Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Flight attendant takes baby girl away from mother who slapped her child in the face onboard a plane

BY Meena Hartenstein
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, August 17th 2010, 8:45 PM


A flight attendant broke up a family feud on Monday, removing a baby from her parents after the mother slapped the child onboard a flight.

Beverly McCurley, a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, told police she got involved when passengers complained a mother on the plane was hitting her 13-month-old daughter in the face to stop her from crying, The Associated Press reports.

McCurley found the baby’s parents fighting furiously, and saw the mother, Lee Ann Cid, "strike the child with an open hand on the face," according to ABC News.

"The mother appeared agitated with the child," reads the police report. "The husband continued to yell at his wife to shut up due to her screaming at the child."

When the plane landed in Albuquerque, paramedics checked the baby while Lee Ann and her husband Joseph met with aviation police.

The police also interviewed McCurley and some of the passengers who witnessed the scene.

After determining the mother's behavior appeared to be an isolated case, the police returned the baby to the parents, who did not receive a citation and were allowed to continue to their final destination.

The child did have a black eye, ABC reports, but the Cids told police it was caused by an uncle's dog.

Whitney Eichinger, a representative for Southwest Airlines, confirmed that an incident had taken place on the flight, but denied that McCurley had taken custody of the child in flight.

"What you read about the flight attendant taking the baby is not the case. She did it as a 'Would you like me to bounce your baby for you?'" Eichinger told ABC.

"The family on board was having an altercation and their young child was upset. Our flight attendant offered to the parent -- offered to hold the child on board. Our attendants do that from time to time just to soothe the crying babies because they are used to walking up and down the aisles."

Police disagreed, telling ABC that McCurley took the baby to remove her from harm’s way.

"I think it was a solid move from the part of the flight attendant to take custody of the child," airport police chief Marshall Katz said. "It neutralized the situation, it calmed everybody down."

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Ummmm...... WHY were the parents only questioned at the gate? Itt seems this warranted a little more than a talking to by police....

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Umm I think there needed to be a better investigation before giving the baby back to the parents, the child had a black eye for crying out loud!!!

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

That poor baby, I really hope we don't read about her again in a few months or a year. Sounds like this was a cry for help and a chance to get the child out of an abusive situation. I am shocked they let the baby go back to the parents after abuse was witnessed and there was already a black eye. I really hope there is some sort of follow up in this case by the proper authorities.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

I can't believe that CPS wasn't called. If that's how the parents behave in public, I can only imagine what they do at home.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Posted by Chai77

I can't believe that CPS wasn't called. If that's how the parents behave in public, I can only imagine what they do at home.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

I will get flamed for this. Im prepared.

I cringe when parents slap their kids in the face. A spanking on the butt, okay, I understand, but to deliberately hut a child by slapping their face - so much to give the child a black eye ) is discusting. If this is what these people do in public, who knows what goes on in the home.

This is very sad.

Message edited 8/18/2010 8:30:32 AM.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

I agree with all the previous posters!!
This is beyond disturbing! I can't believe they just gave the child back. The baby had a black eye AND there are witnesses that the mother was slapping the baby!!!! HOW DO YOU JUST RETURN THE BABY AND CALL IT AN ISCOLATED INCIDENT??? It just doesn't add up.

I think those "cops" need a refresher course!!!!!

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

This upsets me so much.

They "said" the black eye was caused by the dog...yet no investogation was warrented based on a black eye and a slap in the face? CMON.....Whats going on here : (

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Posted by JP826

I will get flamed for this. Im prepared.

I cringe when parents slap their kids in the face. A spanking on the butt, okay, I understand, but to deliberately hut a child by slapping their face - so much to give the child a black eye ) is discusting. If this is what these people do in public, who knows what goes on in the home.

This is very sad.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Posted by SB7308

The child did have a black eye, ABC reports, but the Cids told police it was caused by an uncle's dog.

I'm sorry I don't think for a second the child has a black eye from the dog... I can't believe this wasn't investigated further.. That poor baby

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

disgusting.

absolutely disgusting.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

I'd love for the mother to explain how a smack in the face would make a 13 month old stop crying.


Some people just shouldn't be alowed to breed

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

If she hits her child in public, I bet that black eye wasn't from a dog CPS should have been called

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

This makes me sick to my stomach.

If I was a passenger on that plane, I'd probaby be sobbing.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

There is never any reason to smack a baby in the face! EVER!

Hopefully the local CPS catches this story and will decide to investigate on their own.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Posted by JP826

I will get flamed for this. Im prepared.

I cringe when parents slap their kids in the face. A spanking on the butt, okay, I understand, but to deliberately hut a child by slapping their face - so much to give the child a black eye ) is discusting. If this is what these people do in public, who knows what goes on in the home.

This is very sad.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Posted by JP826

I will get flamed for this. Im prepared.

I cringe when parents slap their kids in the face. A spanking on the butt, okay, I understand, but to deliberately hut a child by slapping their face - so much to give the child a black eye ) is discusting. If this is what these people do in public, who knows what goes on in the home.

This is very sad.

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

It beyond makes me sick to my stomach. It's unthinkable. I think about my little niece who is 17 months old and SHE is still a baby! How can you slap a 13 month old in the face?!?!? Or ANYWHERE???

I'd also love to know how a dog could give a baby a black eye... WTH?!?!?

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

Why on earth would they give the baby back when it had a black eye?

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

wow!! thats nuts!!

Re: Southwest flight attendant removes child from abusive parents inflight!

I feel sick to my stomache right now !