To Hedgedweller
I am sorry to hear about your experience and that off all the other passengers, AND THAT OF THE FLIGHT CREW & CABIN CREW ... who all train for these "unlikely" events ... they are just as human as you are, and perhaps they didn't show it, but rest assured that they might have been also scared sh
tless, ever though of that?
Perhaps the problem lies with Ground Staff being not "direct" employees of the airline in question, outsourcing does have it disadvantages as well
i travel alot by air, and even though i always get nervouse before a flight, i know from the moment that i step aboard that plane, that i'm in good hands ... the chances of something happening are remote, and flying is still the safest way to travel, me dying on the way to and from the aiport is what concernes me the most these days!!
good luck with your claim, as it would interesting to see what compensation the airline and/or their insurance policy will give you!!
PS
not a pilot, not a F/A ... a mere insurance broker that specialises in aviation!!!