This was a child. A child tried to kick out a window. And to be absolutely frank: I fully expect airplane windows to be able to withstand a kick from a child.
I understand it probably wasn't on a whim, but surely, there are better options in this case.
A 13-year-old boy. If he was 3, that'd be an acceptable excuse. At 13.. not so much. Even if he had no clue what might happen, he surely knew that vandalism is bad.
> I fully expect airplane windows to be able to withstand a kick from a child.
I know a guy who was 6'9 and 240lbs of lean muscle at 13. It's an extreme example, but the point still stands. If I were on that plane, I sure as hell won't suggest to wait and see how many kicks it takes him.
> but surely, there are better options in this case
They obviously didn't have, and it's the kind of situation where you have to restrain that person immediately. No time to reflect on your options. Still, what's your solution? Here's mine: Any person past the age of 7 who throws a tantrum gets 500 hours of community service.
Would you bet your life on it? Inconveniencing an out of control teenager for a few hours to ensure the safety of all passengers seems like a pretty sane response.