Violent movie causes flight diversion
United Airlines has reviewed its in-flight entertainment after the screening of a movie with sex and violence provoked such angry protests from a family with young children that a flight had to be diverted.
The parents, with children aged four and eight, complained to the pilot that the film being shown on drop-down screens was inappropriate for the kids and asked for it to be changed.
Nothing happened for more than an hour, according to a report in the Telegraph, after which the pilot announced the flight from Denver to Baltimore was diverting to Chicago due to "security concerns".
At the airport, the family were interviewed by police and border protection officers, then placed on a later flight.
According to the Telegraph, the father accused the captain of the original flight of abusing his power and criticised the airline for showing "grossly inappropriate cinematic content".
The movie, Alex Cross, is rated "15" in the UK and in the US it has a "T" classification, which warns of adult themes.
A United Airlines spokesman confirmed the flight had been diverted, claiming crew had reported a disturbance involving a passenger. He said the airline had since conducted a review of its in-flight content.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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