Originally Posted by
Sniper
I haven't seen the 'dramatic' photos, but this panel is on the underside of the aircraft, no?
If so, how exactly did a FA take a picture? Was the FA doing a walk-around? I just don't see how a FA would ever have the opportunity to take a photo of the underside of a 76, especially the inbound crew, given the need to clear immigration.
It was DFW to CDG Paris. In Paris if you do not get a gate. The pax are offloaded and then the crew bus picks us up at the nose of the aircraft.
That is the way it is done in Paris. I don't argue.
After the pax were gone, while getting their bags loaded on the crew bus, some FA's went over and snapped pics on their cams and cellphones.
The info put out to all American pilots was that the Captain sent the extra co-pilot back to investigate. The CA also got dispatch and Tulsa Tech (out MX Center) on a phone patch. Everything looked and felt normal, decided to press on as they had 3+ hours till Coast out with many Airports to land at before Coast out.
The CA even went back to investigate.
Upon landing ground control toold them they were missing a panel.
It was the pack cover. A 4' by 2.5' panel.
At the layover hotel a New York based CA told the FA's that it was totally unsafe to continue.
The FA's began writing e-mails telling and insinuating that the CA never ever asked them anything. And that he disregarded their pleas to return to DFW. The CA's report says he spoke with the FA's both on the flightphone at time of incident and before coast out in person in the cabin.
The decision was based on no other unsafe indications. They would have had to dump all center fuel (767 can only dump center fuel) they had approx 80,000 lbs in center tank at time. And there were many airports to divert to along the planned route before coasting out.
That's all I know about it.
7576