Taildragger67
1st Aug 2006, 11:27
Flight attendant saved leaping passenger
August 1, 2006 - 12:40PM
A female flight attendant has been praised for preventing an agitated passenger leaping three metres onto the tarmac from a stationary aircraft.
Jetstar cabin manager Belinda Cohen tackled the young man when he pushed open the door of an aircraft at Launceston Airport in Tasmania on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Newcastle-based flight attendant, helped by two passengers on the packed flight, wrestled the distressed man to the ground.
"She's very heroic," Jetstar general manager of corporate relations Simon Westaway said today.
"She stopped him from potentially injuring himself."
The Melbourne-bound flight 102 was about to take off at 9.50am (AEST) on Saturday when the man, aged in his early 20s, became distressed.
Eventually the aircraft returned to the terminal so the man could be removed from the flight.
He was taken to the front of the aircraft and lunged to open the door after it had been disarmed, but before stairs were put in place, said Mr Westaway.
Two passengers, including Victorian grandfather and former police superintendent Don Grigg, helped Ms Cohen restrain the man.
"She saved his life," Mr Grigg told the Mercury newspaper.
Mr Westaway said Jetstar was "very thankful" to the passengers who assisted.
"I think these situations do happen and passengers rise to the occasion," he said.
"Some call it the Australian way ... I think all those involved wouldn't have done anything any differently if the same thing was to happen again."
Ms Cohen is on compassionate leave with a sore back but Mr Westaway said she was in good spirits.
"She feels no malice against the individual," he said.
Mr Westaway said Jetstar was still finalising the incident report and reserved the right to "take the matter further".
He said the young man, who had been a regular customer, would need to present a medical certificate if he wanted to fly with Jetstar again.
AAP
August 1, 2006 - 12:40PM
A female flight attendant has been praised for preventing an agitated passenger leaping three metres onto the tarmac from a stationary aircraft.
Jetstar cabin manager Belinda Cohen tackled the young man when he pushed open the door of an aircraft at Launceston Airport in Tasmania on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Newcastle-based flight attendant, helped by two passengers on the packed flight, wrestled the distressed man to the ground.
"She's very heroic," Jetstar general manager of corporate relations Simon Westaway said today.
"She stopped him from potentially injuring himself."
The Melbourne-bound flight 102 was about to take off at 9.50am (AEST) on Saturday when the man, aged in his early 20s, became distressed.
Eventually the aircraft returned to the terminal so the man could be removed from the flight.
He was taken to the front of the aircraft and lunged to open the door after it had been disarmed, but before stairs were put in place, said Mr Westaway.
Two passengers, including Victorian grandfather and former police superintendent Don Grigg, helped Ms Cohen restrain the man.
"She saved his life," Mr Grigg told the Mercury newspaper.
Mr Westaway said Jetstar was "very thankful" to the passengers who assisted.
"I think these situations do happen and passengers rise to the occasion," he said.
"Some call it the Australian way ... I think all those involved wouldn't have done anything any differently if the same thing was to happen again."
Ms Cohen is on compassionate leave with a sore back but Mr Westaway said she was in good spirits.
"She feels no malice against the individual," he said.
Mr Westaway said Jetstar was still finalising the incident report and reserved the right to "take the matter further".
He said the young man, who had been a regular customer, would need to present a medical certificate if he wanted to fly with Jetstar again.
AAP