Passenger confronts pilots on delayed aircraft (video)

Ralliart · Post by **Ralliart** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:32 am

Here's a video from a recent event where a disgruntled passenger confronted the pilots in the cockpit about the delay on the ground at JFK:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/id/2303789653

Jeremy Kent · Post by **Jeremy Kent** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:43 am

WOW I must applaud the captain for remaining level-headed, 'cause I would have sent that idiot's camera out into the storm with him close on its heels.

Lurch · Post by **Lurch** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:59 am

I must of missed something, what health risk are they talking about?

"Won't somebody please think of the children"

Nightflight · Post by **Nightflight** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:03 pm

Man that Captain is one cool cat! Didn't let that idiot get to him one bit. I watched and I learned!

Edelweiss air · Post by **Edelweiss air** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:19 pm

WTF

What health risk is that guy complaining about??? And whats calling congress man going to do to get them off the plane lmao.

ehbuddy · Post by **ehbuddy** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:24 pm

Was the guy with the camera a total idiot??? Does he not realize that he was interefering with the safe conduct of a flight (whether the aircraft is flying or not).

I am surprised that the Captain did not just have his F/O give Ground a call and have the State Troopers board the aircraft and have the guy arrested.

The individual was bold enough to go as far as he did and the crew was very fortunate that things did not escalate any further than it did.

Rockie · Post by **Rockie** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:59 pm

I don't know the circumstances so it could be the guy had a legitimate reason to be irate. But:

1. Don't talk to any guy, much less an irate one, with a camera.
2. Don't talk to an irate guy in the flight deck.
3. Don't talk to an irate guy with anybody else around for him to play to.

If you must speak to someone like that whether they have a legitimate complaint or not, do it away from the airplane if possible, away from any other passengers, absolutely no cameras or other recording devices and always in the presence of a passenger service agent. Maybe even the police. If you can't satisfy them then call for someone who can, but get them off the airplane and away from you. You have your own job to do.

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:14 pm

I did pick up on lighting still on the field. With that, they'd be staying on the plane.

I think I might have kept the cockpit door closed.

So, did the congressman come out to see what was going on?

Guido · Post by **Guido** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:34 pm

I can't find a link to the story, but apparently they were stuck on the ground for something like four hours with no AC on the plane...

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:38 pm

And people wonder why I don't want to fly for Air Canada...

-istp

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:23 pm

Our current idea of "civilization" has manufactured this hostility. You cram people into a tight confined space and let it slowly get warmer and warmer, the weaker inviduals are going to boil over.

I can't say I condone this goof's actions, but these situations make people act like idiots. Bravo to the pilots for handling it like professionals.

Here is a good follow up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R06dAgpm ... ed&search=

I mean come on, look at how people operate motor vehicles, do you think they'll behave nicely while in a stationary aluminum tube with the temperature rising and no food for hours?

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:23 pm

desksgo wrote:Our current idea of "civilization" has manufactured this hostility. You cram people into a tight confined space and let it slowly get warmer and warmer, the weaker inviduals are going to boil over.

and there we have the root of the problem.

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:38 pm

I didn't watch the whole video, I saw bits of it on CNN and saw an interview with the guy.

He has a legitimate beef though. Keeping people on an airplane with no air conditioning for several hours is bullshit.
A healthy adult might be merely uncomfortable but for an elderly person or a young child it can be dangerous.
I've sat for hours during a red alert and it's ridiculous. Something needs to change.

Dash-Ate · Post by **Dash-Ate** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:42 pm

I guess we can say there was not a Sky Marshall on that flight or that SLF would have been on his way to Gitmo.

