Air steward's dramatic exit was the end of simmering in-flight feud with 'stroppy' passenger

dailymail. ^ | 11th August 2010 | Daily Mail Reporter

[dennisw]

More details are emerging today of the in-flight row that led to air steward Steven Slater exiting the plane via the emergency escape slide.

And police have revealed details of the 39-year-old's arrest, when officers interrupted him at his home in bed with his boyfriend.

Slater's lawyer, Howard Turman, revealed that Slater and an as-yet unnamed female passenger were on a collision course from the moment they set eyes on each other.

Mr Turman said today that his client had been antagonised by the female passenger from the outset of the flight.

It all began before JetBlue Flight 1052 even left the ground in Pittsburgh, when two female passengers were involved in an argument about space in the overhead compartments above their seats.

Slater intervened - part of his duties as a flight attendant - and discovered that one of the women had two bags, and one of those bags was too large to be considered carry-on luggage.

Mr Turman admitted that this was a pet hate of his client - Slater had called himself a 'bag Nazi' in a previous posting on an industry website.

Slater told the passenger that she would have to check the bag into the luggage hold of the plane, and that's when the trouble started.

Mr Turman said the passenger 'flipped out' and began swearing at Slater - at one point slamming the overhead bin door down on his head.

The woman’s bag was ultimately checked, and she remained unapologetic.

Once they arrived at JFK, the same passenger agitated Slater further by trying to take her other, smaller bag down before the pilot gave the all-clear for passengers to unfasten their safety belts.

This time, when Slater confronted her, she swore at him and everyone else, demanding to get her checked bag back immediately.

[onedoug]

BTT!

[IYAS9YAS]

Gay, or not; this guy still gets my applause.

I'd like to buy him a beer.

I'd like to hit him over the head with the bottle.

Regardless of how the passenger was (I think she should have been removed before the flight), he just cost his company several hundred thousand dollars in damages, delays, inspections, and likely delayed other flights and passengers around that gate area.

From what I've read on other news sources is that that ramp cannot be re-used, it now has to be replaced and inspected before the plane can fly again. The plane couldn't move until the ramp was removed and secured. Other planes in the area were likely held until the ramp and situation were secured.

[GreenHornet]

Slater and an as-yet unnamed female passenger were on a collision course from the moment they set eyes on each other.

In the words of former ECW announcer Joey Styles: "CAAAAAAT FIGHT!!!"

[bboop]

He was totally inappropriate, a real Drama Queen. Should not work with the public if he cannot rise above obnoxious folks. He should have just gotten someone else to handle this woman, or had her bounced with her check-in luggage.

Tons of excuses for him still do not make it right. We all put up with obnoxious people and frustrations; it never gives you the right to act out.

[Vigilanteman]

I HATE people who bring all their bags onto the plane, overhead bin sized or not.

I did too until the airlines started gouging people for checked bags. Then I became one of them.

[ModelBreaker]

His attorney will plead an HDAEQS defense.

Homosexual Drama Queen and Entitlement Syndrome

[dfwgator]

I did too until the airlines started gouging people for checked bags. Then I became one of them.

Yep, that old 'Law of Unintended Consequences' strikes again.

[wrench]

The slide (not ramp) can be reused. It will be tagged “unserviceable” and sent to the overhaul shop. There it is cleaned, repacked, and life limited items (like pressure canister, light packs, etc) are replaced. Once this is done, the mechanic signs off on the work, and a company inspector also signs off on it. It is then considered “serviceable”.

Major hubs would have spares for these slides, otherwise a spare could be brought in on the next incoming flight.

3 mechanics can remove fold, and replace (with different unit) a deployed slide in well under the average 45 minute quick turn gate time, less than 5 minutes if there is a case of good beer riding on it.

[laotzu]

If this flight attendant were a white Christian male, the tone of the article and the sympathy toward him would be decidedly different.

Too true. Well said.

[allmendream]

Yes, one cannot blame people for going with the path of least resistance. If it is free if you carry it on, baping people with your oversized bag up and down the aisle, wedging it into the overhead bin, fighting with people for space in the bins, dropping it on peoples heads when you dislodge it from being wedged in, etc; but $ if you check it - guess what most people are going to do?

[dfwgator]

Here’s how they should have dealt with the unruly passenger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GW0Vnr9Yc&feature=related

[all_mighty_dollar]

might this be true? from a poster at end of story ---

anonymous

but wait, there is more... the rude, obnoxious women in question, was non other than --- wait for it --- CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE - who has been embarrassing Houstonians for lo these many years... it is all too funny, but all too true ... Typical CSJL behavior on an airplane... ask any flight attendant! Yipes! Now you know... THE REST OF THE STORY!6:07 PM, 8.9.10

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Airline-Steward-at-JFK-Pulls-Emergency-Chute-Flies-Coop-100286494.html

could this poster be accurate and might this explain why he realized his career was over and therefore quit in 'style'?

just checked -- the comment hasn't been deleted as of this morning.

[allmendream]

One might think in this day and age, what with terrorists constructing bombs from items in their carry-on; that there would be added emphasis on getting people to slim down the sheer amount of crap they think they need with them at all times, and or bringing everything they need for a seven day stay over WITH them and wedging it into the overhead bin.

But no. Instead they start charging for CHECKED luggage, making inconveniencing everyone else an even MORE attractive option!

[Vigilanteman]

Plus I'm a relatively big guy (6'2” and 235#) who doesn't carry on bags that I can't personally handle. Not everyone does the same.

[allmendream]

I carry on a pillow and my book. Using the pillowcase to stow my book most times.

I wish they would let those who do not need to monkey with the bins for ten minutes deboard the plane first. We could get up and walk out in a few seconds - instead of waiting behind the monkeys monkeying with their oversized luggage in the overhead bins - making deboarding the plane take 15 minutes.

Oh! But they save THEIR time not having to wait at the luggage carousel.

[Ole Okie]

Never been on a flight where half the passengers don't do that.

Yeah. With me right among them.

[IYAS9YAS]

Thanks for that. I wish we could rely on news sources for good information. Still, it cost time, money, and resources. He should be, at minimum, billed and fined for his hissy fit. Were that a passenger, rather than a stewardess, said passenger would have been run through the wringer.

[GnuHere]

Interesting inside info - thx!

[a fool in paradise]

Slater's lawyer, Howard Turman, revealed that Slater and an as-yet unnamed female passenger were on a collision course from the moment they set eyes on each other.

CATFIGHT!

[Vigilanteman]

I wish they would let those who do not need to monkey with the bins for ten minutes deboard the plane first.

I actually like you idea. And it could become a reality by having an electronic switch lock the bins until they did so. I've also been on flights which were late and left me with 10 minute connections too. They ask these ignorant arses to stay clear of the aisles so those with tight connections can get out first, but they never comply with that simple request either.