I think the DOT and TSA is pretty clear on the safety conditions, but as they state in the rules,
§ 382.31 Refusal of transportation.
…
(b) A carrier shall not refuse to provide
transportation to a qualified individual with a
disability solely because the person’s
disability results in appearance or involuntary
behavior that may offend, annoy, or
inconvenience crewmembers or other
passengers.
…”
There are some aspects related to seatbelts, etc., but the part that sounds wonky to me is the explanation that the boy’s crying represented a safety concern. Sorry, have travelled on enough flights with crying babies to have kind of a blind spot on that one.

http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/06/23/daily30.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Based on our recent experience with security in the airport, I’m not surprised—

The story itself sounds somewhat in progress, but it’s the 1000+ comments that are very polarized, and some that make me realize that there are folks who either don’t *get* or have some kind of peeve against those who are differently abled.

all i can think of is how much fun that guy would have been to sit next to. math/ science/ engineering/ mechanics perseverations are not mine, but i find it great fun to listen to (and maybe learn something in the process from) the people who like to go on about those things.

the exchange of information *unrelated* to your special interest is one of the under-reported benefits of hanging out with other autistics.

do most people seriously go up in an airplane without marvelling (as much in curiosity as in surprise) about how the whole thing works, that you can routinely go up in a thing the size of a building that successfully flies through the air at great speeds? ok, maybe they do. but why?

“U.S. Department of Transportation
14 CFR Part 382
Includes amendments issued through July 2003 (e.g., includes the amendment on reporting of disability-related consumer complaints)

NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN AIR TRAVEL
SUBPART C — REQUIREMENTS
CONCERNING SERVICES”
Excerpt:
Ҥ 382.31 Refusal of transportation.
…
(b) A carrier shall not refuse to provide
transportation to a qualified individual with a
disability solely because the person’s
disability results in appearance or involuntary
behavior that may offend, annoy, or
inconvenience crewmembers or other
passengers
…
SUBPART D — ADMINISTRATIVE
PROVISIONS
§ 382.61 Training.
…(i) The requirements of this part and other
DOT or FAA regulations affecting the
provision of air travel to persons with a
disability; and
(ii) The carrier’s procedures, consistent
with this part, concerning the provision of air
travel to persons with a disability, including
the proper and safe operation of any
equipment used to accommodate passengers
with a disability.
(2) The carrier shall also train such
employees with respect to awareness and
appropriate responses to persons with a
disability, including persons with physical,
sensory, mental, and emotional disabilities,
including how to distinguish among the
differing abilities of individuals with a
disability.
(3) The carrier shall consult with
organizations representing persons with
disabilities in developing its training program
and the policies and procedures concerning
which carrier personnel are trained.
…”

So the policy is there but there appears to be a lapse in implementation. I think that Southwest management themselves may be heaving a big sigh of relief that nothing happened to Mr. Andrews because of changing his flight. This was bad, but if he had gone missing or been robbed, I could see a mega lawsuit in the works.
An apology is the least that could happen. I still wonder if the reason he was bumped was simply for being “annoying”?

Southwest did apologize in their statement but should have referred to him as Mr. Andrews and not Nicholas. Why does having autism reduce a man to his first name?