Rem · Post by **Rem** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:02 pm

I wasn't all that impressed with how that captain handled the situation to tell you the truth. Say what you will about the guy with the camera but the captain's response did very little to defuse the situation. Listen to some of the things he said: (I'm paraphrasing because I don't want to listen to it all over again just to get the quotes exact)

Camera guy: So you're the captain, do you make the rules?
Capt: No.
Camera guy: Who's making the decisions then?
Capt: Everybody.
Camera guy: Who's your boss, that I can talk to about this?
Capt: The chief pilot.
Camera guy: What's his name?
Capt: I won't tell you that, for security reasons...

The guy was basically just stonewalling him and giving essentially no answer to his legitimate questions. We as pilots have to give people the benefit of the doubt. Sure people don't understand our profession and can sometimes ask some silly questions, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world is full of idiots either. Give people real and honest information when they ask for it. Even bad news is better than no news or lies. People get much more irate if they feel they aren't being told the whole truth.

JTFA · Post by **JTFA** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:01 pm

First of all a lot of people have to understand that us a pilot are that, pilots and them the passenger are the customers with that said.

The captain should not had the door open, let the cabin crew deal with the cabin.

I agree totally with the passenger if you said you are taking me from here to here at this time if you do not then the least thing you can do is try to make my wait as pleasant as you can, but Airlines Do Not because that cost money.

TripleBFlyboy · Post by **TripleBFlyboy** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:21 pm

Well, my impression was that the movment area was in lock down due to thunderstorms in the area.... once the TS are in town, the Ground crews head for the hills...

rsandor · Post by **rsandor** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:49 pm

I thought it was good that the Captain allowed the passenger to vent his anger, but I don't think the Captain was particularly good at answering the questions that were asked of him.

tofo · Post by **tofo** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:44 pm

there's a lock on the door for a reason

Jeremy Kent · Post by **Jeremy Kent** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:59 am

I don't think locking the door is the answer... that's certainly not going to impress anyone, and while getting folks from A to B and of course safety is the captain's real priority, customer handling should be right up there too.

I don't necessarily think his answers were the best either, but after a long duty day and sitting in frustration on the same stuffy airplane as all those people, he has my kudos for staying calm. If some self-important yahoo stuck a camera in my face on my flight deck and started making demands and veiled threats I'd have a hell of time keeping my cool.

But as someone mentioned a couple posts back, yes, people do at least deserve info containing -- hopefully -- some truth. I think people generally can tell when they're being lied to.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:22 am

I have been in that situation, not much fun. Opening the cockpit door was as much for comfort (it's hot up there), as it was to aid the FA is trying to Keep the cabin somewhat informed. Closing the door, and leaving say 1 FA in an RJ to deal with that is unfair. We also don't know from the video what was said leading up to the taping, maybe the crew was getting harrased by that PAX. I do think the CPT could have seemed alittle more sympothetic to the complaints, and maybe explained the reason for a ground stop more clearly. Maybe he did before the tape, who knows. At least he didn't get mad, that would have created more issues. Good on him for that.

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:30 am

After looking at both videos, it appears it might be the same flight as the one in http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=32493
?

edited to add: oops...same day different flight.

GilletteNorth · Post by **GilletteNorth** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:44 am

If there were thunderstorms in the area why didn't the Captain say "The reason for the delay is to keep you safe by not flying in thunderstorms"

Who's making the decisions on why these people's health are being at risk?
"Everybody is?" ....is just awful.

Then again if that passenger wanted 'the truth' maybe he could show enough personal integrity to come to the cockpit without a camera.

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:58 am

lilfssister wrote:After looking at both videos, it appears it might be the same flight as the one in http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=32493
?

edited to add: oops...same day different flight.

Different days too lilfssister ... flight 6499 was on June 25th. This one was June 21st.

The crew on 6499 did a much better job of keeping the pax informed ... even told them the truth about everything ... like, this flight isn't supposed to have food so even though we've been delayed for hours the company doesn't want to feed you.

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 9:02 am

Must open eyes and not watch 4-5 videos in a row.....

Passenger confronts pilots on delayed aircraft (video)

Passenger confronts pilots on delayed aircraft (video)

difficult