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M$2 February 16, 2009 05:44 PM

How would you have handled this Hong Kong Airport Freakout?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbVw7entkxg&eurl=http://www.mahalo.com/Hong_Kong_Airport_Freakout

This woman missed her flight and completely flipped out. Apparently, she was allowed to get on a later flight. Some bloggers thought she should have been kicked out of the airport.

I know that flying can be an extremely stressful endeavor these days. Did the airport make the right decision?
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February 18, 2009 04:24 AM
I asked my brother about this (he's a cop and the head of his police force's tactical response unit) and his view is that you never let somebody talk themselves into doing something violent. If it's a tantrum you let them rant themselves out if you can keep control of the situation. But if they are trying to work up the courage to do something you need to act.

In this case it was obviously a tantrum and directed inwards so you can let her burn it out.
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• The law enforcement perspective is much appreciated.


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February 16, 2009 05:50 PM
I always found flying very fun and not stressful in the least.

Anyway, I think if I was security, I would've asked the woman to quiet down, and that if she continues to yell like that, that she'll be escorted off the premises.

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February 16, 2009 06:10 PM
The same way that you handle a child who is throwing a tantrum, by completely ignoring her and refusing to give her the attention she is trying to garner. This is simply uncalled for and no action you can take is going to stop it short of darting her (another good idea). Let her lie on the floor and kick and scream while people step over her to do their business.

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February 16, 2009 07:14 PM
I doubt that would have continued for very long in a North American airport.

Security takes public perception and panic pertty seriously these days. Around here, I would have expected her to have been calmly carried into one of the many secure areas of the airport where she likely would have been restrained until she calmed down.

Here in Toronto, handcufs and a couple of large escorts would have appeared in that video around :30.

Respect being what it is in Hong Kong and what looks to be an already quiet area of the airport, it looks like they decided simply to let her get it out and then talk to her as rationally as possible.

It's good that she was able to catch the next flight. An empathetic view might have uncovered the reason she was so upset to have missed her flight. There is usually a good reason to events like these.

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February 16, 2009 07:57 PM
You've obviously not see "Airport" - an ongoing UK documentary series that details the trials and tribulations of travelers with EasyJet. Seen much worse. And they still fly.

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February 16, 2009 08:20 PM
Sounds like an interesting show. Do you have any links or other resources about it? Not sure that I could have a chance to watch it in the US...

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February 16, 2009 10:42 PM
I think you might mean 'Airline'? There was a US version on A&E a few years back too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_(U.S._TV_series)

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February 16, 2009 08:01 PM
She should have been publicly flogged. Does she think she's the only one who has been in that situation? Why behave like a 2 year old?

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February 16, 2009 08:01 PM
This is how they should have taken care of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_GJkKMPHxw

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February 16, 2009 08:05 PM
Actually, allowing a person in this mental state to vent might actually be the best procedure. I'd be interested in hearing a police officers perspective on this (my brother was one).

It's fairly obvious she's not a terrorist, but rather an older lady who has lost control of herself. You never know the circumstances. Perhaps she's missed a flight to her daughter's wedding because of a broken down car (i.e. no fault of her own). Maybe she is having a nervous breakdown because of a series of events.

Chances are she's not going to be able to hurt someone. Of course, we don't know what she's actually saying. That would help. If she's ranting about missing the flight--which I'm guessing she is--then the attendants there are probably doing the right thing by letting her vent.

Once someone in this state has exhausted themselves you can probably talk some sense to them.

I'm giving the guys in the video extra points for being compassionate and tolerant. In the US that women would have been tackled, had a knee in her back and a tight paid of handcuffs.

Can we get a translation?

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February 16, 2009 08:22 PM
I did look for info on translations. The best I could find was off a blog, where one phrase was apparently translated to mean "I want to go, I want to go!"

http://buzznewsroom.com/wtf/amazing-airport-freakout-over-missed-flight-weve-all-been-there/

I'll ask an answers question to see if someone here can translate. Good idea.

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February 16, 2009 08:05 PM
I would have done exactly what the people there had done.

The intensity and the fact that she wasn't directing anger at any one individual says to me there is more going on with this lady than just missing a flight.

I think there could be more positive outcomes from situations like this if people involved used a bit of compassion and common sense first before escalating the incident with officials.

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February 16, 2009 08:52 PM
I agree. She didn't seem angry as much as upset and distraught. Her behavior was childish, for sure, but not warranting arrest or detainment. The airport staff did a great job of letting her cool off while minimizing the situation's impact on other patrons.

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February 16, 2009 08:22 PM
She ought to be ignored and allowed to continue until or unless she becomes a danger to herself or others. Her emotions seem irrational but she has every right to them so long as she doesn't victimize others. Some people may be offended by it but "The right to not be offended." is not a fundamental human right, nor should it be.

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