Originally Posted by
USD2BUSMC
In military aviation we lived and died by checklists (still have my pocket NATOPS)...this allowed you, even in a state of panic to muddle through the "right" thing. Not sure if FA have the same tools to augment their training, but it sounds as if they should.
Just one comment about the above then I'll leave this thread to speculation on the cause of the accident.
FA's do have an emergency checklist - really an emergency procedures booklet - but there's nowhere to stow it at/near their jumpseats so they keep it in their small carry-on bag stowed in an OHB near their assigned jumpseat, which probably made it inaccessible with the aisle full of passengers. The system isn't designed for using the checklist for an evacuation that happens with no warning. I've heard many FA's say that they recited their emergency evacuation procedures once seated for takeoff just in case.
Jim