Had to disembark via the rear stairs today!
Oct 7, 2014, 10:54 pm
#1
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Had to disembark via the rear stairs today!
DL2310 today, DFW-ATL. We arrived and "pulled in on the wrong stripe" (exact words from the cockpit) and had a tug push us back and bring us back in on the correct alignment for an MD-88. Turns out it didn't matter, as the jet bridge was without power. After 20 minutes or so of airport personnel troubleshooting, it was decided that we would exit the plane via the rear stairs. The only other time I've had this opportunity was during the ATL DO a few years ago on a mock plane.
Last edited by stealthmidget; Oct 7, 2014 at 10:59 pm
Oct 7, 2014, 11:10 pm
#2
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Ah ha - the D B Cooper method of leaving the aircraft albeit on terra firma !
Yes I know that was a 727 and not a Mad Dog !
But you did not have to wait another 20 minutes for the truck stairs to arrive
to find an alternate way without popping emergency door hatches and slides
to a concrete landing pad.
So tell me who tripped the circuit breaker in ATL gate control disabling the
jetway ? Very unusual.
Yes I know that was a 727 and not a Mad Dog !
But you did not have to wait another 20 minutes for the truck stairs to arrive
to find an alternate way without popping emergency door hatches and slides
to a concrete landing pad.
So tell me who tripped the circuit breaker in ATL gate control disabling the
jetway ? Very unusual.
Oct 7, 2014, 11:22 pm
#3
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I can assure you it was an MD-88. There were no truck stairs, and there was no popping of emergency doors or slides. FlightAware link: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N...550Z/KDFW/KATL
And another pic after I got off the plane:
And another pic after I got off the plane:
Oct 8, 2014, 12:20 am
#4
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That was a cool way to exit. I have always wanted to use the rear stairs (after reading about Mr. Cooper). You had an experience to remember. IIRC, you have to bend over to get out; any problems from elderly/mobility impared passengers?
Oct 8, 2014, 3:09 am
#5
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I also saw it happen to lots and lots of planes at ATL one year in early January before the merger. There was an ice storm mess and incoming passengers were being held on planes for up to twelve hours. Then during the evening, someone decided to let people deplane onto the tarmac and walk to the terminals. [I had arrived on PMNW MSP-ATL that day with no problems whatsoever; in fact, my flight was about twenty minutes early.]
Oct 8, 2014, 6:56 am
#7
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Happens all the time on AS 737 combis. Have done that multiple times. European airlines also sometimes use both front and back doors when boarding remotely using buses.
Oct 8, 2014, 11:34 am
#12
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Oct 8, 2014, 11:39 am
#13
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I flew into Istanbul last week on Turkish, and we could disembark from either the front or the rear of a 777.
When I lived in Mozambique, Air Corridor (now defunct) used to board and exit from the rear of a 737.
When I lived in Mozambique, Air Corridor (now defunct) used to board and exit from the rear of a 737.
Oct 8, 2014, 6:37 pm
#15
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DC9s were also equipped with front 'air stairs'. I recall several times having to deplane DC9s using the onboard air stairs when no jetway or jetway inop.
Rear airstairs is way cool - exiting through the tail cone.... i am a bit jealous of the OP.