JetBlue's Famous Fed-Up Flight Attendant

Quite a story about Monday's JetBlue incident at JFK (quick summary from NYT
below). Part of Steven Slater's training was or should have been keeping cool,
calm, and professional even under tough circumstances such as a crash or other
emergency -- and a difficult passenger, no matter how much of a schmuck,
ain't nearly as tough a circumstance as a crash. But having said that, I am
often horrified by the boorish and even abusive behavoir I witness on flights
these days -- much of it directed at flight attendants -- and if I had been on
that flight I probably would've applauded the guy.

What do you all think?

Fed-Up Flight Attendant Makes Sliding Exit

"On Monday, on the tarmac at Kennedy International Airport, a JetBlue attendant named Steven Slater decided he had had enough, the authorities said.

After a dispute with a passenger who stood to fetch luggage too soon on a full flight just in from Pittsburgh, Mr. Slater, 38 and a career flight attendant, got on the public-address intercom and let loose a string of invective.

Then, the authorities said, he pulled the lever that activates the emergency-evacuation chute and slid down, making a dramatic exit not only from the plane but, one imagines, also from his airline career.

On his way out the door, he paused to grab a beer from the beverage cart. Then he ran to the employee parking lot and drove off, the authorities said.

...According to his online profiles, Mr. Slater has been the leader of JetBlue’s uniform redesign committee and a member of the airline’s in-flight values committee. Neighbors in California, where Mr. Slater grew up, said he had recently been caring for his dying mother, a retired flight attendant, and had done the same for his father, a pilot.

...One passenger stood up to retrieve belongings from the overhead compartment before the crew had given permission. Mr. Slater instructed the person to remain seated. The passenger defied him. Mr. Slater reached the passenger just as the person was pulling down the luggage, which struck Mr. Slater in the head.

Mr. Slater asked for an apology. The passenger instead cursed at him. Mr. Slater got on the plane’s public-address system and cursed out the passenger for all to hear. Then, after declaring that 20 years in the airline industry was enough, he blurted out, “It’s been great!” He activated the inflatable evacuation slide at a service exit and left the world of flight attending behind."

Remember the iconic movie Network? The signature scene is the network news anchor character played by the late Peter Finch railing on camera that "I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore". Sounds like the prequel to this story.

Haven't we all been on flights with rude, demanding, even drunk, passengers, and marveled at how cabin attendants keep their cool. And kept our own cool with overhead hogs, armrest hogs, kids behind us kicking our seats while their parents couldn't care less, etc.

A bunch of years ago, a business woman moved out of her first class seat to squeeze into the middle seat next to me in coach, just to get away from a rude, demanding, drunk seat mate in the front of the plane. She told me he would not calm down even when the pilot came out of the cockpit to talk to him. Later, the man threw dishes and silverware at cabin attendants when he was refused more liquor. We made an unscheduled landing -- not important where -- and he was escorted off the plane by federal marshals.

What frustrates me about this incident is that Mr. Slater could go to jail and/or lose his job, while the rude, offending, rule-breaking passenger just walks away. I hope JetBlue puts her on their own 'no fly' list and shares that list with other airlines.

Replies

José Balido August 13, 2010 at 4:56am

Allan, that's hilarious! We should all quit a job like this young woman did sometime.

Allan Lynch said:
Speaking of farewell gestures, this arrived today:

http://thechive.com/2010/08/10/girl-quits-her-job-on-dry-erase-boar...
Lisa Codianne Fowler August 13, 2010 at 3:24am

Thanks David. Prior to your comment, I was feeling a bit like the black sheep (not unusual for me). I do feel for the guy, but maintain that he could have/should have handled the situation a little (or a lot) differently.

