Delta becomes latest airline to suffer PR disaster as family are ordered off plane

Cabin crew allegedly told a family of four they faced prison after they refused to give up a seat on a flight with US carrier Delta Airlines (NYSE:DAL).

Just weeks after a United Airlines crew forcibly dragged 69 year-old passenger Dr David Dao off one their flights, Delta staff told the family they had to get off after they stayed put in a child seat.

Brian Schear said Delta crew on the flight told him that he and his wife potentially faced jail and his children care if he did not sit his two-year on his lap.

After eventually agreeing to have the child, Schear was told it was too late and he and his family were being removed from the plane.

Schear claimed the flight was overbooked and said four passengers with tickets boarded the flight and took the seats once they had left.

A video of the incident has already gone viral and Delta has issued a full apology to the family, though not until a day after the video was published.

“We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we’ve reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation,” the company said.

“Delta’s goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues. That did not happen in this case and we apologise.”

United meanwhile agreed an undisclosed settlement with Dao at the end of April.

Delta shares rose slightly to US$48.86.

Story by ProactiveInvestors