And for the record, I don't think the mom should have been arrested. I DO think she should have been removed from the flight, with her kids, and offered travel on another flight. And "counseled" about her behavior. That would give her time to think about how she chose to handle the situation, and a chance to handle things differently next flight. A "time out", one might say.
I still think she is really, really lucky she wasn't arrested.
:banghead: counseled for her behavior ??? ..... really?
Yes, counseled. Like when a highway patrol or policeman pullover a motorist and write, or give them a verbal warning as to what their motorist infraction was, and how severe the penalty could be.
This passenger/ mother should have received very direct "counseling", off the aircraft, in a secure part of the airport, by police. They would have explained to her what it means to "interfere with a flight crew", and what the potential penalty will be. I think that might have been a sobering experience for the woman, and hopefully permanently improved her behavior as a passenger. And kept her from recruiting a media interview to "gloat" about the situation, IMO. (And exploit her 3 yo in the interview again, by encouraging her to further discuss her potty accident.)
As it is, she now probably feels vindicated and "bullet proof". Should she try this behavior again inflight, it might not go so well for her next time.
And yes, the off duty pilot had no more influence over the situation than the other passengers. And let's be clear that it was the
pilot's decision to turn the plane around. Not the FA's. The FA's report, the pilot decides what to do.
Security and safety is not achieved by a show of hands of the passengers. Imagine that-- "who thinks we should have the seatbelt light on? Raise your hands." "How many think we should all sit down now? Raise your hands? Or text your reply to abcdef using the inflight wifi." Lol!