ICANN watchman loses air rage complaint

'Little man' claims upheld

A top ICANN figure “engaged in abusive and offensive behaviour” during an argument with a first-class flight attendant, according to the Canadian airline regulator.

The Canadian Transportation Agency said that Frank Fowlie, an independent ombudsman who deals with complaints about ICANN's decisions, allegedly called the attendant a “little nothing”, swore at him and told him to “shut up.”

The row, which started when Fowlie's meal was served 45 minutes late and he was not given snacks, caused him to be banned from a connecting flight after arriving in Montreal from Paris a year ago.

He complained about his treatment to the CTA, saying Air Canada broke its own rules. Fowlie admitted to having a “animated conversation”, but denied swearing and wagging his finger in the face of the plane's service director. He admitted to calling the flight attendant “the little man,” but denied it was intended as an insult.

The CTA dismissed Fowlie's complaint, saying that the airline's story was the more believable and pointing out several apparent “discrepancies” in Fowlie's written evidence.

SuperElite frequent flier Fowlie only complained in order to receive an apology and intends to appeal the decision, according to the Ottawa Citizen.