After a Southwest airlines flight attendant lost two teeth in a confrontation with a passenger, the union representing thousands of crew members is demanding the airline make changes to protect them.
In an open letter to Southwest CEO Gary C. Kelly, Lyn Montgomery, president of TWU Local 556, explains that there have been “477 passenger misconduct incidents” on Southwest Airlines flights. She says, “This unprecedented number of incidents has reached an intolerable level, with passenger non-compliance events also becoming more aggressive in nature."
Montgomery highlights the most recent abuse, resulting in injury to a flight attendant’s face and the loss of two of her teeth.
“Unfortunately, this is just one of many occurrences. I write to you today because we cannot tolerate our beloved Cohearts being abused in such a manner, and because I am asking for your help and leadership in ending these travesties,” Montgomery writes.
In addition to several suggestions, the letter asks for better use of the airline’s "restricted travelers" list, asking that Kelly “take a strong stance to ensure that unruly passengers are not welcome to travel with us, period, full stop.”
Additionally, the union asked for more use of Federal Air Marshals on board and that they “take action when a threat to a cabin crew member is present.”