Suitably Flip

So That's What People Who Think They're About To Die Look Like

Thanks to the quick video- and cell-cam work of Damon Zwicker and Jeremy Hermanns (respectively), we have a first-hand look at the inside of Alaska Airlines Flight 536, which made an emergency landing at Seattle-Tacoma Airport yesterday after losing cabin pressure five miles up.

No one was injured, but the incident appears to have been preventable, in that, according to the NTSB, a ramp worker (employed by British contractor Menzies Aviation) has admitted driving a baggage vehicle into the aircraft before takeoff and failing to immediately report it.  The resulting dent in the fuselage appears to have been the precursor for the foot-long gash that opened up once the plane got to altitude, leading to the loss of pressure.

Zwicker captured much of his girlfriend's and neighboring passengers' stressful apprehension in his video (an extra little nuisance that I'm sure everyone appreciated while they took stock of their lives, repented their sins, cursed their enemies one final time, etc.), as well as the relieved ovation offered up on landing.  "Catastrophe averted," Zwicker summed up, turning the camera on himself.

Uniquely compelling footage, to say the least.  But I wonder what this will do for the ever-changing in-flight usage policies for "portable electronic devices".  I'm still getting used to the perk of getting to turn my phone on on the taxiway.  This could set us back months.

As consolation, this will hopefully have some effect on the "what happens to you when you don't report driving a baggage cart into a plane" policy (whatever that may currently be) or at very least the "whether or not that guy ever again has a job anywhere near an airport" policy.

Comments

So That's What People Who Think They're About To Die Look Like

Thanks to the quick video- and cell-cam work of Damon Zwicker and Jeremy Hermanns (respectively), we have a first-hand look at the inside of Alaska Airlines Flight 536, which made an emergency landing at Seattle-Tacoma Airport yesterday after losing cabin pressure five miles up.

No one was injured, but the incident appears to have been preventable, in that, according to the NTSB, a ramp worker (employed by British contractor Menzies Aviation) has admitted driving a baggage vehicle into the aircraft before takeoff and failing to immediately report it.  The resulting dent in the fuselage appears to have been the precursor for the foot-long gash that opened up once the plane got to altitude, leading to the loss of pressure.

Zwicker captured much of his girlfriend's and neighboring passengers' stressful apprehension in his video (an extra little nuisance that I'm sure everyone appreciated while they took stock of their lives, repented their sins, cursed their enemies one final time, etc.), as well as the relieved ovation offered up on landing.  "Catastrophe averted," Zwicker summed up, turning the camera on himself.

Uniquely compelling footage, to say the least.  But I wonder what this will do for the ever-changing in-flight usage policies for "portable electronic devices".  I'm still getting used to the perk of getting to turn my phone on on the taxiway.  This could set us back months.

As consolation, this will hopefully have some effect on the "what happens to you when you don't report driving a baggage cart into a plane" policy (whatever that may currently be) or at very least the "whether or not that guy ever again has a job anywhere near an airport" policy.