Aboriginal men sue Qantas over flight

[Inver]

Quote:The eight men, who were on their way home from an indigenous leadership program in Cairns, say they were thrown off the Qantas plane before it left Sydney almost three years ago.The men were allegedly locked in a bus parked on the tarmac for an hour-and-a-half, before being escorted back to the terminal.


Read more: Aboriginal men sue Qantas over flight | News.com.au

Are there no AFP at Cairns?

They should use the flight itinerary to call passengers seated near them as witnesses.
It would be interesting to hear Qantas' side of the story not that we will with a pending court case.

 

[The Rok]

Didn't this event occur 3 years ago though?

 

[Mal]

Flight attendant Kelly Kalimnios said the men were behaving in a rowdy and boisterous manner, with one calling her "white trash", an affidavit shows.

Federal independent MP Rob Oakeshott, who was also on the flight, said he supports the indigenous men's claims.

"From everything I saw they were behaving no different to anyone else who is a bit excited about catching a plane," Mr Oakeshott said.

Now who to believe....

 

[Inver]

Didn't this event occur 3 years ago though?

Yes it did, so why are they suing now or are courts so bogged up with trials?
It gives more credibility to Qantas if they did take so long for them to make the case.

 

[Inver]

Now who to believe....

Need more testimony from other passengers.
why eject all of them not just the worst offender(s)?

 

[RooFlyer]

Three years ago??? One can only assume that the claim was lodged immediately and its only now come to court, right?

 

[get me outta here]

I saw an interview w' Rob Oakshott who said he was on that same flt and saw nothing and felt sorry that he didn't get off w' them in sympathy.

If that is so, that nothing untoward did happen, it would be good to think that more of us would make a stand in that general circumstance. Together we stand and all that, on Anzac Day. (philosophical this morning).

 

[samh004]

I saw an interview w' Rob Oakshott who said he was on that same flt and saw nothing and felt sorry that he didn't get off w' them in sympathy.

If that is so, that nothing untoward did happen, it would be good to think that more of us would make a stand in that general circumstance. Together we stand and all that, on Anzac Day. (philosophical this morning).

As it says in the article, but at the same time, calling FA's 'white trash' isn't really appropriate, so will be interesting to see what comes out in the wash. And of course, the MP can't claim he knows how long they were in a bus, if they were in a bus.

Also, if they were left in a bus, would that not be ground services' responsibility, are they employed by Qantas, or contracted to them, or independent?

As an aside, in passenger buses outside of airport, there's an emergency release for the doors, and usually an implement to break the glass. If I was imprisoned in a bus for even an hour, I know I'd be doing that!

 

[codash1099]

I saw an interview w' Rob Oakshott who said he was on that same flt and saw nothing and felt sorry that he didn't get off w' them in sympathy.

If that is so, that nothing untoward did happen, it would be good to think that more of us would make a stand in that general circumstance. Together we stand and all that, on Anzac Day. (philosophical this morning).

If he saw nothing, was that because there was nothing to see, or something happened but he didn't see it. The earlier quote was that he supported the men's claims, so which is it?

 

[under the radar]

Quote:The eight men, who were on their way home from an indigenous leadership program in Cairns, say they were thrown off the Qantas plane before it left Sydney almost three years ago.The men were allegedly locked in a bus parked on the tarmac for an hour-and-a-half, before being escorted back to the terminal.


Read more: Aboriginal men sue Qantas over flight | News.com.au

Are there no AFP at Cairns?

so.....they were on their way home FROM a program IN Cairns...which implies they were IN Cairns flying OUT...BUT were thrown off the plane BEFORE IT LEFT SYDNEY..implying they were IN Syd flying OUT!! so im guessing there's some 'misuse' of the past/present/future tenses here!!! :shock:
either/ither...will be interesting to hear the outcome of this one!!!!

 

[amaroo]

On face value it looks pretty rotten.....Oakshott support adds another dimension.

What I thought was a disgrace (according to the ABC report last night) is the men were only allowed to travel in pairs the next day. Party of 8 only allowed to travel in packs of two

Not a good look

 

[Fruitcake]

so.....they were on their way home FROM a program IN Cairns...which implies they were IN Cairns flying OUT...BUT were thrown off the plane BEFORE IT LEFT SYDNEY..implying they were IN Syd flying OUT!! so im guessing there's some 'misuse' of the past/present/future tenses here!!! :shock:
either/ither...will be interesting to hear the outcome of this one!!!!

A report on the Daily Telegraph website says the men were from Kempsey. Presumably they were flying CNS-SYD-PQQ.

That could also explain why they were deplaned onto a bus, presumably their second flight on a remotely parked Dash 8.

Also, that would explain why Rob Oakeshott was present (presumably he flies a lot, but I think it more likely to find him flying SYD-PQQ than SYD-CNS).

 

[under the radar]

HOPEFULLY the outcome will be based on FACTS and not PRESUMPTIONS/HEARSAY/MEDIA REPORTS!! ....for an event that happened 3YRS ago, i hope there were written 'incident reports' taken from those involved!!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Video from ABC news:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-24/aboriginal-men-sue-qantas-after-being-kicked-off-plane/4648596

It's certainly an interesting case.
Seems to be a stark contrast between the recollection of the Member for Lyne ( stating that he wished he had left the plane with the men) and that of the QF FA who alleges that she was verbally abused by the group.

 

[Geoffm]

QANTAS seem to have maintained a strict code of expected conduct of its passengers regardless of race. QF11 was returned to the gate after push back last Friday to have AFP intervene with a passenger who was being disruptive - Unsure if pax was removed as AFP came in through the front door but must have exited elsewhere.

 

[casanovawa]

Ridiculous to initiate action 3 years later, that in my mind immediately raises questions as to its validity...

And i think that more people should probably be kicked out, especially when abusing staff or if misbehaving in lounges, and if so they should get a nice long holiday from using QF services... To me, calling a staff member white trash is immediate grounds for being offloaded... So in that case allowing them to travel in pairs could probably actually have been doing them a favour...

Last but not least, i'd be more than appreciative anytime that pr*ck Oaksh*tt got off any plane i was on...

 

[Sprucegoose]

sounds like opportunistic action now with the alleged event being three years ago.

Imagine going to your car insurer saying I had a dingle three years ago!!

 

[Conrad_S]

Pretty ordinary comment. The member for Lyne is a father and husband. Sorry I should have said very very ordinary.

The fa says they felt threatened. The passengers felt they weren't treated fairly. An observer (probably with their back to events) gave an opinion.

 

[casanovawa]

Is that directed at me??? He's a father and a husband?? Who cares??

I don't think QF staff kick people off planes lightly...

 

[Conrad_S]

Is that directed at me??? He's a father and a husband?? Who cares??

I don't think QF staff kick people off planes lightly...

Very amusing response. Am I to presume it is ironic or is abuse ok