SWA: widow says flight crew wouldn't let her call suicidal husband
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Karen was flying from New Orleans back to Milwaukee after taking a girls trip down south. The text came as flight attendants were doing their final cabin checks.
My final comment:
The FAA recently looked at the use if electronic devices in all flight phases. It determined that there was little risk, provided the device is in flight mode. The ladies phone was not in flight mode and the FA instructed her to secure it. The FA does not have the discretion to allow calls contrary to the regulation.
We can second guess the FAs actions but we were not there. Nor can we know if a succesful call would have made any difference to the outcome.
Paxing All Over The World
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Quite apart from not knowing the full (or even the half) story, you would be surprised how many people take their own lives 'out of the blue'. The greatest number of families that I have met are totally shocked by the event and had had no warning signs.
There are some who try and fail and thus alert their family but the most recent case I dealt with (two weeks ago) the family had had zero warning and the person was behaving as they always had. I recently heard of a case where a mature woman spent the evening playing cards with her friends as they often did - left at the normal time and took her own life.
If the woman in this case had been planning to be away from home, he could seen that as the perfect opportunity. Again, I have seen that many times.
Unfortunately, I could give countless similar examples. Those who have decided to kill themselves - will succeed.
If she had a partner that unstable - we can equally reason why she was away travelling.
There are some who try and fail and thus alert their family but the most recent case I dealt with (two weeks ago) the family had had zero warning and the person was behaving as they always had. I recently heard of a case where a mature woman spent the evening playing cards with her friends as they often did - left at the normal time and took her own life.
If the woman in this case had been planning to be away from home, he could seen that as the perfect opportunity. Again, I have seen that many times.
Unfortunately, I could give countless similar examples. Those who have decided to kill themselves - will succeed.
Last edited by PAXboy; 19th May 2015 at 08:03. Reason: grammar
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I have to ask: Had a lot of people received such a text & taken it seriously how many would allow anything short of overwhelming physical resistance prevent them from attempting to dial out?
Though I do accept that shock (from receiving such a text) may have prevented rational rule breaking behaviour (yes, there are rare situations when sticking to the rules even if they have force of law can be a very bad idea) & could easily have given CC the wrong impression of the real situation.
Fairly horrible for all involved, CC included I would imagine.
Though I do accept that shock (from receiving such a text) may have prevented rational rule breaking behaviour (yes, there are rare situations when sticking to the rules even if they have force of law can be a very bad idea) & could easily have given CC the wrong impression of the real situation.
Fairly horrible for all involved, CC included I would imagine.
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If I had received a text like that, nothing (short of physical restraint/being knocked out) would have kept me on that plane - I've have been standing in the aisle screaming to be let off - at which point the cabin crew would have had no option but to take me seriously.
For me, that's the bit that doesn't add up. However, I think the cabin crew could and should have listened and taken her seriously - just because you may get "battle-hardened" doesn't mean you shouldn't take this kind of thing seriously. There's no guarantee that the outcome could have been prevented, but this way, the poor woman will never know.
For me, that's the bit that doesn't add up. However, I think the cabin crew could and should have listened and taken her seriously - just because you may get "battle-hardened" doesn't mean you shouldn't take this kind of thing seriously. There's no guarantee that the outcome could have been prevented, but this way, the poor woman will never know.
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Octopussy,
Agree 100% with the first part of your post.
With regards to the second half half of your post ... Are SWA cabin crew authorised to delay a departure whilst a passenger uses their mobile phone illegally?
Agree 100% with the first part of your post.
With regards to the second half half of your post ... Are SWA cabin crew authorised to delay a departure whilst a passenger uses their mobile phone illegally?
Son of Slot
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We have established that we do not know the detail - and never will - and without that, questioning what crew are allowed to do is pointless.
I really do not want to have lock another thread.
I really do not want to have lock another thread.
PF is right.
Rules are rules. No excuses. No exceptions.
If you allow one desperate wife phone her suicidal husband then the next thing you know they will all be doing it! Chaos.
Rules are rules. No excuses. No exceptions.
If you allow one desperate wife phone her suicidal husband then the next thing you know they will all be doing it! Chaos.
