Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Passengers revolt and refuse to fly without a new pilot
Last month, two passengers heading through airport security thought a pilot was drunk and called the authorities. Last May, a pilot was found drunk and naked in the woods. In this latest what-is-wrong-with-the-pilot episode, more than 100 passengers on a Boeing 767 jet bound for New York from Moscow signed a paper saying they thought the pilot was three sheets to the wind.
This happened after the pilot sounded inebriated when he slurred the preflight announcements. According to this article in The Moscow Times, when he switched to English, the passengers had enough and refused to allow Aeroflot Flight 315 to take off.
It didn't matter one bit that the flight attendants told the passengers to "stop making trouble," and if the passengers didn't like it, they could get off the plane. The passengers called for reinforcement from Aeroflot's home office, but the talking heads wouldn't pay any attention to the passengers either--at least not until a Russian TV personality and socialite, who happened to be on the plane, stepped in.
Finally, the pilot, along with the other three pilots on board, were switched out so new pilots could get the passengers air bound.
As absurd as this story sounds, consider this. An Aeroflot representative later said that it wasn't that big a deal if a pilot is drunk because the plane flies itself with a press of a button. Kent?
Filed under: Stories, Russian Federation, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian McKay Feb 4th 2009 1:04PM
You hafta safely take off and reach cruising altitude before engeaging 'autopilot' with 'a press of a button.' I'm glad that the Russians demanded better. They're making progress.
Ginger Feb 8th 2009 2:05PM
Makes me want to get Captain Scully's flying schedule for as long as he's allowed to fly under FAA regulations.
John Gage Feb 19th 2009 1:58AM
But what's the REST of the story? Was the removed pilot actually inebriated? How about the other front-seater (assuming that's what they were)? In any event, why was the entire flight deck replaced?
And exactly what did the pax do to make this crew change-out happen? Sign a petition? Chant "hell no, we won't go"? Collectively refuse to buckle up?
While the story is interesting as is, it makes me wonder what we're NOT hearing about what went on... or didn't. Hmm... Kent, anybody: more details?
Val Feb 19th 2009 7:49AM
All this based on just some slurred words?? Perhaps the pilot had a speech impedient?