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N0KFQ > TODAY 09.08.13 17:33l 56 Lines 2692 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 2828_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Aug 9
Path: IZ3LSV<F1OYP<VE2PKT<ZL2BAU<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 130809/1514Z 2828@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.55
Aug 9, 2010:
JetBlue flight attendant quits job via escape slide
On this day in 2010, JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater quits
his job in dramatic style by sliding down his plane's
emergency-escape chute while the aircraft is stopped near the
terminal gate at New York's John F. Kennedy International
Airport. Slater, who claimed his actions were prompted by the
behavior of a rude passenger, quickly became a media sensation
and national folk hero.
At the time of the incident, the 38-year-old Slater was a steward
on Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh to New York City. He contended
that when the flight landed a passenger became abusive toward him
during an argument over luggage. Although other passengers on the
flight later disputed Slater's account of the passenger's
behavior, what happened next was clear: The flight attendant got
on the plane's public address system, cursed at the passenger and
said, "I've been in this business for twenty years. And that's
it. I've had it. I'm done." Afterward, he took two beers from the
beverage cart, deployed the emergency exit and started down the
slide. Realizing he'd left his bags on the aircraft, he
scrambled back up the slide to retrieve them before fleeing down
the chute again. After leaving the airport terminal, he drove to
his home in Queens, New York.
Slater, the son of a pilot and a flight attendant, was soon taken
into police custody. After posting $2,500 bail, he walked out of
jail the next night an instant celebrity and even a folk hero to
stressed-out, overworked Americans. Experiencing his 15 minutes
of fame, Slater appeared on national talk shows, was honored with
Facebook fan pages and received offers to do reality TV programs
and endorse a variety of products.
In October 2010, Slater, facing charges of reckless endangerment,
criminal mischief and criminal trespassing, agreed to plead
guilty to two counts of attempted criminal mischief and was
spared jail time. As part of the deal, he agreed to undergo
regular mental health and substance abuse counseling sessions for
a year. Additionally, he was required to pay JetBlue $10,000 in
restitution to replace the emergency chute. The Queens district
attorney, Richard Brown, said of the famous flight attendant: "My
own view of the situation was that Mr. Slater was humiliated by
what he perceived as degrading working conditions, and he had a
level of rage at that time that was exacerbated perhaps by
alcohol consumption and maybe by other contributing stress
factors." Brown also said that he felt Slater "recognized the
seriousness of his actions."
73, K.O. and Billie...
...."on the road again".
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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