Photography is Not a Crime

This letter was sent to
Mr. David Barger  Chief Executive Officer and Director of Jet Blue
Mr. Russ Chew   Jet Blue  President & Chief Operating Officer
Joel Peterson,     Jet Blue Chairman of the Board

Also to the FAA , the Aviation Consumer Protection Agency, Sen, McCain & Sen.Kyl both of AZ, and Robert Sturgell with DOT. A similar complaint with the LVMPD

On Saturday, July 26, 2008, I was a passenger on Jet Blue flight 195
from JFK to Las Vegas. On this flight your flight crews harassed,
threatened and knowingly, falsely accused me of breaking a Federal
Law, simply because I videotaped an altercation between passengers
from my seat. I suffered total humiliation and the threats made by
your flight crew, which may seriously affect my life. In addition, I
have sustained physical injuries because I was arrested and handcuffed
on the plane, made to drag my suitcase down the aisle and was
physically manhandled, all as a result of your crew’s false
allegations.

I was taking photos from my window seat of a clouds and I was wearing
a noise reduction headset with a TV show playing loudly in my ears.
Even with the headset on, I had been able to hear a very loud child
seated a few rows in front of me annoying everyone for approximately 2
hours. Suddenly, I heard loud shouts and removed my headset. I
realized that the man seated next to the loud child had finally “lost
it”. The child’s mother and this passenger were yelling at each other.
On instinct, I turned my video camera towards the altercation. As a
grandmother who will soon have my own grandchild flying to visit me, I
have strong feeling about mothers who disregard the affect that their
children behavior has on other people whether it is on a plane or a
restaurant, and I wanted to share this with my daughter. I never left
my seat, I did not stand up to get a “good view”…I simply lifted my
camera up and turned on the video. I was not interested in “who” was
involved, I just wanted the “words being said” so I did not adjust the
exposure and kept everyone in full shadow. This video lasts less than
2 minutes and consists of a non-seen angry man yelling at a woman to
control her child and the mother responding also in anger. A Jet Blue
employee settles the dispute very appropriately . There was no
violence or extreme behavior.

I put my camera away and returned to watching the TV without the child
screaming in the background. About 30 minutes later, the flight crew
began walking down the aisle asking people questions. When they
reached me, I removed my headset, and they asked me if I had taken any
photos on the plane. I answered yes. They asked if I had taken any of
the “altercation”. When I said yes they told me to get up and come
with them. I was taken to the back of the plane where 3 or 4 crew
members asked to see my video. I showed it to them and also made it
clear WHY I shot it and that no one was recognizable. After viewing
the video, they DEMANDED that I delete it. I asked “why? The
“head-stewardess ” went as far as to tell me that I had broken a law
by using an electronic item during the flight. Even though it was
announced that electronic equipment could again be used. I told her I
have traveled around the world taking photos and videos from my window
seat, and have never been told it was wrong. I said “I ‘ve seen people
do it all the time!” Another flight attendant accused me of wanting to
put it up on YOUTUBE! Then they said THEY could tell who was in it and
I had taken their picture without permission and that I MUST DELETE
IT! I was now irritated and said “I’m sorry but I will not delete it.
I am grandmother who only wanted to show my daughter that uncontrolled
kids really do irritate other people and I have every right to keep
it” and I returned to my seat.

Moments later they asked me to return to the back of the plane again.
Again, I complied with their request. This time they told me that the
Captain demanded that I delete the video. I asked to speak to the
Captain via phone as I felt that HE had not asked me to delete the
video and this was just another ruse by these very angry flight
attendants. The flight attendant who claimed she could recognize
herself on my video (because of her hairstyle, not because you could
see her face) told me that if I disobeyed the Captain they would get
the Federal Agents involved and I would have to pay a $100,000 fine
and possibly go to jail for 25 years, just because I caused this
trouble.

I could not believe this was happening and I most definitely felt this
was now becoming a matter of principle. I had done NOTHING WRONG, yet
was being lied to, harassed and threatened by your flight crew. People
shoot video every day on airplanes. If that angry man had killed the
disruptive child my tape would have been considered legal evidence.
What it does is document the altercation and the flight crews actions
to resolve it. The video shows no grievous behavior that would be of
interest to anyone other than my kids. I think the Jet Blue crew
actually handled the first altercation very well, I never heard
another sound from the child or the angry adults. Unfortunately, your
crew turned their anger and frustration onto an innocent passenger
(me).

