KEY POINTS:
Two New Zealand brothers who went to the rescue of Gulf Air cabin crew and subdued an out-of-control passenger are now embroiled in a row with the airline over their treatment after flight mix-ups.
The brothers, who asked not to be named, had to wrestle a violent Iraqi passenger to the floor during a flight to Singapore after he spat, bit and punched airline staff who tried to restrain him, the Gulf News in Dubai reported.
The two brothers, aged 22 and 18 - the sons of a Bahrain resident - then had to take turns sitting on him for the rest of the flight while he struggled and threatened to kill them.
He was detained by Singapore authorities on arrival and it emerged he was on his way to Australia to seek political asylum.
He has reportedly since been blacklisted by Australian immigration because of his actions on the flight.
But the brothers say they have yet to receive an official thank you from the airline and are still waiting five months later for an explanation about why their flights were changed.
They were due to return from their holiday in Singapore on April 12, but learned the airline had moved their flight to the following day without informing them.
"On the 13th, when we reached the airport, we were informed that the flight was full and we must come back the next day," said one of the brothers.
"This did surprise us and only because we asserted ourselves did Gulf Air staff give us hotel accommodation with some food. As we persisted they gave us a voucher each for US$250."
But he said the voucher was only for use on a Gulf Air flight.
"The actual wording on the back of the voucher stated that it was our choice whether to accept cash compensation or future travel with Gulf Air, but we were given no choice," he said.
"We did wonder if, as we had put our personal safety at risk on the previous flight, Gulf Air might have been nice to us and given us special seating, or even just honour our bookings, but that did not happen."
They were originally booked on a flight to Singapore two days earlier, but the airline again changed the booking by two days without informing them.
When they eventually did fly, the younger brother described how the Iraqi passenger started throwing punches at crew members before his brother stepped in.
"This passenger had bitten a Bahrain steward badly and was cursing and swinging punches at the crew," he said.
"My older brother was able to overpower the passenger after a struggle around the rear galley and was then able to trip him to the floor. The crew were then able to secure him with plastic restraints."
He said the passenger was still struggling, cursing, spitting and threatening them.
"My brother and I had to take turns sitting on him for the next three hours to control him," he said. "The passengers must have thought there was a hijacking under way, as we did.
"Before landing in Singapore, the captain insisted that we bodily lift the passenger and secure him in his seat while he was still spitting and cursing."
He said the cabin crew and ground staff were highly appreciative of their efforts.
"The captain, however, ignored us," said the teenager.
"Battered, bruised and dirty with ripped shirts, we then commenced our vacation."
The brothers have written to the airline twice seeking an explanation about why their flights were changed without notice.
"No one has bothered to respond," they said.
A Gulf Air official would not immediately comment.
- NZPA
