oh boy....

07/16/09
flightglobal.com

United Airlines is conducting an internal investigation after one of its captains diverted a flight to deplane a senior flight attendant who he argued with.

Flight 842 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Chicago O'Hare diverted to Miami early in the morning of 14 July midway through the scheduled 6hr 45min non-stop flight.

A source familiar with the incident says the captain ordered the purser of the Boeing 767 to leave the aircraft because he was "not respecting his authority".

The aircraft was on the ground for about an hour and arrived at Chicago just over an hour late.

A United spokeswoman says: "The pilot chose to divert the flight due to a crew issue"."

The captain felt the matter needed to be resolved on the ground, an FAA spokesman says. The aircraft landed without incident in Miami and was on the ground for less than hour before departing to Chicago, he adds.

Exact details of the incident have not been disclosed and United is investigating the matter to make sure that the decision to divert the aircraft was appropriate, the FAA spokesman says.

At the same time, FAA is investigating the incident to ensure that all diversion procedures were followed, he says.

Representatives for the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) chapters representing United flight attendants and pilots declined to comment as they did not have details about the incident.

 

Sounds like at least two butts need kicking.

 

I believe in the PIC's authority, but unless there was a safety risk resulting from this incident, is it really appropriate to divert a flight? Just having an argument with another crew member or some other type of disagreement? Now before we all jump on the 'we don't know the circumstances here so let's withold judgement'; let's discuss this in the broad sense of ANY flight. What type of situation would be a serious enough of a safety risk to rate diverting the flight. I'm also making an assumption here that diverting a flight is a pretty big deal for reasons from scheduling, cost, and passenger inconveinence.

USMCFLYR

 

Maybe it was suspected the FA was drunk? Tough to prove unless they did a test immediately on landing. Or even hung over, long haul is known to be wild on layovers.

 

The Purser telling the PIC "nope, no meals left", then the PIC going back to use the lav and finding the entire cabin crew grazing on first class salads, meals, and desserts!

Divert!

 

Thanks for a good laugh.

 

Maybe refusal to adhere to standard crew change procedures?

 

That's old school. Put out, or get out.

 

What kind of planes are they flying over at UAL... 6+45 GRU to ORD is haulin ass.... Either that or their work rules really really suck.

 

I praise him for using Captains Authority! Until I hear more information, I am on the skippers side. Too many FA's have powertrips and think they are in charge (to an extent they are), however the Captain has the final say about ANY issue.

There is a reason why most pilots have college degree's (most places require it now) and FA's can have high school education....