I wonder what reasons the crew had to accuse me of a Federal crime. I
complied with all of their requests politely, I never left my seat
unless they requested it, I wasn’t drunk, I wasn’t out of control. I
felt that it wasn’t unreasonable to ask that the Captain make his
request directly to me since the flight crew said the request came
from him. The whole situation just did not seem right. I’m a rational
non-threatening 56 year old grandmother who was complying with every
request the flight crew made, other than delete 2 minutes of video. I
knew I had done nothing wrong and that the flight crew was out of line
to demand I delete a video. Frankly, I was frightened by your flight
crews threats, but believed I was standing up for my rights as a US
citizen. I asked again to speak to the Captain about his request that
I delete the video, and was told that “he is busy taking care of
important things like flying the aircraft”. When I asked if I could
“just speak to him on their phone”. They replied “you delete it or you
will be arrested”. I politely told the flight crew that I would accept
being arrested since I did not believe I had broken any laws. I
returned to my seat.

A few minutes later I was given a yellow slip of paper notifying me to
cease my illegal behavior or risk very serious repercussions. Imagine
my surprise when I saw that my charge was “INTERFERENCE WITH AN
AIRLINE CREW MEMBER”. My charge, carried the MOST SERIOUS punishment
of all possible charges a $10,000 fine and/or 25 yrs in jail. At least
the flight attendant who had threatened me with the $100,000 fine was
clearly wanting to scare me and used that figure to intimidate me
further. How could the flight crew falsely accuse me of a Federal
Crime? I only left my seat when I was asked to follow them. I only
spoke when they spoke to me. I blocked no one, I never turned on a
light. And, I never brought my camera out again after receiving this
notice.

Your flight crew had managed to make me very nervous however. This was
a Federal charge and I am not one to take such things lightly. If the
airline had a RULE that forbids the use of a camera on board, like
with one for cell phones, I would have obeyed it. All the flight crew
needed to do was have the Captain direct his request to me directly
or, show me where the rule was printed. After politely taking the slip
with the federal charges, I asked the flight attendant for a glass of
wine. She returned and told me that the Captain had ordered that I not
be given any more alcohol ( I had red wine 2 hours earlier with cheese
and crackers).

Then about 15 minutes later my TV went out. I asked for help from the
flight crew and the head stewardess told me it must be an electronic
problem. I said “That I thought it was very strange that the entire
flight staff was mad at me, and that only my TV stopped working!” I
believe that the Jet Blue staff was doing whatever they could to both
intimidate me to delete the video and make what was left of my flight
miserable. What happened to the concept of Customer Service? I was
being harassed, denied service, and not allowed TV for over 3 hours of
flight time which I believe was intentionally turned off by the flight
crew. I sat in my seat quietly, and anxiously awaited my arrest. When
I couldn’t stand it any longer, I left my seat and went to the flight
staff (in the galley). I asked the flight attendant whether I was to
meet the police outside the aircraft or would they come and get me.
She replied” Oh, they will come and get you alright …right from your
seat…before anyone leaves the aircraft.” I replied, “OK, Thank you.” I
returned to my seat.

Just as our wheels touched down in Las Vegas, The Captain made an
announcement that everyone would need to remain in their seats while
Federal agents come on board to take a passenger into custody. As we
pulled up to the gate the Captain once again announced that the
officials were about to come aboard the aircraft to retrieve the
passenger. In total disbelief that this was really happening, I tried
to reach my 72 year old husband via cell phone to tell him that I was
going to be arrested and not to expect me at baggage claim. Unable to
reach him, and with seconds to make these calls, I called my daughter
in Boston and told her to keep trying to reach her dad knowing he
would worry when I didn’t get off the plane.

