vicarious_MR'er

#1: Hmm - maybe a diabetic without adequate supplies of insulin, something like that?

#2: Yes, they should be. That's what a company that subcontracts our THEIR corporate brand and reputation does in the name of quality assurance.

Ysitincoach

It's easy to say pop the exit now...but when you're waiting during one of these 4-8-9hr odysseys the cabin crew continuously shines a glimmer of hope that you'll be on your way...

When was the last time during a delay they said, "Folks, from the flight deck, expect to be here nine hours..." They just don't do that. "Ok, it'll be 30mins." "ATC is trying to get us out in an hour..." and so on, until it ultimately adds up to nine hours.

So you figure, ok, pop the exits must be the easy solution, but not when you're routinely promised that you're getting out in minutes.

I would suggest at some point that pax give the cabin crew an option before revolt. Like to the FA, "Please kindly advise the CA and FO, that they have one hour before revolt and we go for the exits." That way, hopefully the pax can articulate to the feds why they chose to break a myriad of federal regulations.

OPFlyer

Typical? How is this typical? Name the last time CO trapped passengers in the aircraft for nine hours on the ground.

CO? No, this wasn't CO. This was ExpressJet.

MikeMpls

It's still CO's responsibility. CO sold the tickets, and CO hired ExpressJet.

ExpressJet's legal liability is to CO, and CO's legal liability to the passengers.

dergon darkhelm

"Chest pain" and "shortness of breath" are both good b/c they could indicate a serious medical condition, but also can spontaneously resolve abruptly, given the passenger an "out" once they actually make the gate

jrzyshawn

Chest Pains, Trouble Breathing, Allergic Reaction.

Once EMS arrives and you are off loaded you are under no obligation to go with them. You can sign a RMA (Refusal of Medical Attention) and be on your way.

pptp

You forgot to answer how CO ops is supposed to tell Express how to run their ops at the time of the incident. It's two separate ops and neither has control of the other on an operational level. So while many say it's CO fault, well, it's not. There's nothing they could have done about a different airline's operation. Just because they have an interest in a flight doesn't mean they have any control over it. That's like saying CO could do something about a Delta plane sitting on the taxiway. Now whether they are liable in any way as a result of what happened, due to their relationship, I don't know.

luv2ctheworld

For that many hours stuck in that plane, you'd expect them to be in Europe or S.A. by then.

Besides any lawsuit settlement that I'd expect to be filed, I'd demand a pair of Business Elite seats to any destination

JetAway

No one onboard took any "action" because they were afraid of being arrested for doing so. Airline crews and TSA have made pax the sheep that they now are. And, yes, this is a CO issue.

pptp

Just hope that the FA doesn't break out the AED and start shaving your chest (or if a female, baring your chest).

CO 1E

When I was stuck for four hours on a full 738 that was stuck in a snowbank at CLE literally 30 feet from a gate, passengers were yelling, crying, demanding that air stairs be brought to the aircraft, and calling the local news (which did show up). Only one round of water was served during the entire flight. I can't imagine what would have happened had the delay lasted nine hours.

pptp

On a side note, I guarantee that the crew was at their wits end as well. We despise delays just as much as any PAX, I promise you. Unfortunately, you can't just go taxiing your plane around and parking it without clearance and marshallers. I will say that if I was the captain, I'd like to think I would have declared an emergency, but then that's easy to say when I wasn't actually operating the AC.

Olton Hall

I'm assuming other planes were diverted to Rochester and other airports. Did any of them have the same story or did the regional airline operating the flight let everyone off.

Syzygies

Perhaps we're sheep too. What regulations? I've love to see a link to rules justifying this, sounds like a crock to me.

jaguar

My back hurts just thinking about sitting for 9 hours on an RJ.