A large cruise ship diverts its course to pick up a child who was denied boarding by airlines

• After a breakdown on a plane, a 15-year-old autistic kid and his mother were trapped in the Caribbean for three weeks.
• When Carlos tried to board the United Airlines plane, Elijah, who has ‘low-functioning, non-verbal autism,’ stopped at the doorway.
• The family was notified by the pilot that they needed to exit the plane, so they exited the plane.

After a breakdown on a plane, a 15-year-old autistic kid and his mother were trapped in the Caribbean for three weeks.

Jamie Greene flew her son Elijah Kapatos, her two younger children Brandon, 7, and Brice, 12, and her boyfriend Carlos Pacheco to Aruba for a vacation.

The five-person family arrived safely and thoroughly loved their journey.

However, Elijah had a nervous breakdown when they arrived at Aruba’s Oranjestad Airport on May 17 for their return journey to Newark.

When Carlos tried to board the United Airlines plane, Elijah, who has ‘low-functioning, non-verbal autism,’ stopped at the doorway.

He began yelling ‘toilet,’ which is his way of indicating that something is amiss.

Read more: Spirit Airlines has postponed shareholder vote on Frontier acquisition

‘I gave him a small nudge and we got to our seats,’ Carlos continued, ‘but suddenly he lost control.’

‘He wouldn’t sit, so Jamie and I had to restrain him.’

‘Something made him feel overwhelmed, and he started hitting his mother and myself while yelling.’

The family was notified by the pilot that they needed to exit the plane, so the five relatives exited the plane.

Elijah was given his emergency medication, but he remained agitated.

Read more: Spirit Airlines defers investor vote on Frontier bargain

‘You think you have everything in order, Elijah has travelled previously, we have sedative meds on hand just in case, and we made it to Aruba without problem,’ Jamie posted on Facebook.

‘On the way back, he became frightened and violent, and we were asked to exit the plane.’

‘Something made him feel overwhelmed, and he began yelling and assaulting his mother and me.’

The captain informed the family that they needed to depart the plane, and the five relatives did so.

Elijah’s emergency medication was administered, but he remained agitated.

Jamie wrote on Facebook, ‘You think you have everything in order, Elijah has travelled before, we have sedative meds on hand just in case, and we made it to Aruba without incident.’

‘On the way back, he grew frightened and violent, and we were ordered to evacuate the plane,’ said the passenger.

Jamie and Elijah, on the other hand, remained on the Caribbean island and used social media to make urgent pleas for aid.

Julian Maha, a doctor who leads KultureCity, a charity that assists persons with non-verbal and invisible disability, eventually got in touch.

When he contacted Carnival Cruises, they agreed to send one of their ships to pick up Elijah and Jamie.

‘It takes a family,’ Julian commented on Facebook.

On June 5, the couple flew from Aruba to Miami, where they were met by two KultureCity volunteers who transported them back to New Jersey. On Monday, they returned home.

Greene posted on Facebook, “It’s hard to describe the last month — it’s devastating, sad, and beautiful all rolled up into one.” It’s a combination of strength, panic, and support.’

She stated that policies needed to be changed so that no one else was abandoned in the same way they were.

Read more: United Airlines contributes flights to transport formula from the United Kingdom to the United States as part of ‘Operation Fly Formula’