I will admit that when the large uniformed armed officers and TSA
agents came on board and walked towards me I thought about reaching
for my camera again. This time the pictures would be of interest, a 56
year old, 5 foot 2 inch, 113lb grandmother, who was quiet and polite
throughout the flight, being arrested for standing up for her rights.
I was treated as if I was a gun touting terrorist. I honestly believe
that if I had raised my arms with a camera in them, I would have been
shot dead. I REALLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE. These officers were angry
and it showed they roughly pulled me from my seat as I was trying to
stand up. I do not believe a suspected terrorist would have been
treated any worse.

I think you can imagine the looks from the fellow passengers as I was
handcuffed and forcibly pulled out of the plane dragging my carry on
that was extremely heavy for my size and weight. Even though I was
humiliated and frightened to my core, I didn’t resist arrest, I used
all my remaining strength to walk with dignity, knowing all of the
passengers and the TSA agents were all thinking I had done something
awful to deserve this arrest. I felt that I should continue to
cooperate with officials, as I was sure that once my tape was looked
at everyone would agree that I had done NOTHING WRONG.

I was taken to the counter across from our arrivals gate where  my
handcuffs were removed and I handed over my camera .The police, a Jet
Blue Rep and a TSA official all looked at the video and agreed that it
was too dark to really see who was on it and that it clearly had been
shot from my seat so I had not interfered with anything that was going
on. I assumed that was the end of it. I had broken no laws.

Then the Jet Blue Rep demanded that I must delete the video. I could
not believe it! He informed me that if I didn’t immediately delete it
I could never fly on Jet Blue again. He said that he would be filling
a report that would be shared with other airlines and I might have a
hard time getting any airline to let me fly. By this time, I was
really scared but I was not about to let him intimidate me, especially
after having been subjected to all that embarrassment on the airplane!
I told the Jet Blue Rep that I needed a copy of something…anything…to
prove that the police and federal agent found nothing wrong with my
video but that I was going to be denied service from Jet Blue and
possibly every other airline because I would not delete a video that I
had the legal right to take! He refused to give me anything. I was
just told to leave…which was not acceptable since I fly regularly,
nationally and internationally. This false allegation of interference
with Jet Blue’s flight staff could really impact my life. Jet Blue was
again using a threat to make me do something against my will.

The police officers were not pleased with the situation. They gave me
the choice to delete the video or leave. Since I was falsely accused
of an illegal action- which the video could show I had NOT done, I
again said I wouldn’t leave until I get something to document what
happened.

I was very frightened, I was in the middle of a terminal while being
yelled at by an armed officer with passengers at other gates watching
it all. I was under a lot of duress and was about to ask for
everyone’s name, the Jet Blue representative had not previously given
me a card or actually offered any ID. But before I could say another
thing, the angry officer yelled at me to “leave or be arrested.” I
said “then arrest me”. And they DID, in a blink of a second , the
other officer, who had not said a thing prior to that moment, grabbed
me by my shoulder, shoved my face up against the wall and slapped the
handcuffs back on me! Wow! He was furious…he said ” You asked for it
lady. I only have to be asked once! We told you to go. You wouldn’t
listen. Now you will know what it feels like to be arrested and go to
jail.” He pushed me hard against a wall as he unlocked a side door and
shoved me down a flight of stairs.

When we got to his police vehicle he told me to get in. I tried to
comply, but because I am barely 5 feet tall and the first step into
the SUV was very high, I could not pull myself up without using my
hands and they, of course, were handcuffed behind my back.He rammed me
towards the door yelling “I said lady get into the car.” When I
shouted,” I CAN”T!” He roughly gave me a boost by lifting me up by my
handcuffs. I was now in the police car on my way to the station.
During the trip, he tried to accuse me of being drunk, which I clearly
was not, as your flight staff would have to testify that they had
denied my request for wine over 3 hours earlier. No mention had ever
been made prior to this minute that drinking was involved When I tried
to explain anything, I was told I could not talk, only he could talk.
Finally, I asked for permission to talk and he allowed a question. I
asked” Officer, just what am I being arrested for?” He said “For
disobeying an officer…We told you to leave.” But, I tried to say, “But
nothing”, he said. “You were stupid; you should have left when we told
you that you could go”, he said. I replied “that I was not stupid I
was stubborn when I felt I was right.”. He said, “you are 56 years old
and you acted like an 8 year old. Well you went too far…you are going
to jail. You asked for this, you said arrest me…when someone asks for
it, I give it to them.”