David Paul Appell said:
You know, there's been an pell-mell rush to judgment on this (which I, too, shared to an extent) all over the world and the Internet based on people's justifiable dislike of the airline experience these days. But as more details start to come out about what happened on that flight, they do raise more questions about the concern I expressed in my original statement above, namely that Slater ultimately acted unprofessionally in the face of stress. Other flight attendants have endured worse and have managed to keep their cool. At the very least, I'd have to echo Lisa Fowler's comment above: "I would have really enjoyed the story had he skipped the expletives over the PA and instead employed class and grace in his farewell speech before making his grand exit."
David Paul Appell August 12, 2010 at 6:41pm

You know, there's been an pell-mell rush to judgment on this (which I, too, shared to an extent) all over the world and the Internet based on people's justifiable dislike of the airline experience these days. But as more details start to come out about what happened on that flight, they do raise more questions about the concern I expressed in my original statement above, namely that Slater ultimately acted unprofessionally in the face of stress. Other flight attendants have endured worse and have managed to keep their cool. At the very least, I'd have to echo Lisa Fowler's comment above: "I would have really enjoyed the story had he skipped the expletives over the PA and instead employed class and grace in his farewell speech before making his grand exit."
Allan Lynch August 11, 2010 at 1:48am

He should ask for a jury trial. The way people feel today, I'm sure they'd acquit.
Allan Lynch August 11, 2010 at 12:27am

Speaking of farewell gestures, this arrived today:

http://thechive.com/2010/08/10/girl-quits-her-job-on-dry-erase-boar...
Lisa Codianne Fowler August 11, 2010 at 12:05am

Well, he certainly made a name for himself. The story is fantastic (as in fantasy - job farewells some dream about) except, I would have really enjoyed the story had he skipped the expletives over the PA and instead employed class and grace in his farewell speech before making his grand exit. Hard to do when he was in that snapped state, I realize, but he could have put that "schmuck" to shame, and garnered applause and - who knows what else - by taking the higher, albeit "I can't take it anymore" road!!! :)
Evelyn Kanter August 11, 2010 at 12:02am

Remember the iconic movie Network? The signature scene is the network news anchor character played by the late Peter Finch railing on camera that "I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore". Sounds like the prequel to this story.

Haven't we all been on flights with rude, demanding, even drunk, passengers, and marveled at how cabin attendants keep their cool. And kept our own cool with overhead hogs, armrest hogs, kids behind us kicking our seats while their parents couldn't care less, etc.

A bunch of years ago, a business woman moved out of her first class seat to squeeze into the middle seat next to me in coach, just to get away from a rude, demanding, drunk seat mate in the front of the plane. She told me he would not calm down even when the pilot came out of the cockpit to talk to him. Later, the man threw dishes and silverware at cabin attendants when he was refused more liquor. We made an unscheduled landing -- not important where -- and he was escorted off the plane by federal marshals.

What frustrates me about this incident is that Mr. Slater could go to jail and/or lose his job, while the rude, offending, rule-breaking passenger just walks away. I hope JetBlue puts her on their own 'no fly' list and shares that list with other airlines.
Lana Bortolot August 10, 2010 at 11:49pm

Well, he probably "shouldn't" have, but I sure don't blame him. Even the best of us have a snapping point. I hope he's still able to collect what's due him after 20 years of service, and maybe he can find a job that's meaningful. I'd also hope that air travelers will take note and not criticize the guy, but understand their responsibility as passengers.
Jose R. Garrigo August 10, 2010 at 8:00pm

Hi David: I feel sorry for Steven Slater and hope that JetBlue will make an exception and let him stay in the company (even if in another position) after some retraining for customer handling. I'm not excusing the many passengers, as you say, that abuse the flight attendants and don't pay attention to instructions from the attendants, etc. It unfortunately also happens with customers in stores, Banks and other places. Have we lost the civility we learned from our parents and in school? Perhaps it's the world we live in with so much violence in the streets, on TV, road rage, etc. The travel and leisure industry is a SERVICE and I wonder how many employees are formally trained to be courteous to customers. Some are kind of rough, especially in the smaller establishments, motels, restaurants, etc. Rough handling invites rough handling. Courtesy and a smile provokes courtesy and another smile.
David Paul Appell August 10, 2010 at 7:34pm

You said it, Mike. Next stop, Larry King! And then, who knows?

Michael Luongo said:
I have seen bad behavior on both ends, and to be honest, I don't know how some flight attendants can handle it....there are plenty of flyers I would love to tell to be quiet, to not get up when the plane lands, etc........in the long run, this is a funny story.....I think the guy should get a travel show..............

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