Passenger with 'brutal' smell escorted off flight
The issue of passenger rights was highlighted in the aviation industry this month after an American man was escorted from his Air Canada Jazz flight, reportedly due to complaints about his smell.
The incident, which occurred on a flight between Charlottetown and Montreal on 6th February, has been reported in a number of newspapers in the past week, with a fellow passenger telling The Charlottetown Guardian that others had complained about a “brutal” smell.
“People were just mumbling and staring at him,” said Penny Walsh, who was suffering from a cold at the time and therefore failed to take offence personally. “The guy next to me said ‘it’s brutal’.”
The flight was delayed by around 15 to 20 minutes and Doug Newson, CEO of the Charlottetown Airport Authority, later confirmed the passenger in question made the trip on Air Jazz the following day.
While the incident could lead to debate within the global aviation industry, passengers seem to be on the airline’s side. An online poll on CBC News found that 81% of readers agreed with the decision to escort the passenger from the flight, while 11% disagreed and 8% were undecided.
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Related story: UK warehouse worker sacked for passing wind
UK warehouse worker sacked for passing wind
A warehouse worker in the United Kingdom has been sacked for excessive flatulence, according to a report in The Mirror.
Bosses at a Waterstones warehouse in Burton-upon-Trent received 35 complaints about 27-year-old Daniel Cambridge breaking wind, despite his insistence that the flatulence problem was a common side-effect of the antidepressant Citaloprama, which he has been taking for the past three weeks.
"I'm really annoyed. I can't believe I've been dismissed for passing wind. I know I'm not going to get my job back and I really liked it,” Cambridge told the newspaper.
"I could understand them getting rid of me for fighting or something, but for passing wind is ridiculous. To me it's like having a disability and you wouldn't get rid of somebody with one arm or leg,” he added.
Related story: Humanoid discovered travelling on Emirates flight
Humanoid discovered travelling on Emirates flight
Travellers on a recent Emirates flight from Dubai to Riyadh were accompanied by a different type of passenger, after the Dubai-based airline was tasked with transporting one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.
A first for Emirates, the Arabic speaking humanoid named Ibn Sina, travelled as a First Class passenger on the flight accompanied by Dr Nikolaos Mavridis, assistant professor of computer science at the United Arab Emirates University College of Information Technology in Al Ain where Ibn Sina was developed, along with two of his assistants.
Able to verbally interact with people, Ibn Sina stunned fellow passengers as he was checked in at Emirates’ dedicated First Class check-in counters and relaxed in Emirates’ First Class lounge prior to boarding his flight.
The transportation of Ibn Sina required countless hours of planning and input from multiple Emirates Group departments to ensure the humanoid was cleared for travel by the Dubai Police Authorities, the Dubai International Airport and Emirates’ safety team.
“The planning and integration of numerous Emirates departments is testament to our commitment to give every passenger, human or not, the best level of care and service possible. Ibn Sina embodies the forward thinking and innovative ethos of Emirates and we were honoured to have him fly with us,” said Mohammed Mattar, divisional senior vice president of airport operations.
“This was certainly an interesting challenge for the team however through careful planning Ibn Sina was successfully transported to his destination and we look forward to many more trips of the same nature,” he added.
Ibn Sina safely made the trip to Riyadh where he was the key exhibit at a conference and exhibition on higher education.