We arrived at the station and he told the only other officer that I
saw, that I was going to get booked. I was told to go into a dark room
and sit on the wooden bench until he got to me. I did as I was told
and sat quietly wondering how this had happened. I know I did nothing
wrong on the airplane. I never would have been the victim of abuse by
the police or Federal agents if the Jet Blue flight staff on my
aircraft had not lied about my behavior. I was in this situation
because I had not allowed Jet Blue to delete a legal video that now
would serve as legal evidence that I had done nothing wrong, but been
the target of false allegations and intimidation.

When the officer came into the room and turned on the lights, there I
sat, in handcuffs, on a wood bench facing a metal desk with a few
papers and a phone. The officer had cooled down a bit and told me he
did not need to be dealing with this tonight and that he would be
getting off at midnight. He said he would be retiring soon and in all
his years he always arrested people “who say arrest me”. I said, “but
what if they haven’t broken any laws?” He replied, “that there were
laws covering just about everything and finding charges was never a
problem” . He also mentioned that the original call from the airlines
said that I had taken pictures of the cockpit, the galley and other
suspicious things on board. The Jet Blue crew knew this was not true
since they looked at everything I photographed. The police looked at
everything too. The officer asked how to reach my husband. Just as the
officer was about to make the call, my husband called me. He was just
outside the Metro Police door.

In the hall, the officer asked my husband about my character and
Michael replied that this entire thing was completely out of my
character and that I had never been in trouble of any kind before. The
officer then told my husband that the original call from Jet Blue had
accused me of photographing the cock pit and the galley and that they
were concerned about a real threat but as it turned out, my tape and
photos showed no such thing and that I should have dropped the matter
at that time. He told him that since 911 the airlines have much more
power so I should take up my grievances with Jet Blue. He told Michael
that I was then taken into custody for not obeying an officer of the
law…then they both walked back into the room I was in.

Imagine what my husband thought when he saw me sitting there handcuffed.

One look at my husband seeing me cuffed and sitting there made me
finally loose it. I cried and cried. The entire thing felt surreal. My
husband and I just wanted me to go home WITH THE UNDELETED VIDEO

I realized now that I should have let then file charges just to have
more proof about how far this action was taken. I was left with
bruises on my legs from being rammed against the police ATV and the
marks on my wrist from the handcuffs…which also have now bruised
up.

Once I got a little rest, I realized that I could not let this
drop…I can think of nothing else. Jet Blue abused their power and
got the Federal Government involved through a lie about my behavior.

I have always been a law abiding citizen. I have never even had a
ticket…. the State of Georgia once wrote a proclamation naming me the
ideal married woman in Georgia and the City of Atlanta once had
Marilyn Parver Day…how could this all have happened? I did nothing
wrong and your Jet Blue rep tells me this may affect any airline I try
to fly on. This is outrageous!

I will never forget the looks one the passenger’s faces as I walked
by…. I worry I will appear on YOUTUBE in handcuffs being forced off
the plane like a REAL criminal, just thinking about it or telling the
story to my family brings me to tears

Most of all, I feel that now I will be black balled from air travel
for something I had every right to do. The staff of Jet Blue harassed
me, threatened me, intimidated me and through their lies put me into a
very humiliating position because they wanted me to delete a legal
video for no given reason.

Had your flight crew, their lies, intimidation techniques and false
allegations not created this situation, I would be resting from a long
pleasant cross country flight on Jet Blue. Instead, I am giving you an
opportunity to resolve this situation, clear my name and ensure that I
will not be subjected to further humiliation by your employees and
denied flying privileges with Jet Blue should I chose to fly with you
again or other airlines. How you do this is up to you.

This video was only intended to be seen by my children but I feel I
must release it publicly in order to protect myself from further
harassment or false accusations.

.In order that the media knows both sides of the story I now demand
that Jet Blue send me any and all reports that have been written about
this incident and anything that may have been filed with any Federal
Agencies and airline companies.

I have enclosed a copy of the video in question and will have the photos of
my injuries available through my doctor in Kingman

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