Originally Posted by
blastoff
DOT Press release
DOT 127-09
Friday, August 21, 2009
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
STATEMENT BY U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD ON CONCLUSION OF THE PRELIMINARY PHASE OF THE CONTINENTAL TARMAC DELAY INVESTIGATION
“We have determined that the Express Jet crew was not at fault.
In fact, the flight crew repeatedly tried to get permission to deplane the passengers at the airport or obtain a bus for them,” Secretary LaHood said.
“The local representative of Mesaba Airlines improperly
refused the requests of the captain to let her passengers off the plane. The representative incorrectly said that the airport was closed to passengers for security reasons, which led to this nightmare for those stuck on the plane,” he said.
This is why some people should NOT be Captains. Declare the emergency, and evacuate the airplane. Let the station folks explain why they held the folks hostage for no valid reason.... but for God's sake, take responsibility and ACT like a Captain should... there is more to the job than the paycheck and fiurth stripe. If ever there was a case for the exercise command authority, this was it.