They are your eyes and ears in places you have no hope of seeing or knowing. The Cabin Crew are absolutely integral to the safety of the operation.
Well, maybe they can be in an airline with experienced, switched-on cabin crew. Usually the old "boilers."
Unfortunately, some global airlines we all know of hire them young and dumb and from subservient cultures where they'd cut their own heads off before actually saying anything to anyone up the front. That's IF they even thought of noticing anything outside their own little sphere.
Sad but true. I'm sure this won't go down well with the yanks but welcome to the rest of the world.
Yes they can be useful but let's keep it in context.
Most of the howling going on here is based on the article as it was worded by a journalist who wasn't even there. So let's jump to another conclusion: pilot has ex-wife turn up on his crew, huge fight ensues. Coincidence?????? Not likely!