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When Bangor-area doctors told Hill’s family that the Vietnam veteran, who had seven brain tumors, two lung tumors and liver cancer, would not survive a return drive to Florida, they bought two plane tickets aboard Allegiant Air. The nonstop flight departed at 12:30 p.m. Saturday from Bangor International Airport and landed just before 4 p.m. at Orlando Sanford International Airport.
But when the jet landed in Florida, Hill and his wife were not on board. Allegiant refused to fly Hill home. “The pilot said he would not allow him to fly on the plane, and the reason he gave — if the plane crashed, nobody would be able to help him,” said Richard Brackett, Hill’s brother.Brackett said his brother used a wheelchair, but did not require an oxygen tank or an IV drip. Hill may have been a little sedated when he boarded, Brackett said, because a nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor suggested he take an anti-anxiety pill and pain medication before the flight.
“I have no earthly idea” why they wouldn’t let him on, Brackett said. In a follow-up e-mail, Allegiant said the company could not allow Hill to fly because he did not have medical assistance. Brackett contends that his brother did not need aid. Hill’s wife was traveling with him, and hospice care was scheduled to begin once he arrived in Florida. Instead, Hill missed his chance at hospice care and was taken to the Winter Haven Hospital’s emergency room late Sunday night. The nonstop drive from Maine to Florida was taxing on his tired body, said Brackett.
Hill died at the hospital early Tuesday morning.
He never made it back to his home on the water.
Couldn’t they have just had him sign a waiver?
People die on flights all the time…why do you think they stopped serving food!
“Couldn’t they have just had him sign a waiver?”
No they couldn’t because waiver aren’t worth spit. Blame the lawyers for things like this not the airlines.
And I’ll bet the pilot didn’t say “crash” either. What he probably said was “emergency” and he would be right.
AOPA just had an article about a GA pilot that got in trouble because one of his passengers *appeared* drunk to an FAA guy. FAR 91.17(b) – the judge threw it out, but still, this is something hanging over the pilot, as, according to the article,
“The board was dissatisfied that the judge did not explain why the charges did not apply.”
“under proper medical care” and “unless in an emergency” in the FAR is probably the key here. Tough call, tough situation.
When the epitaph for humanity is finally written, it will read “For fear we decided not to to do.”
Just like the austistic kid post. Not everyone is fit to fly. There has to be line somewhere.
I agree. I doubt the pilot said “crash”. I think their is some exaggeration going on.
Near dead people should not be on regularly scheduled aircraft. Its why there are “medical flights” that are equipped to deal with medical conditions of near dead people. Who knows whether or not the mere change in altitude wouldn’t do this guy in?
The only real issue is whether or not he should get a refund on his ticket.
#7–JH==gee, I’ve gotten used to your hard core idiot persona but you are breaking new ground here. But being a liberal I thought maybe you had picked up something from the linked story, so I read it looking for some issue to support your position.
Nope. The linked story very much supports the decision here contrary to your position and the thread header. I found this “key:”–the pilot contacted MedLink for a medical opinion. No employee/pilot would do that absent management direction to do so.
James Hill–why should this pilot/airline even be criticized much less murdered? Come on==don’t just use this blog as a place to shit–show us how smart you really are.
#8, bobbo,
Once again you show how smart you AREN’T.
He had his physician’s permission for the trip. In fact the article specifically said “… Bangor-area doctors told Hill’s family that the Vietnam veteran, … would not survive a return drive to Florida, …” So they bought tickets for a 3 ½ hour flight instead.
So the airline calls a third party for a medical evaluation, who never even met Dennis Hill, for an opinion. That is a bogus argument and CYA tactic that won’t work. Hill was not in need of extra care and no more an inconvenience than any other wheelchair bound person.
Bobbo and James Hill. The dream team of analytical intuition.
I love how airlines go out of their way to make people think they’re scumbags. No wonder they are all losing money. Fuck them all.
#9–Fusion==how do you get from his doctors saying he wouldn’t survive a car trip to Florida as meaning that he would survive a 3.5 hour plane trip? The article doesn’t say or suggests Hill’s physicians thought he could make the plane trip.
The article does say: “Hill may have been a little sedated when he boarded”–ie, he was unconscious in a wheelchair and doctors had said he couldn’t survive a car ride.
Hmmmm. Unreasonable for airlines to decline this passage?—How so?
What does “Right to Refuse Service” mean in your book? Why are you so gung ho on this issue–do you think the whole world needs to cowtow to whatever it is you think you want, as in, no one has rights except YOU!
