Obese air passenger in economy seat has picture taken

TheBrownKid you really shuldn't find a person's weitht a joking matter. It sounds like that is what you are doing. Now drinking & driving can't be compared to individuals who are overweight.

BTW I call BS on this pic. The isle way has to be free as required by regulation.

The guy is HUGE!. Not just fat. Look how much taller he is than the other passengers. I hope the floor of the aircraft was stressed for livestock.

It's not wrong, that happens to be the way the majority feels. It's just the truth, that's all. We wouldn't want to stare at a pile of shit either.

One of the main problems with our society is we want to be sensitive to everyone. There is a difference between being sensitive and condoning things like this. Its not okay to weigh 300 pounds because you aren't supposed to. Besides, I find it digusting that Americans are overweight because they are overeating and there are people in other countries that are literally starving to death.

What amazes me about this is the amount of comments on this post. There are serious issues that no one bothers to even think about, but given the opportunity to be relentlessly cruel there is no shortage of opinion.

I actually regret throwing in the Mr. Creosote joke at this point. I thought it was funny at the time, but damn, people. Enough. The poor guy is a human being and we know absolutely nothing about him.

they should be required to buy two seats, it is not the Airline companies faults that they are too unhealthy to be of the right size to fit and there are other modes of transportation which they can take.

Now if it is due to a medical condition and one can prove this they should be accommodated and not charged extra. The fact is, most obese people do not have health problems, merely a different metabolism. This is something that, while it is shitty for them, can easily be dealt with by eating what is healthy for oneself, and not for others.

Shame on all of you "shit talkers" making fun of this man. You have no basis to judge someone if you haven't walked a mile in their shoes.

Why is it still OK to DISS fat people? Many people in this country still DISS gays because they "have a choice" just like fat people "have a choice". I guess its because your either putting huge amounts of food or huge amounts of penis or vagina (as the case may be, GLBT) in your mouth by CHOICE. And the idea of that to many is GROSS.

Do people even listen to their comment, how it sounds?

I understand the sentiment that "we in America are being too sensitive, we have to accommodate people because of their health status, their marital status, their sexual orientation, their gender identification, and now you want us to be sensitive to fat people too?" I get that you are frustrated.

But some of the comments I have read reminds me of hyenas going in for the kill.

All of you mean nasty people make me sick. How about let's just have the airlines install a couple of big seats per plane and just accept that not everyone is the same size? Your attitudes are toxic and you need a serious slap in the face.

wow... that's sad!!

He looks like he might break the seat. He's so fat he has to sit on the arm too. Can you imagine how uncomfortable he must be? This is so sad. I always wondered why i don't see fat people flying.

Sad, some really do have a metabolic disorder, some actually like looking like the fat pig you see here, and some think it's really cool not to be able to control their appetite.

He should have been charged for two seats or shown the first class area where the seats are much wider

I'm suddenly reminded of the opening scene to "The Transporter."

My first reaction is the poor man looks so uncomfortable. Why couldn't they give him a little seat in the isle? Fire regulations I guess. & of course they are all there to take a cheap shot at him. It is really sad.

That person could be someone very nice and that we all would like to sit next to.

Some cartels are using submarines, some go with tractor trailers, but the one using this mule is pretty much guaranteed success. If you were a US Customs or DEA agent, would you really want to go there with this guy?

Mr. Creosote, an after dinner mint? It's wafer thin.

"He's got a bomb! He is a bomb! Taze! Taze! Taze! Hurry! He's gonna blow!"

make him buy two seats or not fly at all. don't be sensitive to the lard ass he made himself that way

At what point do you think to yourself I'm fat? I need to quit eating so much and start moving a little more. When I see obese children. I think that child is screwed for life When I see an adult that is obese. I think they must not have a full length mirror. I see fat people that think they look good! they don't Most don't want to change they like being fat. They like to be treated like handicaps. They get to park in the handicapped spaces at the store. They like to ride in the handicapped carts. I say tax the folks that won't do something about it. tax fast food and junk food with a sin tax. They make other that use booze and tabacco products. Just because of the extra cost to the public. Well what about all the fat related hospital bills that go unpaid by these Obese people?

