First Class Passengers Boo Gold Star Family After Flight Delay

AP/Department of Defense
AP/Department of Defense

The family of slain U.S. soldier Sergeant John Perry was booed by first class passengers last week after their flight landed and everyone was asked to remain seated to allow the Gold Star family to exit first.

The American Airlines captain and crew were worried Perry’s family would miss the connection they needed to catch to “receive his remains.”

According to KPIX5, Perry was a Stockton soldier who lost his life during a November 12 suicide attack in Afghanistan. When his parents and sister boarded a flight to the East Coast to be there for his incoming remains, the flight was delayed, and the captain and crew worried the Perrys would miss their connection in Phoenix if they did not deplane quickly. Thus, “the the captain asked everyone to stay seated and let a ‘special military family’ exit first.”

Some of the passengers in first class responded to the announcement by booing.

Perry’s father, Stewart, said, “And to hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family, and the first class cabin booing that, was really upsetting. It made us cry some more.”

Recordnet reported that Stewart heard some of the first class passengers saying, “This is just baloney,’ and ‘I paid for first-class for this?’”

Stewart said, “It was just disgusting behavior from people in first class; it was terrible to see. You could see the disappointment from the flight crew.”

Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt of Tamaroa, Illinois, was also killed in the attack that took Perry’s life. Two U.S. contractors were killed, as well.

Stewart Perry did make it to Dover Air Force Base in time to greet his son’s remains.

AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of “Bullets with AWR Hawkins,” a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.

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