And this is America?

Blind interpreter detained at Philly airport says he has nightmares from arrest

By JESSICA BAUTISTA & KITTY CAPARELLA
Philadelphia Daily News

caparek@phillynews.com 215-854-5880

A BLIND INTERNATIONAL interpreter who says he was dragged off a Belgium-bound flight, arrested and held in custody in Philadelphia for hours without food or water faces an arraignment Thursday.

His crime: He questioned why his U.S. Airways flight was delayed nearly two hours.

Nicola Cantisani, 61, of Brussels, Belgium, a professional translator who has been blind since birth, was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, police said.

"This is taking airplane security to a new and ridiculous level," said his attorney, A. Charles Peruto Jr. "It's pretty crazy."

Cantisani and his wife, Paola, were returning to Brussels April 4 after visiting family in New York. The couple changed planes at Philadelphia International Airport and boarded the 8:32 p.m. flight.

After the plane sat on the tarmac for some time, passengers were told that the flight would be delayed - without explanation, according to Cantisani. They were unable to use phones, receive attendant service or move from their seats.

"That was the straw that unfortunately broke the camel's back," Cantisani said. "It just got to me: They board you and just taxi you around."

Cantisani said he stood up to request a glass of water and to speak with the crew or captain about the delay, but was told to sit down.

In interviews in Philadelphia and later by phone from Brussels, Cantisani described what he called an "indescribable" chain of events that has given him nightmares.

"I felt I was being kidnapped - like I was a hostage," Cantisani said of the wait.

Cantisani said he spoke with the captain, who told him the plane was having mechanical problems. He then returned to his seat.

Shortly afterward, another passenger made a remark about the crew, prompting three Philadelphia Police officers to escort that man off the plane, Cantisani said.

Then, police tried to remove Cantisani as well, he said.

Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, said the police were called to Gate A-19 because of a disorderly passenger.

"A passenger had become irate over the delay," Vanore said.

Cantisani, unaware of why he was being removed, refused to leave.

He said the officers yanked Cantisani from his seat and dragged him off the plane, injuring his hand, which was gripping his seat belt . Then they forced him into a wheelchair.

At one point, an officer held him "by the throat," he said.

Vanore said that Cantisani had been asked several times to leave the plane but continually refused.

A U.S. Airways representative said Cantisani was an unruly passenger who had refused to exit the plane.

During the struggle with police, Cantisani said, he lost his retractable walking cane, making him unable to navigate.

Officers told him they had done the "blind test" and didn't believe he was blind, he said.

Vanore said he knew of no "blind test" administered by police.

Cantisani claimed he was held in police custody at the airport from about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. without food, water or access to his phone or outside communication.

His wife, who had followed him off the plane, said she "was asking a lot of questions" but got no explanation.

After speaking with the officers, Cantisani - who translates several languages for international conferences - said he was asked how much English he spoke and was questioned by a psychiatrist.

About 3 a.m., he was taken to the 18th Police District, where he was detained until late the next evening, he said.

"I was never read my rights. I was put against the wall, told to put [my] hands on the wall, empty [my] pockets and undo my shoelaces," Cantisani said. "Then, I was shoved into a 6-by-7-foot cell and that was it."

Cantisani said that without his cane to help him navigate, he bumped his head, causing it to bleed.

Cantisani said no one believed he was blind until the end of his stay.

"Imagine yourself blindfolded and being knocked around, and I had no idea how long that was going to last," Cantisani said.

After Cantisani appeared before a bail commissioner, he was released sometime after 7:35 p.m. April 5 and driven to the Penn View Hotel in Old City, where he was reunited with his wife.

Cantisani said he remains "beside himself" about the flight procedures, the crew and the officers who handled him.

"It's indescribable . . . I still have nightmares," Cantisani said. "I wake up in the middle of the night thinking I'm in a prison cell."

Cantisani said he does not plan to return to Philadelphia. Peruto said he would represent Cantisani in court Thursday.

WTF they did the blind test ---

oh what the hell is this world coming to?????????

does this make anyone feel safer???? not me

I'm not sure i buy into this one totally. he had to have caused some sort of a ruckus to be detained like that.

he did - he failed their blind test

The majority of people in this country, dont seemed to have grasped on to the tactics used by our govt., tactics that are stealing our God givin and constitutional rights.
Most of these infringments have started with the pretense of making us and our children safer or promising us some sort of assistance in one way or another....all you have to do is relinquish...just a tiny little bite out of your freedoms....Hmmm..isnt that how you eat a pie until its GONE??
We have over 300 million people in this country...Governed by 545 Crooks...ie...100 Senators,435 congressmen,1 president and 9 supreme court justices..... 545 individuals vs 300 million!!!!!
Look at the current situation they have us into now.. These 545 have put thierselves above the law....they pardon each other after getting caught in criminal acts, they give thierselves pay raises, walk out of office with pensions and benifits that most of us can only dream of...they set up in these well rehearsed senate meetings...on TV..pointing thier fingers at corporate CEO's and blaming them for our economic situations...when they themselves are the ones who allowed this to all happen and in several instances ...even promoted it. It is High time we put an end to this treachery... In my humble opinion...one of the best ways is to start out with "TERM LIMITS"... These senators are so well organised...they make the MAFIA look like juvenile hub cap thieves...WE need to get these lifers OUT!!!

the attitude of it does not effect me i do not care is a major problem in this country

and

it is getting worse

WOW

Here is some nifty thinking: "I'm not sure i buy into this one totally. he had to have caused some sort of a ruckus to be detained like that."

Yep...that's right...only people who have done something wrong are detained or arrested.

*COUGH*

Sorry, but no, he hasn't got a case. From what I read, charges are appropropriate, he did fight them when asked to get off the plane, and was unruly. Idiot knew where he was going, should have also known about the security rules. Who knows if he was blind if they don't even know if the test was administered, lots of liars out there. Fool is over reacting, and if he doesn't like going by the same standards as the rest, he doesn't have to fly. A lot of his gripes were so petty they were laughable.

the city of brotherly love....????

Thought we were all innocent until proven guilty??? Guess I must be wrong.

Now don't get me wrong he's really milking this for all he wants - nightmares, etc... get a grip, build a bridge and get over it. Believe he was treated unjustly and with what I read his actions did not warrant such behavior nor retaliation from officers.

hmm wondering what the remark was that got him escorted off the plane, which is what I am certain most of the passengers wanted to do, disembark off of a plane with mechanical problems.

seig higheil (i know i probably spelled it wrong but you know what it is)

now extend your arm and say it

is getting closer to reality every day

Thats the problem I have with this post. You hear his side of the story. But not what he did to warrent the actions of the crew to call the police to escort him off.

Airport cops! I've seen quite a few stories coming from the airport police, while on one hand I can understand the want for security...I can't for the life of me understand why someone would abuse that delicate power...

The article does mention that Cantisani spoke with the captain then returned to his seat so as far as he was concerned it was over.

Now imagine being blind and some people arrive and try to remove you from a plane without telling you any information...they claim to have done a blind test and decided that he wasn't blind...if he wasn't blind, why the wheelchair? For that matter what exactly is a blind test and what medical training do they have that let's them tell if someone is blind?

This guy might actually have a case depending on the other side of the story. Have to wait and see the rest of it.

I've never heard of a blind test but I would think it must be something like the test they give to drunk drivers. IDK

not sure that would be the case - what would they do, point fingers/articles towards his eyes and see if he blinked, stared into his pupils and checked for dialation???

I read this as an excuse for their behavior, officers know they went too far and are trying to cover that a$$. But I too don't know as this is only one side of story.