Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Discontinued Programs/Partners > Northwest WorldPerks
Reload this Page >

Consolidated Bombings in Mumbai Thread [Safety of NW Crew/Rescheduling] 11/27/2008

Consolidated Bombings in Mumbai Thread [Safety of NW Crew/Rescheduling] 11/27/2008

 
Old Nov 26, 2008, 11:16 pm
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,711
Originally Posted by NWAFA
You may also refund non-refundable tickets for customers ticketed for travel November 26 through December 3 even if their ticketed flight to BOM has not been cancelled.
That's a very welcome change from previous waivers.
raehl311 is offline  
Old Nov 27, 2008, 8:41 pm
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: DEN
Posts: 303
So were there special procedures that kept any crew from being hurt or was it just luck? My prayers go out to all those hurt or killed.

Mumbai was a place that I was really interested in going but now I'm rethinking that decision...
FlyHigh74 is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2008, 5:08 pm
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,806
There will not be any flying into BOM or BKK until a further assessment can be made

Originally Posted by M11Stephen
So were there special procedures that kept any crew from being hurt or was it just luck? My prayers go out to all those hurt or killed.

Mumbai was a place that I was really interested in going but now I'm rethinking that decision...
I think it was luck. Some other airline crews were caught up in the attack.

This is the latest update we've received

27 NOVEMBER 2008

SECURITY ALERT UPDATE : BOM AND BKK

This is to provide a further update on the situations in BOM and BKK. The flight from BOM with our crewmembers has landed safely in AMS. Post traumatic stress counselors as well as ministers of all faiths are being made available, along with EAP assistance upon arrival stateside. Some crews will be leaving AMS as soon as flights can be arranged, while others have elected to rest in AMS before continuing home.

The remaining crewmembers in BOM are safe and unharmed. Just as soon as conditions allow, their departures out of the country will be expedited. We have also been assured that all crewmembers are being kept away from any media. FA Managers will be in contact with all Flight Attendants involved regarding the need to drop trips and/or any other assistance required.

Also, the Company has been in contact with our crewmembers in BKK and all are safe. There will not be any flying into BOM or BKK until a further assessment can be made regarding the safety and stability of both regions.

NWA AFA-CWA continues to monitor the safety of all crewmembers and remains in direct communication with the Company to ensure their ongoing safety and well being. We will continue to provide updates on the situation involving both BOM and BKK.
NWAFA is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2008, 9:23 am
  #19  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
I think we all appreciate the updates and we are much relieved to hear that the crew is safe.
peachfront is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2008, 11:38 am
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: DEN
Posts: 303
Are crews from all airlines of the world safe that were in Mumbai during the attack?
FlyHigh74 is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2008, 3:32 pm
  #21  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,806
Originally Posted by M11Stephen
Are crews from all airlines of the world safe that were in Mumbai during the attack?
As far as I know, there were no casualties among any airline personal from any carrier. If AFA finds out that any flight crew from any carrier is/was hurt, they'll notify us.
NWAFA is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2008, 8:30 am
  #22  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,806
From one who was there...

I just received this email. After reading this pilot's comments, I felt sick.

I was lucky.

Just two hours separated me from a life altering event.

Yes I was there. My flight was on approach to BOM when the first terrorist attacks took place. Our ETA to the Oberi/Trident hotel was about 90mins later. The outbound crew was scheduled to be in the lobby
about 20mins after the first attack at the hotel (10:30pm).

My crew spent 6hrs on the aircraft before being relocated to one of the airport hotels. In retrospect, NWA should have gotten us there immediately. We were the crew who would fly out of BOM. Being off duty on the aircraft is not resting, and I correctly guestimated how most of the decision process was going to play out over the next 12hrs. We were eating into what would be a 48hr period with (in my case) just 4hrs of sleep. I thought my day couldnt get much worse.

At this moment, Im on a flight from BOM-AMS. My crewmembers are all safe, and we have nine of eleven of the crew who were at the Oberi/Trident. Sadly, a pilot and FA are still at the Oberi, holed up in their rooms. NWA hired two different civilian extraction teams to get them out of the hotel safely ... you know, expats - challenge/response passwords & all that J ames Bond stuff ... That may have worked initially; but the hotel was locked down by the local military (to the exclusion of those rescue teams) and that simply provided the terrorists time to reorganize, take hostages, and prepare for a long standoff.

Flashback to Oberi hotel. Some stories from that unfortunate crew follow: (Apparently, a well built hotel muffles sound more than you might think ..... )

F/A exits the elevator in the lobby of the Trident. The terrorists (probably) just gunned their way through the lobby, into a connecting hall way to the Oberi (their primary target). Bodies and pools of blood everywhere. The two girls at the front desk, Bellman, and Doorman all killed in the initial attack. All other people in the lobby were either shot/killed or helped the injured out of the hotel. The FA returned to his room then followed a housecleaner out through a (sort of) hidden stairway into the relative
safety of the street.

I later found out the hotel manager, who lives in the hotel with his wife and children, were all killed in the initial attack. That may point to an insider helping the terrorists.

Another F/A goes to the elevator to head down to the lobby. Doors open and the interior of the car was splattered in blood. She returned to her room and got a few other F/As and left that floor via the emergency exit. Once out on the exposed outer stairway, the fire door locked behind them. If they ran into trouble down below, without another exit strategy, theyd be truly screwed. Near the bottom, they heard a lot of commotion beyond a set of double doors. They were potentially stuck in a real bad si tuation. They
backed up a bit, laid down and played possum (wouldnt have worked - no blood). A few minutes later a police team
came up to their position and escorted them to the relative safety of a nearby parking garage.

A male Chinese F/A was trying to escape the hotel following a hotel employee through a different pitch black service stairway. He opened a door to a short hallway leading into the lobby. Shell casings and damage littered the floor. He started into the lobby and came face to face with one of the armed terrorists. Fortunately, he was not in uniform, and wearing a European style black leather jacket.. He didnt fit the victim profile. He turned around, back through the hallway ... got out alive.

That crew eventually spent about 9hrs on an ascending ramp at a concrete parking structure about two blocks from the hotel. The F/O on the scene separated that crew from perhaps 300 other confused civilians. Automatic weapon fire and hand grenade explosions permeated the restless night. They were able to keep in touch with NWA security via an international cell phone.

They got on a charter bus about 9am, and were transported to the hotel where my crew was located.

I?m now in AMS. Ill be on a flight to civilization in another 3hrs. The two crewmembers stuck in the BOM hotel are still OK, but ... still waiting to be rescued ... along with Lufthansa and Air France crews.

The above was a quick summary of what happened last night. I could get into a Lot more detail. But right now, there?s a shower with my name in it
NWAFA is offline  
Old Feb 27, 2013, 4:24 pm
  #23  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1
What happened to all the Flight attendants in Mumbai

I know this is an old story, but I have done a search to find out what happened to those flight attendants? Are they all still flying how was their mental health and well being handled. I am asking, because I have been dealing with PTSD from since911, but I was with Delta and they really don't handle situations like this they way NW did. I have kept it a secret afraid of reprucussions. Anyway long story short wanted to know if any of the flight attendants had requested or needed a ADA job modification either temporary or permanantly. I have recently requested a job accomidation not to fly International and denied that so I can not return to inflight. Just trying to gain ammo and info to take to my EEOC mediation filed a claim and EEOC told me today I have a case. If anyone knows please let me know.
stryker2 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.