Cockpit door broke mid flight.
#1
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Cockpit door broke mid flight.
So had a new experience today. Flying JFK-MSP on a MD88, about 40 min to landing the pilot comes out to use the restroom, FAs block the aisle as usual. When he attempts to return to the cockpit the door wont latch behind him, they open and slam it over and over but it wont go. Eventually they have all 3 FAs blocking the front part of the plane, and my seat mate from 3C moved up to 1C who I'm guessing was a FAM or a non rev employee they moved up for backup. After several min they stopped banging the door, and as we were only about 30 min from touch down we did not divert, in fact despite leaving 15 min late we landed early (they floored it to not be up/unsecured much longer?).
Anyone had this happen before? They made no announcement or anything about any issues which didnt surprise me, but curious if anyones had this happen and been diverted.
Anyone had this happen before? They made no announcement or anything about any issues which didnt surprise me, but curious if anyones had this happen and been diverted.
#3
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why would anyone want to announce that the flight deck door is busted while in flight? So some crazy fanatic can attempt to bum rush his way past 3 frightened flight attendants?
#5
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#6
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I'm trying to visualize all of them - in "red alert mode" - guarding the pilot, their potential savior - cautiously watching everyone nearby who may be a potential miscreant or intruder of the cockpit - waiting to see if anyone makes a suspicious move - so they can pounce on them, slap the cuffs on, and yell - Book'em Dan'o!
#7
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Was in flight service terminated?
Seriously, I was on a flight that flew low and slow, then did an emergency landing with firetrucks ready and I don't think anyone who wasn't seated near the exit rows was aware of anything. They prepared the cabin for landing early and turned on the seat belt sign, as well as giving an emergency briefing to emergency exit row occupants. (There might even have been a bit of shuffling around of passengers to get the best people into the exit rows.) The FAs did if very coolly and smoothly.
Seriously, I was on a flight that flew low and slow, then did an emergency landing with firetrucks ready and I don't think anyone who wasn't seated near the exit rows was aware of anything. They prepared the cabin for landing early and turned on the seat belt sign, as well as giving an emergency briefing to emergency exit row occupants. (There might even have been a bit of shuffling around of passengers to get the best people into the exit rows.) The FAs did if very coolly and smoothly.
#8
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Was in flight service terminated?
Seriously, I was on a flight that flew low and slow, then did an emergency landing with firetrucks ready and I don't think anyone who wasn't seated near the exit rows was aware of anything. They prepared the cabin for landing early and turned on the seat belt sign, as well as giving an emergency briefing to emergency exit row occupants. (There might even have been a bit of shuffling around of passengers to get the best people into the exit rows.) The FAs did if very coolly and smoothly.
Seriously, I was on a flight that flew low and slow, then did an emergency landing with firetrucks ready and I don't think anyone who wasn't seated near the exit rows was aware of anything. They prepared the cabin for landing early and turned on the seat belt sign, as well as giving an emergency briefing to emergency exit row occupants. (There might even have been a bit of shuffling around of passengers to get the best people into the exit rows.) The FAs did if very coolly and smoothly.
#9
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It sounds like you were just about closer to MSP than DTW when it happened. Your flight might also have been given preferential handling by ATC to get in and land quickly.
#10
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That was my feeling as well. I was watching curiously as it all unfolded, after they seemed to realize they couldnt fully fix it, we began to descend. I figured we were diverting but the pilot came on a few min later to announce we had begun our approach to MSP and would be on the ground in roughly 20 min. Given that we left 15 min late and landed about 15 min early, im guessing they punched it near the end there
#11
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A little while ago, I was on a 75X and the cockpit door kept unlatching. It started on takeoff/climb out, and I saw an arm reach back and grab for the door (possibly a pilot riding jump seat?). It happened a few more times during the beginning of the flight, and it finally stayed shut. No one seemed to make a big deal about it. It was kinda neat watching the flight out the cockpit windows
#12
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I'm young and only flew a few times prior to 9/11. I know the flight deck doors were not as secure as they are now before 9/11 occurred but was there ever a time when the flight deck door was left open during the flight. Maybe before the hijackings of the 70's?
#13
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Doors weren't left open, but cockpit visits in flight weren't out of the question. Spent a solid two hours chatting away with the crew sitting in the jumpseat on a BA 747 flight back in the mid-90s, as one example. It was a CAVU day and watching Newfoundland come up over the horizon was a beautiful sight. Good times back then.
#14
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I'm trying to visualize all of them - in "red alert mode" - guarding the pilot, their potential savior - cautiously watching everyone nearby who may be a potential miscreant or intruder of the cockpit - waiting to see if anyone makes a suspicious move - so they can pounce on them, slap the cuffs on, and yell - Book'em Dan'o!
#15
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