Airline Orders Stranded Passengers to Delete Videos

Toronto-based Porter Airlines claims a misunderstanding
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 10, 2018 12:00 PM CST
Airline Orders Stranded Passengers to Delete Videos
File photo: Passengers wait in line at a security checkpoint at Logan International Airport in Boston on Nov. 22, 2017.   (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Passengers of a Canadian airline who were stranded in Boston over the weekend say airline officials threatened to have them arrested if they didn't delete videos of employees announcing a flight cancellation. Kira Wegler tells CTV News she was among passengers who waited hours before being removed from a Friday flight bound for Toronto because of what Porter Airlines says was a frozen door on a luggage compartment. Shuffled into Boston's Logan Airport, Wegler says frustrated passengers waited two more hours before learning the flight would be canceled. Some began taking video of what they considered to be poor customer service, and that's when officials "started threatening us," saying they would "have us arrested" unless the videos were deleted, Wegler tells Global News.

Wegler says she ignored the threat, keeping a video in which a Porter rep appears to say recordings aren't allowed in the airport. Porter has since acknowledged no such policy exists, explaining an employee was simply confused about a rule prohibiting video recordings in secure areas only. Porter "apologizes to everyone who was affected by the flight delay and for the information provided," a rep tells Newsweek, adding that while it was suggested police "could be called to address this situation, there was no direct statement that passengers would be arrested." The incident happened Friday, and passengers were not able to catch a Porter flight to Toronto on Monday. Porter covered accommodations and some meals. (More airlines stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X