Soaring 40,000 feet above the familiarity of home can be a frightening feat for any child, but if you have autism, the experience is all the more nerve-wracking.
Braysen Gabriel is a 4-year-old autistic boy who typically enjoys flying, but his flight from San Diego to Houston earlier this month was an exception. According to his mother, Lori Gabriel of Cypress, Texas, Braysen had a meltdown on the United Airlines flight just prior to takeoff.
“Trying to get him to stay seated was impossible. He wanted to sit on the floor in the hall and in first class,” Lori explained on Facebook.
“It was impossible to restrain him,” the Texas mother told CNN. “He was fighting both me and his father. It took the both of us to try to get him back to his chair and get his seat belt back on. He started kicking, screaming and hitting. That’s when a flight attendant came over and told us the flight couldn’t take off until he’s seated.”
Lori explained to the stewardess that the boy has autism and that they’d need a minute to get the situation under control.
The flight attendant then walked away, before returning shortly with two of her colleagues asking how they could help.
“Then they sprang into action,” said Lori.
They allowed Braysen to sit on her lap during takeoff while his day held him. Still in meltdown mode, the 4-year-old screamed to be let down, so after the seatbelt sign went off, the flight attendants allowed him to sit on the floor.
“When he’s overstimulated, the vibration makes him feel better,” Lori shared.
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The worked up child even accidentally kicked an off-duty crew member who was seated close-by at one point. Rather than getting flustered, the woman kindly commented that it was okay if he kicks her feet. Braysen then made his way up to first class where he started kicking another man’s feet, who responded just as empathetically as the first stranger.