I’ll take the crticism you offer all day long as proof of the correctness of the Airlines decision unless you can explain with greater fidelity to the facts of the case and some explanation as to your philosophical perspective?
#10–quaglia==so, if this was your airline, you would have flown this near dead cargo against the medical advice of experts in the field AFTER the near dead guys own doctors said he couldn’t survive a car trip? I doubt it.
JAMES HILL–any connection to Dennis Hill? If so, the emotions are understood, but try to be rational none the less?
His luggage was probably too heavy.
Holy shit! I have to agree with James Hill in #7. I don’t drink but I think it’s time to start. And I’d just like to go on record in saying FUCK UNITED AIRLINES YOU HEATHEN COCKSUCKERS!
Medical emergencies on flights cost the airlines millions of dollars every year. I think there was an unusually high chance of an inflight medical issue, which could have required an unscheduled landing at a different airport, causing all kinds of difficulties for other airports.
Hate to sound heartless, but the luxury of dying at home could have cost other people tens of thousands of dollars, and possibly delayed dozens of flights impacting many people.
If you want the luxury of dying where you want, you need to be able to pay for it. A charter flight would have taken him wherever he wanted, alive or not.
Mr. Ketchup, you’ll love this one.
No joke here, this is absolutely true.
On my last return trip from Los Angels, we got some last minute people on our airplane (Delta). It turns out that there was an entire flight canceled with 52 passengers on board, while the plane was on the tarmac, in line to take off!
Turns out, this was the 2nd time this happened to these same people! They all were then booked on Delta so they could get home. It turns out that the airline decided, literally at the last minute, that the flight was too costly.
Airline? United.
#13–419==thanks for that bit of common sense. I was so caught up in the emotions of anyone being insulted if they couldn’t get anything they wanted from other people, I forgot the most reasonable scenario.
Quite right you are. I sure wish the passenger rights advocates would broaden their outlook to include a fair balancing of “all” the passengers?
If this guy has a medical emergany they have to land the plane. He was sick enough to have to be sedated. He is known to be near death. Can the company acting in a reasonible and prudent manner accept him as a passanger? No.
Moral, If you want to die at home don’t take long trips when you are about to expire.
#16 – and forget about buying magazine subscriptions.
#14 – I was abandoned twice in the last two weeks by United, once in Denver and the other in Chicago. Both were evening flights and we were kept at the gate until after midnight with United’s bullshit about mechanical and crew issues. At one point we even got on the plane and then they told us to get off. They can eat shit and die.
Prudence and the obvious condition of the passenger drove this decision. It’s a tough call, but probably the right one for the airline to make.
I must admit, however, that my first reaction for _any_ flying misadventure story is, “Frakkin’ b@$^@%& airline!” This attitude, shared by millions of people in this country, as been bought and paid for by the executives, crews, and ground personnel of the U.S. airline industry.
The best I can say about this situation is, “Even a broken clock is right a couple times a day.”
bobbo said: “Near dead people should not be on regularly scheduled aircraft.”
I’ve done a lot of work with airlines (yes I get around) and they fly terminal and gravely ill people all the time. Yes there are special medical flights, etc, but those are usually $$$$$.
Reputable airlines have policies and procedures for these types of things since it is a regular occurrence. Really good airlines go out of their way to help out the passenger and ensure they have a comfortable flight. Outstanding ones like WestJet in Canada often waive the ticket price, arrange local transportation, has an agent take the passenger quickly through security, and makes sure the customer has a private place to relax before the flight.
WestJet makes more money by percentage than any other airline in NA and is one of the highest net revenue airlines in the world – with a fleet of only 70 planes. I wonder why.
I would have donated my time and aircraft and asked only for fuel reimbursement to make this guy happy. Charter still works.
Am I the last one in the universe that “flies the friendly skies?” FAR this, the man was dying and I doubt the family would sue me for trying to do a nice thing for a vet. Maybe a barrel roll in a King Air on the way would have made his whole day. Heck, had he been a little more healthy we could barnstorm down in a Stearman.
Know what? Dying in the air is not a bad way to go. It’s that sudden stop that you want to avoid.
#20–QB==So to be “reputable” you have to give your services away for free? Whats “not reputable” in securing medical advice that includes the attending physician saying the guy can’t survive a car ride, he’s currently unconscious in a wheelchair, and your Medical Consulting Firm (MedLink) says don’t do it?
Now–one airline may choose to do it and thats fine and dandy, but this one did not in this case. What do you bet they take gravely ill and terminal cases all the time==BUT NOT THIS ONE?
