When it all becomes too much...

[Nigel C]

From http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...810-11ul9.html

So were they more mad at him for deploying the slide, or grabbing a beer on the way?

Raging flight attendant makes his own emergency exit

August 10, 2010 - 9:23AM



Steven Slater ... made a dramatic exit.

A flight attendant furious with passengers who refused to follow his instructions told them off over the loudspeaker before pulling the chute to make his own dramatic personal emergency exit, US police said.

The attendant, identified in the US media as Steven Slater, 39, was working a JetBlue flight from Pittsburgh to New York that had just landed, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

Slater told passengers to remain seated upon landing. But when a passenger started collecting his belongings from the overhead bin, disregarding the instructions, Slater tried to stop him but was hit in the head by the baggage and became irate.

When Slater "asked for an apology", the passenger "instead cursed at him", The New York Times reported.

Slater "got on the plane's public address system and cursed out all aboard. Then he activated the inflatable evacuation slide at service exit R1, launched himself off the plane, an Embraer 190, ran to the employee parking lot and left the airport in a car he had parked there".

The attendant s n a t c hed a beer from the galley before jumping on the slide, ABC News reported.

His silver-screen-worthy escape was short-lived.

Police arrested Slater shortly after at his home nearby in Queens.

"There were no injuries and all customers deplaned the aircraft safely through the jetway," the airline said in a statement.

"At this time, we are working with the FAA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to investigate the incident. At no time was the security or safety of our customers or crew members at risk."

According to ABC, Slater was charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.

AFP

[Nigel C]

And from http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/j...-1225903256827

JetBlue flight attendant Steve Slater swears at passengers, then exits plane

By Philip Messing, Larry Celona of the New York Post
August 10, 2010 7:47AM

The JetBlue flight attendant got into a heated argument after landing at New York's John F Kennedy Airport
Passenger swears at flight attendant
Steven Slater then abuses passenger via PA
Then jumps out of plane via emergency chute

A FURIOUS flight attendant argued with a passenger and hurled obscenities over his plane's public address system - before grabbing two beers and making an astonishing escape via an inflatable emergency slide.

Steven Slater dashed from the tarmac at New York's JFK Airport to his silver Jeep Wrangler parked in an employee lot and raced home, where he was arrested by Port Authority police.

Mr Slater, 39, was charged with criminal mischief and criminal trespass.

The meltdown was preceded by an argument with a passenger, who sources said told Slater "to f*** off" after he was told not to remove baggage from the overhead compartment.

The passenger then insisted on opening the compartment, hitting Slater in the head with the door as it dropped down.

After the plane pulled up to the JetBlue terminal, and as people began moving towards the exit, sources said Slater got on the public-address system and launched into a tirade, screaming: "To the f***ing assh**e that told me to f*** off, it’s been a good 28 years!" according to law enforcement sources.

Slater then grabbed two beers from the galley and, in a move straight out of an action movie, popped the lever for the airliner’s inflatable chute and slid down it onto the tarmac outside the terminal door.

Mr Slater - who on his Facebook page lists his home as Thousand Oaks, California - writes "fashion, interior decorating, spirituality and recovery (are) among his interests." The only book he references is Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve and Twelve.

Friends in Queens said he lives with his cancer-stricken mum. His father died of Lou Gehrig's Disease two years ago, they said.

"I can’t believe Steve’s on the run," said Bruce Babasso, 65. "He’s like OJ Simpson. He must have snapped."

JetBlue put out a statement confirming that an evacuation slide was deployed after the airliner arrived at the gate at JFK, adding that there were no injuries and all passengers safely exited through the jetway.

"At this time, we are working with the FAA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to investigate the incident," the statement read.

- with Rebecca Harshbarger

[Stephen B]

I'd suggest the FA should pay for the the beers and for the slide to be re-installed, while the FAA should ban the passenger from ever flying on a commercial airline agian.

I mean, you've gotta give the FA 10 points for style!

[David Ramsay]

From New York City news channel NY1, news video and story here

[Raymond Rowe]

Passenger 1
Flight Attendent 0

[Harry G]

For now.............

perhaps in good old Australia where we crap our pants with political correctness and put up with things for the sake of being polite.........
the good old US........
what did the passenger call the FA??? it is reported??
would this be the same passneger who would be crying in an emergency and looking to the same FA they just abused for doing their job if an emergency arises?????

I bet yes...........

good on this FA because I have witnessed some behaviour by passnegers whereine as a fellow passenger you would want to walk up and samck them in the mouth..... come to think of it..... the block next to me did do just that......
amazing how the big mouthed prat sat quiet for the rest of the flight nursing a cold can of coke on a split lip!!! to the rousing cheers of the cabin!

it is a thankless task and an FA snapping - to his detriment - should've handled it a little better but good on him!

[Sarah C]

Agree with most of your comments Harry. Yes, he the FA didn't handle the situation well but good on him.

Meanwhile, the person who ignored a direct order gets away scot free. Thier image and reputation isn't plastered all over the media. And even if they were identified, the FAA won't take any action. All airlines have rules for a reason and it is amazing how many passengers don't think it applies to them.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Didn't take long for the new safety cards to come out!!!