A woman who was recently kicked off a Delta flight for creating disturbance on the plane and throwing a tantrum over being seated next to a crying infant, got a taste of instant karma following the infamous incident.
After a video footage, which showed her threatening to get the flight attendant fired, became viral on the internet, the ill-mannered woman has been removed from her own job at the New York State Council of the Arts and placed on a leave until further notice.
An Ill-Mannered Passenger
53-year-old Susan Peirez’s day went from bad to worst when her disrespectful conduct towards fellow-passenger and cabin crew member, aboard a Delta flight, didn’t just get her kicked out from the plane but also ended her career. The drama unfolded after a video footage of the infamous incident was circulated over the internet.
In the video, Peirez, who worked for the New York Governor, could be seen screaming at a fellow passenger with a 8-month-old infant and even threatening to use her ‘contacts’ to get the flight attendant fired from her job. The threat backfired after the New York State government took action against their ill-mannered employee and temporarily suspended her from her job.
The incident occurred on a Delta flight on February 6 before take-off from JFK International Airport, New York. Sitting in the back of the plane was a 19-year-old mother, Marissa Rundell, traveling to Syracuse with her eight-month-old baby, Mason, unaware of the drama that was about to unfold in front of them. Troublemaker Susan Peirez was the last one to board the plane, and it seemed like she wasn’t having the best day of her life. Rundell said that the 53-year-old, who was supposed to be seated next to her, starting causing trouble as soon as she entered the aircraft.
Problem Escalates
Peirez looked annoyed as she approached her seat, not happy with the fact that she was made to sit all the way in the back, and that too next to a small baby. The 19-year-old mother recalled that Peirez had slammed her bag into the overhead cabin and swore loudly in protest against the ‘ridiculous’ seating arrangement.
Rundell, who originally belonged to Rochester, New York, asked her fellow passenger if she could avoid using profane language around her son, Mason. At first, Peirez ignored the polite request and continued to cuss loudly. At one point she glared daggers at the eight-month-old sitting quietly in Rundell’s lap, muttering something under her breath.
The 19-year-old mother had had enough. She got up from her seat and warned her to watch her language around children. A flight attendant hastily made her way to the two passengers as the squabble between them escalated. Tabitha, an air hostess desperately trying to mediate the situation was seen trying to calm down Peirez in a polite manner, but nothing seemed to be working on the irate woman.
Peirez demanded to be moved to different seat and even lied that she was disturbed by the eight-month-old’s constant crying. Rundell said that she was shocked to hear the accusation since her son had been sitting quietly in her lap the entire time – it was actually the annoying 53-year-old in the seat next to them who wasn’t shutting up. Tabitha refused to offer a different seat to Peirez and requested her to leave the aircraft and catch the next flight.
Losing her Seat… And her Job
At one point in the video, Peirez was even heard threatening Tabitha with her job, although she apologized immediately after the flight attendant told her to leave the plane. Despite her protests, the ill-mannered passenger was taken off the aircraft. After the stressful ordeal was over, Tabitha returned to Rundell’s seat and apologized to her on behalf of Peirez. The 19-year-old said that she was extremely impressed with the way the entire situation was handled by Delta’s staff.
Later, the airline’s spokesperson released a statement commending the flight attendant’s actions and said that the behavior of the passenger who was told to disembark the plane did not meet the airline’s expectations. Delta values customers’ safety and wellbeing which is why any ill-mannerism on the plane towards other passengers will not be tolerated.
Apart from being kicked off the plane, Peirez also faced suspension from the New York State Council where she worked as the director of public information.