Flight Attendant Pops Emergency Chute, Grabs Beer, and Leaves

[Kilik]

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010...away/?mod=e2tw

Updated, 4:26 p.m.

A jetBlue flight attendant, upset because a passenger refused to apologize after accidentally striking him with luggage, allegedly spewed obscenities over the PA system, then activated and slid down the plane’s emergency chute before disappearing into a terminal at John F. Kennedy airport Monday, an airport official said.

JetBlue Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh had taxied to a stop at Terminal 5, Gate C around noon Monday when flight attendant Steven Slater, 38 years old, was struck in the head with luggage that a passenger was trying to unload from an overhead compartment, according to an airport official with knowledge of the incident.

Slater demanded an apology from the passenger, the official said, but the passenger refused. The two argued before the passenger told Slater to “f— off”, the official said. Slater then got on the plane’s PA system and directed that same obscenity at all the passengers and added that he especially meant it for the man who refused to apologize.

Slater is alleged to have then activated the plane’s inflatable emergency slide, grabbed two beers from the galley, then slid down the chute, the official said.

The attendant then ran from the tarmac into the terminal. He made his way to his car and drove to his residence in Belle Harbor, Queens, the official said. jetBlue officials waited until about 25 minutes after the chute was deployed before they notified Port Authority Police. The wait enabled Slater to make the getaway, the airport’s police force. Steve Stampley, a jetBlue spokesman, declined to comment on the alleged reporting delay.

Authorities picked the flight attendant up at his home on Beach 128th Street Monday afternoon and brought him to the Port Authority Police station at JFK airport for questioning. The official said that Slater was calm when arrested and remained calm throughout his interrogation and the booking process. He was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. He was awaiting arraignment Monday night. Attempts to reach Slater’s relatives were not successful. (No word on whether the flight attendant was one of the many former NYPD officers in jetBlue’s employ.)

Stampley said that jetBlue’s corporate policy prohibits the company from divulging information about crewmembers.

“At this time, we are working with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to investigate this incident. At no time was the security or safety of our customers or crewmembers at risk,” Stampley said.

Gawker unearthed what appears to be Slater’s MySpace page, which mentions overcoming alcohol and substance abuse, and includes comments about how he ‘loves to max it out with trips around the world, sometimes on a moment’s notice!’

[Acturus]

Haters gonna Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[Byrthnoth]

Spontaneous individual does something spontaneous.

This is another one of those articles that wouldn't even be news if we didn't have 24/7 news organizations and the internet.

[*Shinzon*]

That sounds fucking awesome.

[Bluefrostie]

That passenger could have seriously gotten himself and others injured. JetBlue would have been liable for his stupidity.

[Mayareira]

This is just fucking awesome lol.

[Xno Kappa]

Read this earlier, another article said he told the police he was about to quit the job anyways. What a way to go lmao.

[Murdock]

i can see him strollin down the tarmac with 2 beers in hand, haters gonna hate.

[shepardG]

Hell yeah fuck the man someone get anon on this, get this Guy some respect. Not every day a guys balls drop, and he says fuck it. I hope this inconvenienced the fuck out of the douche who's bag was probably over sized anyway.

[Karasu]

"Fuck you, fuck you, you're cool, fuck you! I'm out!"

[Olo401]

Slater demanded an apology from the passenger, the official said, but the passenger refused. The two argued before the passenger told Slater to “f— off”, the official said. Slater then got on the plane’s PA system and directed that same obscenity at all the passengers and added that he especially meant it for the man who refused to apologize.

Edit: gdi beaten!

[Wanna_Spoon]

My local radio station said he was having sex with his boyfriend when officials arrived to his house. Any truth to this or just shock jocks?

[Iremire]

wonder what kind of beers they were that he had to grab 2 before jumping on the slide.

[Murdock]

My local radio station said he was having sex with his boyfriend when officials arrived to his house. Any truth to this or just shock jocks?

shock jock, i heard this on the radio this morning as well and they made no mention of this.

[Tempyst]

wonder what kind of beers they were that he had to grab 2 before jumping on the slide.

It doesn't matter, after telling an entire plane to fuck off, you deserve two.

[Iremire]

It doesn't matter, after telling an entire plane to fuck off, you deserve two.

Yeah I guess that's true personally would have grabbed a hand full of those mini bottles.

[Rockstaru]

So the flight attendant drinks, chutes, and leaves?

[Vuitton]

We should all be allowed to grab two beers and slide to the exit on a Monday. Its a fucking Monday!

[wyrmtung]

I think the awesome part is the passenger who refused to apologize.

[shidobu]

like a boss
is the only thing that comes to mind
slow clap for that dude