The union representing American Airlines flight attendants is reminding members to be sure their planes are empty before they head for the bridge. The union sent a memo noting that it's against the regs for passengers to be in the cabin unless there are also flight attendants with them. It's not clear what specific incident(s) prompted the note but Paddle Your Own Kanoo got hold of it and excerpted it.
Iām assuming the union is referring to part 121.391 if it noted that āitās against the regs for passengers to be in the cabin unless there are also flight attendants with them.ā But it also seems to be talking out both sides of itās face by also saying ā¦ āLeaving passengers on the aircraft unattended is a significant safety and security concern.ā
In my years as an Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations) and Aircrew Program Manager, I saw it happen more than once. A possible danger, and possibly an act of sabotage. So, yes, it is very problematic. And each time it happened we initiated enforcement action.
Back before deregulation I once flew on a United 747 from Chicago to Seattle as one of 17 passengers. After we were up and cruising the flight attendants set up a self service bar in the back of the main cabin and then they all disappeared upstairs for the rest of the flight until landing. I had fun checking out seat positions from the most forward where you almost felt in the cockpit to the most rearward where you could see the twisting of the fuselage when the plane banked. The tail clearly banked a split second after the wings.
If someone is āsleepingā under the seats in economy they are either a contortionist, been knocked out by someone getting their bags down from the overhead compartments or, most likely, they have been trampled to death by passengers seated around them that are trying be the first ones off the airplane.
Donāt laugh at āsleeping under the seatsā.
While in the USAF, (1966) my wife, young son, and I were flying back to Tachikawa Japan from Travis AFB in a Canadian CL-44. Only passengers, no cargo.
Around 0200 local time, my wife woke me and asked where our son was. Huh? He couldnāt walk yet, but somehow he slipped out of his baby seat, and was GONE. Was I dreaming this?
I looked all around us, even under our seats ---- no son! I went to the back of the cabin and asked a Flight Attendant to help me find my son. She looked a bit perplexed but as she looked at other seats, I crawled on the floor looking under EVERY seat, hoping someone didnāt raise an alarm about some PTSD weirdo looking at everyoneās legs under the seats.
Alas - I finally found him asleep on the floor, about 12 rows forward of our seats on the Port aisle under the second seat in.
Iām glad to this day we werenāt on a B-747 or DC-10.
