Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Karen Scullin ReportingA group of bikers say they were unfairly tossed off an airplane. "Bikers Against Child Abuse," or BACA, say they couldn't sit back and just watch a child get abused by an out of control parent.
Paul Dubois, BACA: “He saw the child being slapped and hit so hard that he finally stood up and said, ‘Look stop hitting these children.’"
Members of BACA arrived back at the Salt Lake Airport this morning after being detained overnight in Denver. Some were angry that they missed a day of work for something only a few of them were involved in--- the one involved says he'd do it again.
They wear black leather, big patches with a fist and might be mistaken for an intimidating biker gang. But they say they just stick together to protect children.
Last night, members of Bikers Against Child Abuse and other passengers were trying to get to Salt Lake from Denver, but there was a delay that kept the plane stuck on the tarmac for a reported six hours. Two toddlers were clearly misbehaving.
Darryl Sparti, BACA: ”The father put up with it for a couple seconds, but then put his hand over the child's mouth to smother the screams, and began hitting extremely hard and inappropriately."
So Sparti stood up and told him to stop and says the parents fired back and argued they could discipline their children anyway they wanted.
Darryl Sparti: “And that was the real verbal loud noise that brought the flight attendants and alerted them. But it was over with. The child was safe, and that was it."
But the plane turned around and headed back to the gate. Security walked on and started tossing off selected passengers.
Paul Dubois, BACA: “The Denver police came on board and started singling us out, one at a time. Everyone that had a vest on had to get off the plane. There was also a couple that we weren't even associated with that had Harley shirts on, and they threw them off the plane."
They finally got back to Salt Lake this morning with few regrets.
Darryl Sparti: “I would do it again. And if I hadn't, my wife would have. I just happened to be sitting on the aisle."
Frontier Airlines issued this statement:
"We regret the inconvenience this may have caused the deplaned passengers, as well as those on board who were further delayed. However, safety is Frontier's top priority.... Frontier fully supports the decision made by the crew of flight 577 and we thank them for making that flight's safety their top concern. "
Members of BACA wouldn't say if they planned to pursue legal action.
