Now who in life hasn't fantasized about quitting a crappy, low paying job and doing it in a spectacular and memorable way!
FA Steven Slater of Jet Blue had apparently had enough yesterday. As his flight was taxing up to the gate, a PAX took off his seat belt while the seat belt sign was on and before the plane reached the jet way, got out of his seat and provided to remove his carry on luggage from the overhead bin. FA Slater asked the PAX to sit back down until they had reached the gate for his safety. The PAX declined and told the FA off. Slater approached the PAX and while the PAX was struggling to remove his carry on bag, it hit Mr. Slater on the head. The FA then asked for an apology when none was forthcoming. The PAX called him a MF and a few other choice words ensued. The FA then went to the hand mike and on the PA said: "And to the PAX who just called me a MF, F you!!" lol
Mr. Slater then grabbed his own flight bag, stopped off in the galley to grab a couple of cold brewskies off the beverage cart, walked to the service door, blew the door, activated the emergency evac slide threw his bags down the slide, then slid down the slid himself and ran across the tarmac to the terminal. (wish there had been a video of that!) In the terminal he caught the tram to a parking lot to retrieve his car and was seen flinging his uniform tie down on the ground and yelling: "I quit!!" He then drove home. Police later showed up at his home in Queens that he shares with his boyfriend and apparently they were in bed together.
Now this is a helluva way to leave a job! Tell people exactly what you think of their rude behavior and treatment of you, refuse to be treated like crap any longer, grab a couple of cold ones, take the fastest exit out of the situation, drive home and have angry sex with your boyfriend. lol Yee Haw Steven!
Don't know what kinda beers he took with him, but this scenario would make a great commercial!
On a serious note, neighbors and friends have been forthcoming in saying that Steven is under a lot of stress. His Father who he took care of, died recently and his Mother who he has also been looking after has terminal lung cancer. I guess he just finally snapped.
The positive thing is that he had sense enough to check out the window (I am guessing) before deploying the slide to make sure no ramp workers were beneath. The bad thing is the cost to Jet Blue to either re-pack the slide or replace it if necessary and have it inspected and certified, so the jet was certainly down for a day.
He has also garnered more than 20,000 new fans on his Facebook site and other Facebook sites have started about him and a collection is being taken up for his bail. I would have liked to have seen the PAX charged with interfering with a Flight Crew member which is a Ferderal crime. Apparently, the PAX will go scott free which seems wrong to me.
In the end, I have a feeling Steven will become a real live hero to many and an urban legend. I can see it now the next time someone loses it on the job......he just pulled a Slater!!
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