Spirit Says Doctor Was Safety Risk, Son Was Groin-Kicker

Earlier this week it was reported that Lenox Hill Hospital surgeon Mitchell Roslin was booted off a Spirit Airlines flight (along with his family) after demanding water for his pregnant wife during a delay on the tarmac. He told the NY Post that they denied his request, saying it was against corporate policy. He declared: "I refuse to accept that people can't have a moral compass to give out water."

We've talked to Spirit Airlines, and they say that Roslin wasn't denied water, he was given the option to purchase water. They tell us he "was escorted off the flight for violating federal law for interfering with a flight crew. He was causing a disturbance and attempted to incite other passengers to the point that another passenger started to cry in fear as a result of his behavior."

They also claim he made "verbal references to terrorism" — albeit, this could mean he just said, "I'm not a terrorist" at some point (we've asked them to clarify). Regardless, they say he caused a safety risk and needed to be escorted off the plane by law enforcement after things escalated... but not before his 9-year-old son kicked a Spirit employee in the groin! A shame no one on the flight captured such comedy gold on video.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on February 18, 2010 2:22 PM

Comments [rss]

ducks3

HelloKitty thinks you can take your own water on a flight! How nineties!

My family flew on the same day as the Roslins, from the same airport. After we cleared security we bought bottled water directly across from the boarding gate. The vendor assured us we could take this water on the plane. But we were told to throw it away when we boarded! Unopened water we'd just bought.

Dr. Roslin did agree with HelloKitty on one point: He was quoted as saying, about Spirit Airlines, "You get what you pay for."

HELLOKITTY

The guy was a complete JERK!!! Yelling at all the Flight Attendants.. saying Be a Leader .. Give us free water!!!..Give me a break.. the plane was delayed because of an air conditioning problem.. things happens..it sucks, but rather the plane be OK, then Not!!! Spirit did nothing wrong..if he is such a big shot he should have flown First Class on Delta, but he was seated in back of the plane on a discount airline. By the way his wife is 7th months pregant.. shouldn't she have had carried water with her on the plane..there are places to buy water before you board.. moral of the story... if he would have asked nicely, he the would have given him some water for his wife..

Earthdog

The kid should have said afterwards.. "You just got kicked in the nuts..."

40oz.killa

way to go for the 9-year old kid

Thinky Think

Some doctors have GOD complex and denying them result is ugly tantrums. This seems to be one of those cases.

H.J. Simpson

HAHAHA! In the GROIN! HAHAHAHAHA! Give that man the prize!!

ProcedureTurn

Sounds like the typical xxx doctor. cheap.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

If somene want amenities then they should fly a

premium flight. Airlines tickets can be so cheap that airlines make up by charging you for everything including water. This doctor can't buy water for his pregnant wife? Really shameful behavior. And yes I been on flights delayed for hours and the airlines don't offer you anything free except their lame apologies. I hate when people cause such drama on planes when it can really endanger our safety. Shut up and make a complaint after we land

jules1000

I once was on a plane which departed w/ a 4 hr delay. By now it was about 1am, we finally got on, and still got no free water. I think they should have given us free champagne.

But instead of freaking out I just wrote a letter to the airline and got $100 rebate.

the end.

that guy should have just purchased the water if his wife needed it so badly.

eyekantspel

I side with the airline here... he wanted a bottle of water and was only pissed because it wasn't free. If he wasn't happy about it, he could have purchased the water, written a nasty note to the airline after and avoided flying with Spirit again. There's really not enough info to judge the groin kick.

eyekantspel

If the airplane really was on the tarmac for 2 hours, I can understand the guy's anger. The airline SHOULD have a policy to provide water free after a certain amount of time. That still doesn't make a hissy fit right.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

The doc can't buy water for his pregnant's wife? Then she should have gone to the bathroom to drink from the sink. Does the doc offer his services for free?

FDTW

Water isn't a service. He paid for the service (tickets onto the plane) which was subpar (long wait on tarmac) and was mad when he was asked to pay for something extremely basic (water). Have you ever been in a doctor's office where you've been forced to pay for water while you wait?

Yeah, the guy acted like a douche, and really he should have just sucked it up and paid for the water. But while we're discussing how people SHOULD be acting, the flight attendants should have given the woman some water, its just basic human decency, which shouldn't be superseded by corporate policy.

Greenpoint60

Oy veh!! such a thing to say, thats anti-semitism. What is this world coming to? It's like Nazi Germany.

leon

he did what nobody ever does ! he spoke out against bullshit. make a fuss ? kick in the groin ? damn right motherf*cker. seems like the other passengers were not angered by this. crying?! then one day some asshole's going to try and charge them for water and they're going to be pissed.

nycraf

Hans Moleman presents...

"Man Getting Hit By Football."

BOINK

Ow! My Groin!

Greenpoint60

I told you he was cheap, he refused to pay for bottled water. The guy needs to have his head checked

Helen Thomas knows the score

he' didnt act like a tool. he acted like an adult. he stood up for himself. you give a pregnant woman water. especially if the plane is sitting there for hours.

damn spirit airlines.

Thespis

Two hour delay, overheated plane, and you're making your customers purchase water? By now I'm used to luggage fees and having to buy snacks -- but water? When did they start charging for water? Particularly if the plane is overheating -- turning up the heat and then charging for water is pretty damn low.

Yeah, this guy acted like a tool -- but still...