I’m sure everyone’s read or seen the news about flight attendant Steven Slater’s response to a passenger disobeying clearly stated and known aviations regulations requiring passengers to be seated until a landing airplane taxis to a stop. Not only did the passenger physically harm Slater, he also refused to give the apology Slater demanded.
However, Slater violated all professional standards when he responded to the passenger with his four-letter laced intercom announcement. Further, he transgressed the very regulations he was trained to uphold by pulling the emergency chute and drinking alcohol.
Is anyone in the right here?
Public response to the incident favors Slater.
What does this say about our society today?
That those of us who are in customer service expect abuse and rudeness and long to respond as Slater did?
That professionalism doesn’t matter anymore?
That safety regulations can be thrown aside for a flamboyant gesture?
Are the media and the public right in granting Steven Slater the heroic status they gave Captain Sully?
Cheers,
Jianne