Scrawl found on United jet, attendants fired when they refuse to fly

latimes.com ^ | 1/7/2015 | Angel Jennings

[BenLurkin]

On July 14, 2014, United crews departing from San Francisco International Airport bound for Hong Kong found the words "BYE BYE" in six-inch high letters alongside two faces, one smiling and the other one also smiling, but with eye brows drawn in a more sinister expression. The writing was traced in an oil slick from the auxiliary engine in the Boeing 747-4000 aircraft's tail cone.

In the 26-page complaint, the flight attendants said that the markings constituted a"credible and specific threat to the safety of the aircraft." The flight attendants informed United officials they were uncomfortable flying unless extra security measures were taken. They asked for deplaning the 300-plus passengers and a safety sweep to ensure that no explosive devices were planted on the plane.

[Rodamala]

I used to work for a shortline railroad that had a steam locomotive. We had just finished major boiler work on it and the locomotive was returning to service after a long period of downtime. Part of the restoration work was an $8000 Imron paint job, but the locomotive had not had the tender lettered yet when it was put back into service. Weeks went by turning into months and eventually the tender started to get a patina on dirt on it. One night after work “someone” went and hand-lettered in the dust with their finger “LIONEL LINES”.

The General Manager wasn’t as amused as we were in the shop.