[cmcullen]

My wife and I flew on US AIrways to Rome on December 18, 2012. The flight to Rome, was conducted by the cabin crew in what I consider a hazardous manner. I was injuried on the flight. My neck, left side of my head and right hand were affected by my seat being repeatedly slammed forward pushing my head into the seat in front of me. Two irate passengers were allowed to board and were left unsupervised.
My wife and I returned from Rome early on January 10 rather than January 31, 2013 because of the this attack. The cost of airline rebooking alone was $638.7. We lost our deposit for our accomodition in Rome. The three weeks in Italy were largely a waste without sleep.
The December 18 check- in, at the boarding point in Philadelphia, just before walking down the boarding bridge is memorable. An airline employee was screaming at other passengers. I don’t know what the issue was but the tone and volume was disturbing in its lack of civility and self control.
When my wife and I were seated in seats 28G and 28 F we noticed that the arms of the seats were cracked and a piece was missing. Wires were hanging out of the seat and the buttons didn’t work. But this was fine since we were happy to enjoy our flight in a jet to Italy. Within a minute,we could hear a crew member who later identified herself as Crew. Crew was raising her voice continuously in volume and tone. She was talking to the all passengers about sitting right down getting their baggage stowed. Several of the crew were dealing with many large pieces of luggage. They were very rough walking on the arms of the seats and strenuously and repeatedly banging the overhead bins. Eventually an overhead bin on the left side of the aircraft was damaged. A ten foot long piece fell and hit four passengers in the face. Some of those passengers spoke of legally suing US Airways. The crew offered those people a drink of alcohol.
In the meantime, on my side of the aircraft, an middle aged Italian couple were in the right aisle with a large bag and were swearing using disgusting Italian phrases. They were very upset about something and got even more agitated when they had to put their bag in the overhead bin over seats 25 or so. The woman was very visibly upset and her language was terrible for the cabin of an aircraft. The aircraft crew didn’t notice or deal with this situation but were within 10 feet.
The next thing I knew, crewmember Crew was leaning over my wife, who was in the aisle seat, adjusting my seat. Italian angry woman had been repeatedly pushing my seat back. Laura tried adjusted the seat four times I couldn’t see any problem or effect. Crew then told me that I would be forced to sit only on the bottom- horizontal part of the seat and not to use the back- vertical of the seat. In other words, I was to sit as if, on a stool. She angrily said it was for airline safety. Otherwise I would be kicked off the plane for not following crew security orders. I have flown to Europe many times and was ready to get off the plane at such an uncomfortable prospect. So said that I couldn’t do it for ten hours. Laura was very angry and left. Apparently the Italian woman and Crew were in agreement and same state of mind. Anyway ,the Italian woman with the crews sympathy continued to attacked me through the seat. I don’t know where she got the strength to hit my seat that hard. Possibly the man and woman were pushing together at the same time. The Italian man was reaching between the seats and squeezing and pulling my arm and telling me several times that there was going to be a fight. This was right in front of the crew who did nothing. Rather than worsen the situation I absorbed the abuse from the three people.
The pilots aborted the takeoff on the runway and returned to the terminal. Medical crew came aboard to check some of the other passengers for injuries from the falling baggage bin part. Suddenly Crew appeared pointed her arm to the back of the plane and very nastily shouted “Get to the back right now!” My wife and I complied immediately.
In the back of the airplane, Crew was not wearing any noticeable uniform or name tag just street cloths. Some of the other four crew there did have uniforms and some had name tags. Crew started to scream about throwing us off the plane again. In an attempt to defuse this treatment I said to her that she was raising her voice. She left to the front of the plane. To another crew member named other crew ,I said that we would get off the plane with no trouble I pointed out that the Italian couple were attacking us and we were ready to be kicked off the plane. I had no problem with the seat or the operation of the plane but I was under attack during what seem to be at least one half an hour.
Eventually a mechanic told me that the seat is serviceable and I agreed. I mentioned to him that I was a pilot since 1976. He then said he would change the reservoir on the seat and did.
Crew returned and told us to get back in the seats right now while pointing her out stretched arm. I said to her that I would like her to do us a favour first and ask the Italian couple to not talk to us but for them to talk with the crew if there was a problem. Crew agreed and I think she did so. The Italian couple were still abusive for the next hour until the meal was served.
The seatbelt lights were on continuously for the full 10 hour flight. Of course, they were disregarded by all the passengers and crew. There was not 10 hours of turbulence
When I was deplaning in Rome, I wanted to let the crew know that I would complain about that flight. I mentioned this to the crew standing at the front door of the plane. The two crew laughed and mocked and menacingly stepped towards me and said to go ahead. Just try it. They said they did not care. I just wanted them to be able to identify what flight I was talking about but was surprised at their lack of professionalism incivility and tough-guy attitude.