So, beyond recounting what everybody already knows, that the airline “could do it” do you have any specific facts or notions as to why not doing it in this case was “wrong?”
#21–Bubba==I’d like to pre-arrange my terminal flight with you a few decades from now, or maybe we could do a vice-versa? Your good will reflects that of most pilots, including the Airline Captain in this case I strongly suspect and see no facts indicating otherwise, “but” I wonder how many unconscious near dead people you would chauffeur around before your good will would wane?
No bobbo, as usual I didn’t write that.
#23–QB==yes, you did. I’ll let you make whatever fine distinction you think exists between your version and mine.
bobbo,
“Reputable airlines have policies and procedures for these types of things since it is a regular occurrence.”
This guy winged it. They also have bad press now, which is poison to airlines.
I also said “exceptional” airlines will do more, sometimes a lot more. That’s why they make more money in the long run.
Of course, you won’t read it that way because you’ve already decided not to read it that way. You are getting predictable, you know that.
#25–QB==who has decided what?
Isn’t it OBVIOUS as I posted that this pilot followed the policies and procedures of his airline==he called Medlink with the info and they said “NO.”
Seems to me both our minds are made up with my mind following the facts presented, and your mind following your made-up fantasies often in contradiction to the facts clearly stated in the article and repeated by several good folks in this thread?
Is it your position that EVERY person, no matter how near death should get a ride on every commercial carrier in the USA? If not, how close to death do they need to be to meet your standards?
Is unconscious and not able to survive a car ride come even close at all so that a pilot following the advice of medical experts to that conclusion can’t be labeled by you as “disreputable?”
You demonstrate why America is going down the tubes==the sense of self righteous entitlement too many americans have of themselves. Whatever they want==they should get no matter the risk to other people.
But what about Post #13–how many people’s lives, schedules, money, jobs should be put at risk of an emergency landing for any little decrease in functionality of this unconscious passenger to begin with? Should the plan have taxied to the emergency room to begin with?
Heh, heh. What “bad press” does this airline have? We can argue that one if you choose to. You’ve got enough crow to chow.
bobbo said: “You demonstrate why America is going down the tubes…”
Yes, I’m solely responsible for the demise of a foreign country. Thank you, thank you very much.
Again, you really are predictable, missed the point again, and mostly harmless.
#27–QB==Its weird. I respect your analytic powers/reasonableness on your other posts and yet when you try to context this particular issue, you really look silly.
My final example since you are only nay-saying and not responding to the substantive criticisms I have made:
I never said you were solely responsible for the demise of a foreign country. What I said was YOUR ATTITUDE was. Simple point that you take a stand against?
Foolish. Did you get a good rest last? Have a healthy breakfast? Something is out of whack.
Take care of yourself.
Bobbo, it’s on a case by case basis. I’m not wealthy nor do I own the “intergalactic make-a-wish” foundation.
Had I known the man, I’d have donated the hours.
Sure, we’ll go fly the friendly skies.
No relation, but my point is quite valid. Airline employees haven’t been sociable in my lifetime (though I hear quaint stories about the 60’s), and now they have to serve more customers per plane while at a higher risk of getting laid off.
That’s their problem, but it shouldn’t become the customers’ problem.
If someone with a pair of plastic wings on their chest wants to give a paying customer shit, they better be able to back it up without legalities. If someone has to use the law to backup their bullshit, which is all this story is about, then it seems to me that “by any means necessary” should come in to play with regard to dealing with the offending drone.
If people are serious about their bitching around things like the Patriot Act, or other extraneous laws like the ones in play in this story, they should be willing to back it up. Advocating the death of someone who’s harming the innocent (and I don’t see how you could consider this as anything less) is simply a act to uphold rights.
Why do you want to suppress my rights, Bobbo?
Your worship is noted.
#26, Boobhead,
a pilot following the advice of medical experts to that conclusion can’t be labeled by you as “disreputable?”
Following someone’s medical advice who has NOT seen, let alone examined a patient is wrong. Maybe you forget the criticism Senator Bill Frist took when he diagnosed Terri Schiavo by looking at a few seconds of video culled from almost three hours worth of tape.
how many people’s lives, schedules, money, jobs should be put at risk of an emergency landing for any little decrease in functionality of this unconscious passenger to begin with?
First, he was not unconscious. He was mildly sedated to help tolerate the trip.
Second, it was known that he was terminal and any sudden decline in his condition would not have required an emergency landing.
What “bad press” does this airline have?
Lots. There are many veterans and even more relatives that could sympathize with Mr. Hill. Plus a lot of ordinary citizens that also revere those who fought for our country.