You people are such fucking assholes, read your fucking post before you post them WTF? I'm not saying to show him sympathy because of his size but show some kind of self restraint, How would you feel if you were that fucking guy, STFU for Christ sake, obviously this guy should have gotten two seats and yes that is a safety issue but what gives you people the right to fucking belittle this guy that NONE of you even know?, wheres the fucking respect? He paid his fucking money to get a seat on that plane, he has fucking rights too hes not a fucking animal so don't speak about him as if he is one... Fucking Dick Heads.

-P.S i don't care if my language is inappropriate, almost every single post on this topic was negative towards this guy just because of his size TWO FUCKING PAGES OF FLAME? WTF...Also were all humans we all have fucking problems, i'm not asking for sympathy just some fricking self restraint...

How come the FAA has no minimum requirements for seat size and clearance. Hell I have a hard time getting in seats as I am 6'4'" myself. Dont get me started on the airlines. Shouldnt they have to accomodate him?? What about NFL lineman? Are they fat or just big?

You can imagine the remnants of that basket of wings he had at the departures lounge...when this guy cuts one it will be a tsunami of smell.

Ridiculous, it's just plain inconsiderate of him to decide to travel by air and buy one seat, which is designed to fit a normal person. If I were that guy with the extreme bad luck, the one sitting next to him...I'd definitely demand compensation.

good god.

I don't think the assumption can be made that this man is lazy or does not consider the way he affects other people's comfort. The reality is obesity exists for multiple reasons, some of them medical, and the lack of accomodations for obese people is an issue at many venues. What would it hurt an airline company or stadium to make two seats for obese consumers?
For some people, their weight is an uncontrollable health issue. Even if they are being proactive in losing weight, they should have the option of riding a plane. I know obese people who do not eat a lot, and I believe their weight is a genetic disorder they have to do a lot to fight. The comments on this site lack any compassion.

Seats should be designed to be modified to accomidate larger individuals in a situation such as this. Maybe they (the airline company) should enforce weight and height regulations for certain flights on certain planes?

shoot! obese people really need to look at themselves. they should not even ride in an airplane! just imagine...a plane with only obese passengers. would the plane even lift off the ground!?

Poor guy. He may be obese, but he did not elect to have the world make fun of him like this.

Of course this man should have to buy two seats, without a doubt. I do have serious doubts about this picture, though, and don't believe any airline would let anyone sit on the armrest for the flight. It is clearly a safety hazard both for him AND the rest of the passengers, and anyone can see it would easily open the airline up for numerous and various lawsuits. I do not believe this picture, but whether or not the picture is a fake, the problem of what to do about overweight passengers is real.

From some of the bashing I've read on this thread, I guess it's true what they say--- that fat people are the only thing left that it's OK to bash. I'm appalled at some of these comments. Shame on you!

Put him in the cargo hold

this guy should be required to buy an entire row

I'm not sure I would mind sitting in the seat next to him, as long as he doesn't mind me using his arm as a pillow and doesn't smell. God knows it would beat the tiny POS pillows they give you on the flight.

Can you imagine the reactions of passengers as he was walking down the aisle...speaking to themselves,"oh no please sweet baby jesus , not next to me"

What a shame--not only for this guy's level of self-esteem, but also for the people around him who have to accommodate for the fact that he's failed to take responsibility for his own health.

As citizens of a country where obesity-related illnesses are a leading preventable cause of death (2nd only to smoking but quickly overtaking it), it makes the most sense in the long run to reform health care starting with the root of the problem--our selfish collective mindset. Increasing awareness on the strong correlation between physical and mental health should be a major priority of government, not commoditizing the roles of extremely well-educated medical professionals through "universal health care."

