GD, storming the ****-pit is wrong – clearly.
However, my view isn’t just about the passengers reactions, it is based on why they reacted like that. If you believe you are going to die and believe your actions will save you and those of 400 others, then surely storming the ****-pit is a justified response – if extreme.
This isn’t just about the crime as it were, but the motive for it and when you put the rationale to the scene, then I think what the passengers did was plausible. Its not as if the passengers have killed anyone or endangered anyone, they actively believed they were helping and were saving lives – surely this must count for something.
Pembo, I respect your opinion and everything you say makes sense.
The problem I have more than anything is when passengers overreact to a situation that doesn’t warrant doing so. Now, this particular situation with fuel being discharged from the wing, perhaps that might warrant an overreaction, PERHAPS. And understanbly so, as you mentioned, if a person feers his/her life in in danger, than it is justifiable. However, in that event, it does prevent the crew from doing their job effectively.
I have witnessed two situations where a passenger or passengers overreacted, and flight were delayed, even though there was no immediate danger.
Situation 1 was on a UA flight from MEL to SYD where the wind had caused the fan in one of the engines to rotate in the wrong direction and get stuck. When the pilots attempted to start the engines, said engine would not start. The pilot explained the situation and fully explained the complicated process that would alleviate the problem. This process entailed a mechanic cliimbing into said engine, and simply giving the fan a nudge in the right direction thereby making it “unstuck,” climbing down and off we go. Needless to say, one or more pax freaked out and demanded to be let off this plane, as they deemed said plane unflyable. Well, in the process of letting the passengers off the plane, one of them forgot one of their carry on items onboard. So what happens next? An entire TSA crew came onboard with metal detectors and scanned the entire plane to make sure no dangerous items were left onboard. Given size of the aircraft (747-400), this was by no means a quick task. So we finally departed for the short 45 minute hop to SYD after a 2 hour delay that was completely unnecessary. Why? because a few passengers decided to freak out and they should not have. Therefore, their flying privileges should be revoked and if they wish to travel between Melbourne and Sydney in the future, they should make the 7-10 hour drive.
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