Queens, NY – A JetBlue flight attendant apparently upset with an uncooperative passenger on a just-landed flight unleashed a profanity-laden tirade on the public-address system, pulled the emergency-exit chute, slid off the plane and fled Kennedy International Airport, a law enforcement official said.
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The dramatic getaway was short-lived. The attendant, Steven Slater, 39, was arrested at his home near the airport in Belle Harbor, Queens. He was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
The contretemps unfolded as JetBlue flight 1052 from Pittsburgh landed at Kennedy around noon — on time — with a full load of 100 passengers and pulled up to the gate, said the law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing but offered the following account:
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. 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.
In a statement, JetBlue said it was working with the Federal Aviation Administration 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,” the company said, declining to answer other questions about the incident.
A Myspace page appearing to belong to Mr. Slater indicates that he has been a flight attendant since 1990. His LinkedIn entry says he has worked for JetBlue since January 2008.
In addition to serving as chairman of JetBlue’s uniform redesign committee, the LinkedIn entry says, Mr. Slater serves on the airline’s in-flight values committee.
Having flown JetBlue recently, I too have encountered a few loony stewards and stewardesses. Remember: in the air, they are legally in charge.
Ha Ha…this kid has style!
I’m sure there is more to the story than this.
Hmm never knew this, u can actually get to your car that quick, an option consider when trying to rush back to shomer shabbos for mincha when the plane gets delayed on runway waiting for a gate to clear….
I hope Slater sues the passenger who hit him in the head with his luggage. I know flight attendants can be a pain sometimes but then there are always the few passengers who think they know better who should be taught a lesson.
Poster # 4; If you want to try Mr. Slater’s method of a quick exit, albeit for a noble purpose like catching the next Minyan
Shomer Shabbos, you have to be ready to suffer the consequences, too. Like having the Port Authority Police knock on your door. Or put the cuffs on you in middle of Sh’mona Esrei.
To #5 - The flight attendant has no case. If he would have reported this incident to the Captain, the passenger could have been detained for interfering with a flight crew (disobeying the lawful orders of the crew to remain seated, and then cursing the attendant). Instead, the flight attendant lost his cool, cursed out everybody in the cabin using the loudspeaker, took a can of beer with him, and deployed the emergency chute. It will cost Jet Blue thousands to repair the emergency chute, as it is similar to when a car’s air bags deploy (the air bags have to be replaced). In addition to state charges, the feds may go after the attendant. Regarding his getting “klopped” accidentally by the luggage, he can always file a Workman’s Compensation claim. In addition to being verbally abused by gate and ticket agents, as well as by the TSA, we have to put up with neurotic and “farbisen” flight attendants, many of whom are psychologically unsuited for that job.
He serves on the “values committee”? He must be quite the contributor! Obviously, his 20 years on the job is getting to him. So now he’ll be forced to retire. Wonder what he’ll be collecting in pension money…
Both were in the wrong, the passenger and the steward. Had the steward kept his cool, the passenger could have been apprehended, and dealt with.