It also wouldn't hurt if the we treated processed-food manufacturers more like tobacco companies. Our addiction to exaggerated flavors, value, and convenience over nutrition is gradually killing people one french fry at a time. Yet, we regularly allow lobbyists to push the people's interests aside by electing and re-electing corrupt "career politicians" who are clearly only focused on their own personal agendas.

Targeted marketing conditions us as Americans to think that we are entitled to whatever we want, whenever we want it. It's the "me, me, me" mentality that is destroying American "democracy" from the inside out. Sadly, this attitude is happening at every level of income, from the very poor to the extremely wealthy. Change must come from within.

This is clearly a safety issue, I have a few degrees in aeronautics and aviation safety and I am telling you this man is a safety concern. If there was an emergency there would be no way someone like that would be able react to it, and worse yet could jeopardize the safety of other people on board. I mean due you really think this man could exit on a over wing exit, or safely slide down a escape slide…..their design to take the load of the heaviest of “calorically challenge” persons……but come on! Comfort issues aside, I am surprised the airline would allow him to fly. I am all for equal rights, and giving someone their dignity, but when it comes to other people safety, there is a point where you have to be blunt.

I hope the poor prick next to him got some sort of voucher or freebie.

The problem is that we are becoming too sensitive to apply reason. Race, sexual orientation, sex, disability, and national origin are not choices, being a fat slob often is.

If it is due to a medical condition, there should be a special accommodation made, otherwise suffer the humiliation and wallet draining penalties that situations like this will incur with full awareness that it is your doing that put you in said situation.

This society needs to stop making accommodations for every situation that a human-being puts himself in, otherwise everyone suffers.

not on my plane

Note how much darker his pants are than the colors in the rest of the photo, and how much taller (like 25% or more taller) he is than anyone else seen in the photo. It could be a real photo, but I have my doubts.

well, at least one airline has the two-seat rule. article dated 05-15-09:

"Under the rules outlined by United, passengers who "are unable to fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin; are unable to properly buckle the seatbelt using a single seatbelt extender; and/or are unable to put the seat's armrests down when seated" will be denied boarding unless they purchase an extra seat."

http://cbs2chicago.com/business/united.overweight.passengers.2.985271.html

As a reflection of the times it is only too obvious that the airlines should begin accommodating the needs of passengers for all sizes and shapes.The suggestion that people who fall on the heavier set side of spectrum is ludicrous.Let the sizeism begin??I don't think so.

damn dude... start walking... a lot... and eat your greens...

Normally someone this large would have to buy 2 tickets, someone along the way made an exception for this guy, it seems like a clear safety hazard to me.

I feel bad for the guy sitting next to him. and how the hell are the flight attendants supposed to deliver peanuts and drinks to the rest of the cabin. better yet are they not supposed to take flight without EVERYONE being buckled down. this dude is seriously way too big to be buckled down. lets jus hope he don't take the plane down. yeah....i'm not a sensitive person as you can see. lol. i think there should be a totally different transportation system for extremely obese persons, such as the one in this picture.

soo what happen to the person sitting next to him can he get a refund for the discomfort or can he get on next flight for free. it not fair to him that he has half his seat taken by someone else.

Let the market handle it, don't waste tax money and build up more bureaucracy with politicians to 'solve' this.

At amusement parks, if you are too big to fit in the seat, or be properly restrained, then you can't ride the ride. No exceptions.

lol his seat is falling apart

If he wants a bigger seat he should pay for it, although I do feel sorry for people in this situation there are many reasons why someone gets this large.

euthanize that whale.

I'm guessing the passenger is from the United States. Quite possibly the Chicago area. Just a guess.

Ouch. That looks painful.

Honestly where would some one that....large, be needing to go? Not very many places I can tell you. And also why would they go in public in the first place? Are they not self aware enough to be embarressed or ashamed of their weight/looks? I know I would be...

Side Note: They don't let people buy two plane tickets for one person.

That is an obvious danger if people had to escape from the plane quickly. By blocking the aisle he also gets in the way of the stewards.
I say either make a few rows with oversize seats, or charge them for two. It is never pleasant to sit next to someone who is taking up some of the seat you paid for.