How would you deal with this passenger?
I have personally experienced mentally unwell pax trying to open doors in-flight.
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Although doors cannot be opened during flight, it could be quite upsetting for other pax to see that someone is trying to do that! And just who knows what else they might try if they are that seriously ill.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: hampton, middx
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check out symptoms & causes
Aviation medicine training indicates checking causes not 'assuming' - it could have been that this person was merely exuberant (possible) - drunk (maybe) but why were they allowed to get that way & were there any indications when they boarded? Maybe they were on drugs (clever to have smuggled them on in view of security checks) - if possible it would be a good idea to check their hand baggage for 'medication' having discreetly taken them to one side to assess their attitude. If these checks proved negative then you could diagnose them as being a loony - close monitoring advised in case of more idiotic behaviour. There's always the old restraint kit if the nut starts really behaving badly. Best approach when I was flying was always to nip these situations in the bud before things turned ugly.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Etrang,
Before I was a pilot I used to be an aircraft engineer, we had a passenger open the over wing exit on a 737-300 whilst in the climb out from Gatwick. So it can happen at certain periods in the flight.
Before I was a pilot I used to be an aircraft engineer, we had a passenger open the over wing exit on a 737-300 whilst in the climb out from Gatwick. So it can happen at certain periods in the flight.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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As a pax I have experienced being sat next to someone with learning difficulties on a flight from London to Aberdeen.
Hubby was in the window seat, me in the Centre and the young man with difficulties in the aisle seat.
As soon as we sat down I realised all was not right as he was talking to himself. Then when I heard/saw him keep repeating "oxygen masks" and pointing to where they appear from I became quite alarmed. Then he kept saying "crash" and would then point to the emergency exits. This was before we had even taken off.
I became quite unsettled as I am not the best of flyers. I really didn't know what to do and whether I should speak to CC and ask to be moved.
As we taxied for take off he became worse. He kept expelling wind from his mouth as well and kept saying "shouldn't have eaten all that" so I then thought he was going to be sick.
Then we were back to "crash crash" By now I was leaning on hubby with my ear pressed firmly on hubby's chest and my hand on my other ear so I couldnt hear what he was saying.
The saving grace (for me) came when drinks were served. He had a can of coke and then decided he needed the toilet. In trying to get out of his seat, he leaned back so hard there was an almighty crack and a scream from behind. Yes he broke his seat and showered the lady behind with hot coffee.
As a result he, along with the 3 pax behind us, all had to be moved because of the broken seat.
An awful situation though as in a way I felt sorry for him but he made me very very anxious and uncomfortable.
Hubby was in the window seat, me in the Centre and the young man with difficulties in the aisle seat.
As soon as we sat down I realised all was not right as he was talking to himself. Then when I heard/saw him keep repeating "oxygen masks" and pointing to where they appear from I became quite alarmed. Then he kept saying "crash" and would then point to the emergency exits. This was before we had even taken off.
I became quite unsettled as I am not the best of flyers. I really didn't know what to do and whether I should speak to CC and ask to be moved.
As we taxied for take off he became worse. He kept expelling wind from his mouth as well and kept saying "shouldn't have eaten all that" so I then thought he was going to be sick.
Then we were back to "crash crash" By now I was leaning on hubby with my ear pressed firmly on hubby's chest and my hand on my other ear so I couldnt hear what he was saying.
The saving grace (for me) came when drinks were served. He had a can of coke and then decided he needed the toilet. In trying to get out of his seat, he leaned back so hard there was an almighty crack and a scream from behind. Yes he broke his seat and showered the lady behind with hot coffee.
As a result he, along with the 3 pax behind us, all had to be moved because of the broken seat.
An awful situation though as in a way I felt sorry for him but he made me very very anxious and uncomfortable.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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I'd have stern words with her and tell her that her behaviour isn't acceptable. It's a shame if she has mental problems, but 100+ other passengers are involved here and one person shouldn't be allowed to make that many others feel uncomfortable. I know if I was the guy in the white shirt, I'd have been uneasy.
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If I had been the guy in the window seat, I would have at the very least asked for our seats to be swapped. In an emergency, the last thing I would want is to have my exit impeded by somebody at best unpredictable and at worst totally obstructive.
for the same reason, I have always been wary of being hemmed in by obese passengers.
for the same reason, I have always been wary of being hemmed in by obese passengers.
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At a certain downunder carrier there was an ex amateur boxer who dealt with with one or two unruly pax that would not respond to reason. He was legendary for the "2 inch punch".
Nitey Nite...................
Nitey Nite...................
Now Captain for small regional airline but used to work as careworker with people with mental heath / learning difficulities. Looked to me like it was that, or torettes, but yes, certainly potentially difficult situtation. I remember times when certain care-work collegues where unwilling to accept that the patients condition could cause high risk situations just because they thought they sould have the right to do something that everyone else can. Equal rights and not limiting people is one thing but it has to be realistic. My judgement in this situation, though, is that if the pax had been asked to calm down a little in the right way, she probably would have. Probably a job for a carer rather than the cabin crew who have no preperation or training for this and shouldn't really be put in this situation, but I guess thats the way it is...
Join Date: May 2005
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If you check out failblog.org on youtube you will see that there are several silly videos. I believe this was strictly a set up for filming and not an actual off-the-wall passenger. Will post it on another site and see what the Southwest flight attendants have to say!
So, dealing with a real passenger who behaved this way, I would move the passenger to the back..or move the window passenger to another seat.
To be honest, in the US I seriously doubt that this kind of passenger would be permitted to travel without an aide.
So, dealing with a real passenger who behaved this way, I would move the passenger to the back..or move the window passenger to another seat.
To be honest, in the US I seriously doubt that this kind of passenger would be permitted to travel without an aide.
Join Date: Jun 2005
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entrang - not technically correct
That can't happen. You can't open the door of a large jet in flight even when the aircraft is unpressurised - the slip-stream will hold it closed.
It also has a procedure for cabin crew to guard the upperdeck doors when the automatic door lock fails on gear up (as if they dont automatically lock the doors can be opened until aircraft is at altitude and fully pressurised).
What does stop the aircraft doors being opened once pressurised is that most large aircraft doors are 'plug' type doors. That means they are actually larger than the whole they fit into (this happens through door panels expanding the door size when closed (Airbus), or the doors having to come into the aircraft then push into the holes (Boeing). Air pressure differences stop these 'plugs' from being removed whilst the aircraft is pressurised.
Pax
