JetBlue Flight Attendant Flees Plane Via Emergency Chute

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  08.09.10 | 6:59 PM ET

The New York Times City Room blog has the details on today’s drama on the tarmac at JFK:

One passenger got out of his seat to fetch his belongings from the overhead compartment before the crew had given permission. Mr. Slater instructed the man to remain seated. The passenger defied him. Mr. Slater approached and reached the passenger just as he pulled down his 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 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.

And then the puns began. NYT commenter Dave Ryan chimed in just 26 minutes after the story went live: “In this case, I’m hoping that the authorities just let it slide…”

Gawker’s always-reliable readers followed up with several more: “Yeah, the FAA is never gonna let this slide.” “Airplane security is a very slippery slope.” “Sounds like he blew his slid.”


Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


2 Comments for JetBlue Flight Attendant Flees Plane Via Emergency Chute

orbiter 08.10.10 | 4:11 PM ET

Completely respect this guy, kudos for rejecting the stupid notion that the customer is always right… although he could have been a bit smarter, he will most likely have to go through anger management courses

http://2blongs1brunette.blogspot.com/2010/08/jetblue-flight-attendant.html

diana blumberg 08.12.10 | 2:59 PM ET

JET BLUE Flight Attendant DID It AGAIN!!!!.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT"S BEHAVIOR WAS NOT THAT OF A HERO, he needs to keep his own personal anger issues outside of his work.
The Flight attendant was a DANGERto all passengers, should have never been on that plane. Irrational behavior. DOT and FAA need to take a closer look, flight attendant actions and reactions are not acceptable!
We the passengers trust and pay money to travel in a safe, secure and respectful environment , see Jet Blue’s Passenger Bill of rights.
Flight attendants are to be screened and trained . They need to be capable to handle any unexpected , dangerous and stressful situation.We the passengers are under their supervision and command. This flight attendant did not act as a trained flight attendant capable of protecting his passengers and crew from any danger,maybe he suffers of occupational stress, or maybe he is mentally unstable.
I hold Jet Blue Responsible.
My family and I also had a horrible , humiliating experience with a Jet Blue flight attendant this past March on flight 708 from SJU to NY 2:25 p.m, unfortunately my complaints went ignored by Jet Blue, automated responses are not acceptable. I also complaint to DOT, to no avail.
Shame on Jet BLue.

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