the person who could easily get sick again stayed. He could have easily been contagious with norovirus, rorotivrus, coronavirus, the flu, or anything else. How is this not a risk to other passengers?
Airlines kick people off for refusing to sit in vomit-covered seats, like on Air Canada or another man, who was sagging his pants or another person who had a service animal.
Not only is this a risk to other passengers, but the man himself could be actually sick or delirious. I understand vomiting is semi-common, but I don’t think it’s normal for a grown man of sound health to vomit so horribly that a massive flight is diverted.
Is it true that they can’t ask someone to leave because of this? Even if their own health could be at risk as well as putting other passengers at risk?
This story makes me want to puke.
To answer the question, yes…United could have forced this passenger of the flight. It could have easily been justified on health and safety grounds. The passenger could have been told that he would need to rest in the gate area for a bit and would be reaccommodated on the next Chicago – San Francisco flight (a busy hub-to-hub route with many open seats).
Whether United should have forced him off is a bit difficult to answer without more context. I have experienced situations with food poisoning where a single purge was sufficient and I was indeed feeling quite fine after. But there have been other times where I vomit, think I am better, only to return to the can hours later.
But out of abundance of caution, I would have asked the passenger to leave. And if it were me who was sick, I’d certainly walk off the flight out of respect for my fellow passengers.
CONCLUSION
A man vomited onboard a United flight so severely that it prompted a diversion, then refused to get off the aircraft…and amazingly was allowed to remain onboard. While United probably should have removed him from the flight just in case, he should have removed himself from the flight even if he was feeling better at the moment.
I understand that people pay hefty amounts of money to fly and things like this are out of ones control.
What’s really nice about UA and DL is that you can change flights and use the amount you paid as credit to find a different flight. I caught the flu around the new year this year and had to fly to YYZ. I canceled my flight, got ecredits/vouchers, and was able to “purchase” the same itinerary for a later date for the same price. Sure, this is not always the case, but it’s better than being sick and possibly causing such a diversion on top of traveling when I’m feeling better.
It’s so annoying that, at the same time US carriers have been adding that level of flexibility since the pandemic and sticking to it, European ones have been making them more restrictive. Lufthansa now sell business class tickets that don’t even allow date changes – if you don’t use the ticket as booked, or even if you miss the first segment, the €600 you have paid for your intra-Europe ticket vanishes into thin air. I spent over an hour talking to AF yesterday – the call centre employee spoke with the faring expert and confirmed that they would only sell me the open jaw ticket I wanted on a ‘light’ fare (no luggage, change penalty about equal to the fare itself) – it wasn’t possible to actually pay more for a flexible ticket! It’s no wonder that increasing numbers of those who fly often and/or work are turning to easyJet.
*and/or FOR work
What the man should have done and what he actually did is pretty common as I find that most people tend to be selfish or put their own self interests above the greater good.
Sounds like projectile vomiting. Dr. Google of the Holiday Inn Express Medical School shows that it’s not too serious in an adult. Rarely norovirus or infections, more likely food poisoning, overeating, or obstructions (often painful).
Logically if your vomit cannot be easily contained, it is likely all over your clothes. Sensibly one would get off the plane and wash up. Foolishly one would refuse and disgust everyone.
I’m shocked 6 seats were available to move people to. I don’t fly this route but almost every flight I’m on anymore is lucky to have more than a couple empty seats.
And YES, he should have had the decency to get off, and if he didn’t, should have been removed.
As for the smart ass in me, I’ll say maybe he was thinking about the smells on the streets of San Fran and worried if he’s going to be robbed or worse walking the streets. Enough to sicken anyone.
Even if you were stunted as to not do everything you could to avoid being a further nuisance, wouldn’t you want to take the new flight just to go back to being anonymous instead of known to all on your flight as Vomit Guy?
What’s wrong here is that the United announcement LIED to passengers and told them “they couldn’t make him leave”. This is why people don’t trust authority anymore. Just say the Pilot/Purser made the call and then sit in Your decision. People are so weak these days.