UPDATED | Breaking: Flight Attendant Rants About Bankruptcy, Causes Jet to Return to Gate

Published by | 3 comments

Share via email

UPDATE: 1:26pm PST: CNN Newsource is distributing a video of the flight attendants out burst on board. I truly hope it’s just a case of her forgetting to take medication.

UPDATE: 11:54am PST: The Dallas News  is now reporting that a witness overheard the flight attendant in question stating that she had forgotten to take her medication for bi-polar disorder.

The Dallas Morning News’ “The Scoop” blog reported this morning that American Airlines Flight 2332 from Dallas (DFW) to Chicago (ORD) was taxiing out for departure when the Captain requested to return to the gate due to an altercation.

This time, the problem was the flight attendant. Passengers reported that one of the flight attendants on board began ranting over the public address system about American’s bankruptcy and reorganization. Preliminary reports also say that she kept insisting the plane was going to crash.

The Dallas Police are confirming something happened onboard this morning: ”Dallas police advised the FAA that there had apparently been an altercation on the aircraft and as a result, the pilot requested to return. Dallas police, the TSA, the FAA, and American Airlines will be involved in an investigation of the incident.”

The flight attendant was subdued by six male passengers on board before returning to the gate.

This raises the question, post Steven Slater, is there something to be said for stress caused by the flight attendant position and a company announcing changes and cutbacks which affect employees’ livelihood?

Share via email
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Peri-Ropke-Duncan/1334803515 Peri Ropke Duncan

    To answer your question: yes.  The FA position is one of continuous abuse and no respect.  Add to that, the insecurity and fear manifest in a company going bankrupt and executive management who see their position as one of entitlement, and have an attitude of “employees be damned.”  I feel so sorry for her, as her life is changed now forever.

    • http://upupandagay.com Bobby Laurie

      I do too. The second I heard this story I just figured that the stress of possibly losing her job, then keeping it, then losing a pension, now it’s frozen, all finally just came to a head. :

      • http://twitter.com/GracingTheSkies GracingTheSkies

        There’s no doubt a LOT of stress. Even for me at my airline we have NO clue what is going to happen next. But I feel like somewhere along the line you tell yourself: Do I stay and stick it out or do I go elsewhere? And for the time being if you have no other choice- you make the best of it. At the end of the day whatever bullshit is happening with labor issues, pensions, etc is never your passengers’ problem. It is the responsibility of each individual to pay attention to and take care of themselves- and this includes seeking professional assistance in stress management.

        I think the bigger question is: Should employers seek out and make a better effort to provide stress management & other psychiatric services when their company is going through such tough times?