- In July, Christine Ieronimo found herself trapped on a sweltering United Airlines plane for seven agonizing hours.
- To her surprise, she later discovered that she had been filmed in a viral TikTok video where she spoke out about the incident.
- Ieronimo expressed her unexpected happiness at the video going viral, as it helped bring attention to the situation.
A passenger, Christine Ieronimo, spoke up about the mistreatment she experienced after being stuck on a scorching plane that eventually had its flight canceled. Little did she know, another passenger was filming her, and the video eventually went viral.
On July 3, Christine Ieronimo, a critical care nurse and children’s author based in Connecticut, planned to travel with her family from Newark, New Jersey, to Rome, Italy. However, they ended up enduring seven hours of being stranded on an unmoving United Airlines plane.
Passengers on board the plane were left without food or water as temperatures reached 80 degrees Fahrenheit due to an air conditioning problem.
A spokesperson for United Airlines mentioned that the flight returned to the gate to address a temperature issue and was later canceled due to the crew exceeding their permitted duty hours.
Unaware that she was being filmed, Ieronimo voiced her complaints to airline staff after the flight was canceled. Only when she returned home and a colleague informed her did she discover that she had been captured in a viral TikTok video about the situation, which garnered online outrage.
Going viral unexpectedly brought about mixed feelings for Ieronimo, but ultimately shed light on the incident.
The TikTok video, posted on July 17 by passenger Christina Dragone, depicts a group of travelers confronting a United Airlines staff member at the airport after the flight’s cancellation. Ieronimo can be seen at the forefront expressing her concerns about the handling of the situation.
The video quickly gained 2.5 million views and only gained attention after it was shared on social media, passengers spoke to the media, and the US Department of Transportation announced an investigation. United Airlines has also stated that they will investigate the incident.
Initially, Ieronimo was fearful of potential backlash from being filmed without consent. Although it is common for TikTokers to film in public spaces, being the subject of a viral TikTok placed her in an unexpected and overwhelming situation.
Despite her initial concerns, the comments on the TikTok video have been largely supportive, with viewers applauding Ieronimo for advocating on behalf of other passengers. She sees the virality as an opportunity to bring attention to what happened.
Courtesy of Christine Ieronimo.
Ieronimo pursued additional compensation from the airline but was disappointed with the results.
According to Ieronimo, several passengers had to strip off their shirts due to the heat while the airline’s team attempted to fix the air conditioning on the tarmac. At one point during the prolonged incident, passengers were given the option to disembark, but most chose to stay onboard under the assumption that the flight would depart soon.
United Airlines refunded the cost of the family’s original flight and provided them with a $400 voucher for future flights. In addition, Ieronimo received a check for $550.03 to cover out-of-pocket hotel expenses. However, the airline did not reimburse the cost of alternative flights with a different airline or prepaid hotel expenses due to their policies.
Ieronimo expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating that rebooking flights cost over $4,000, as they had to switch to a different airline. She believes that other passengers who incurred additional expenses should also be reimbursed, although it remains unclear if they have been compensated by the airline.
While United Airlines released a statement about the incident, Ieronimo believes that the passengers deserve acknowledgment and a public apology for their horrible experience.
United Airlines declined to provide further comment in response to Insider’s request for further information.
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