Stranded Plane Passenger Confronts Pilot

[Mike c.]

After being stranded on a plane at Kennedy Airport for four hours on June 21, Delta Flight 5637 passenger David Ollila -- who happens to work for V.I.O., Inc., a company that manufactures small helmet-style camcorders -- stormed to the cockpit to confront the pilot, demanding to know why the passengers weren't being allowed off the plane and filming the whole exchange. Eventually, the pilot even admits that it's an untenable situation; the passengers were ultimately allowed off the plane and the flight was cancelled.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHXUXIFKccc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaolvid eoblog%2Ecom%2F2007%2F06%2F27%2Fstranded%2Dplane%2 Dpassenger%2Dconfronts%2Dpilot%2F[/YOUTUBE]

[exeter_acres]

why didn't someone shoot him the second he stepped into the cockpit......

[Wayne]

Unfortunately, its not as easy as Mr. David Ollila thinks.
I understand his frustration but the Captain is not in an easy position.
The minute they went back to the gate and they lose their place in line the passengers would have become irate over that.
Its a no win situation for the crew.

I just got back from a 4 day trip where every leg was delayed.
Monday we spent an hour on the ramp delayed to Chicago.
I sat for 2:20 on the taxiway at O'hare on Tuesday trying to get to Columbus.
Then yesterday we spent 3 hours in Columbus trying to get to New York.
Thankfully, I fly for a corporation and our passengers understand that we as the crew are stuck between a rock and a hard place as this crew was.
Yes, they are not as cramped as these passengers were but they were still stuck in a tube.
Do they bitch and moan? No. They re-schedule their meetings and deal with it.

[Boulder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by exeter_acres
	why didn't someone shoot him the second he stepped into the cockpit......

Gee...there's a solution...

[TheTank]

That guys is an amazing ass, somebody should have shot him when he entered the cockpit. What a jerk off. I mean, it does suck to be waiting on the tarmac, but why harass the pilot. Its completely out of his control. If he wants to bitch and moan, take it up with the tower, and the FAA, or perhaps even the weather man. How can he go and bitch the pilot out over something out of his control. That guy needs a good slapping.

[Boulder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by TheTank
	That guys is an amazing ass, somebody should have shot him when he entered the cockpit. What a jerk off. I mean, it does suck to be waiting on the tarmac, but why harass the pilot. Its completely out of his control. If he wants to bitch and moan, take it up with the tower, and the FAA, or perhaps even the weather man. How can he go and bitch the pilot out over something out of his control. That guy needs a good slapping.

Are you freaking joking?????? Why was the cockpit open? Isn't that a violation of the new post 911 regs?

[Edge 540]

A random passenger should NEVER be allowed to confront the flight staff. They should have escorted him off.

[Boulder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Edge 540
	A random passenger should NEVER be allowed to confront the flight staff. They should have escorted him off.

THAT I agree with, no doubt, but to say he should have been shot...

[Extra260]

shot was an impulsive word boulder

[Boulder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Extra260
	shot was an impulsive word boulder

Hmmm...I'm not sure you know of what you speak, since you weren't the individual that posted the comment

[Stainless Skills]

I can't believe that the pilot put up with that crap.

[Extra260]

maybe I am wrong! I sure hope not!

[cap231jim]

What a jerk!

Wayne is absolutely right. You cannot return to the gate for a few and then inconvenience the rest because your place in line then becomes "number-last". Things can get ugly durring delays, but think about this: does anyone really think the crew is not doing EVERYTHING possible to depart? We don't like delays any more than passengers. Often they come after being on duty for 8,10, or 12 hours. Do you really think the crew is not motivated to get moving?

I may start putting a "stand up now or forever hold your peace" announcement at the gate prior to shutting the door when I know we may be a while on the taxiways. It would tell the people we may have a delay that could last a couple of hours. The reason we are leaving the gate is to get a place in line, and to be ready in case the delay time is moved (delay times are often fluid). IF THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO YOU PLEASE MAKE OTHER PLANS NOW. We have enough issues to concern ourselves with right now (like safety) and frankly don't need the distraction of irate passengers. Every effort will be made to get you to your destination safely and quickly (in that order).

I judge a day to be successful if everyone I've carried durring the day is putting on their P.J.s that night in some town somewhere. (notice I didn't say in the town they wanted to be in....)

You're right he should have been shot.

Jim

[Boulder]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Stainless Skills
	I can't believe that the pilot put up with that crap.

As stupid as the passenger was, it's pretty obvious the crew didn't feel "physically threatened", that's my main point. Should he have been escorted off and held for another 4 or 5 hours for some questioning? Dang right!!!

[TheTank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Boulder
	Are you freaking joking?????? Why was the cockpit open? Isn't that a violation of the new post 911 regs?

No, I actually wasnt joking. He should know better than to head for the cockpit, especially post 911. All an idiot like that does is make a bad situation worse. Its like being stuck in an elevator, it sucks, period! Then there is that one assclown there that makes it unbearable by complaining about it the whole time. As if its not bad enough, now I have to listen to someone like that, that THINKs they are important. If I were on that plane, I would have had a few words for him, along the lines of SHUT UP!