Originally Posted by
Gauges and Dials
What's missing in a lot of the "explanations" here is a very important second half of the sentence.
I'm reading a lot of "there was no way to let the passengers off," when I think the actual truth was "there was no way to let the passengers off without inconveniencing the airline or the airport staff."
There is always a way to let the passengers off. 738s have a built-in front stairway. Mobile stairways abound at every airport. No gate? No problem; there's always some door somewhere leading from the ramp into the terminal; passengers could be deplaned and directed to that door.
People get so hung up on "this is the standard way we do things" that they fail to take a step back and realize that there are alternative solutions available.
But that can not be anything outside of an existing procedure!
The problem seems to have been all about lack of communication.
Passengers actions totally unacceptable.
As was that of the crew; maybe FD, maybe cabin.
If the passenger is subject to censure then so should be the crew.