Well said, Greg.
How many pax that don't have much air travel experience, would have the living hell scared out of them by that remark. Not just insensitive or a clumsy joke gone wrong, rather a throughly crude and entirely stupid act.
After the anti drug and alcohol programs went into effect, much care had to be observed about words said, either by crew or pax. NO joking around. Getting ready to depart SEA, a Honolulu pax said loudly enough for others to hear, including a flight attendant, "have the pilots had enough to drink so we can leave now?"
Bingo, no reserve crew available for a while, the F.O. and I had to go to the designated place for tests to be administered, resulting in a nearly two hour delay. Not good for the pax, as some would miss connecting flights, not good for our company either.
Difficult to imagine, the offending pax was still wanting to continue the flight, but the station agents had separated him from the rest of the pax in the terminal waiting area. Very wise decision. With so much anger focused on the offending pax I refused to board him, Security removed him from the gate area, fare refunded, as the flight attendants say, Buh Bye.
And yes, the SWA crew did a fine job of handling a legitimate in flight emergency. Plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong in a major way. It's very sad that the young lady lost her life.
Well-done, indeed. Kudos too to the folk near the casualty who reported tried very hard to help. ![Yes]()
I was on a flight this morning. As the cockpit crew was lighting #1, I heard a lady in the row behind me say "I wonder where the engine piece will come through this plane". I couldn't believe it.
I'd best not say out loud what I felt like doing.