United Airlines has defended itself publicly and will likely get the chance to do so in court against allegationsit discriminated against an autistic passenger and her family by ordering them off their flight to Portland May 5. Juliette Forbes, 15, and her mother, brother and father were escorted off the aircraft by police after the captain diverted to Salt Lake City on a flight from Houston. The teen’s mother, Dr. Donna Beegle, is alleging the incident is the result of a “fear of autism” and said she intends to sue United. During the flight, the girl refused to eat food brought on board by her mother. Beegle then asked if she could buy a hot meal normally served to first class passengers to calm her daughter down. She told the cabin crew she was afraid Juliette “would get to the meltdown point” and possibly scratch another passenger. The girl did not get violent but the captain elected to land the plane in Salt Lake to have the family, which was returning home to Oregon from a trip to Disney World, removed.
Airline spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm issued a statement defending the crew’s action and United has not apologized. “After working to accommodate Dr. Beegle and her daughter during the flight, the crew made the best decision for the safety and comfort of all of our customers and elected to divert to Salt Lake City after the situation became disruptive,” the statement said. Most other passengers interviewed by the media following the incident appeared to support the family and said they did not feel threatened by the girl. At least one passenger has spoken in support of the airline’s decision, however. United rebooked the family with another airline from Salt Lake City to Portland.
