Plane Evacuation Discussion

[milehighclub]

Just looking at the images/videos - I suspect the pilots were planning to use stairs first. During that time in arranging the stairs, they have escalated it from non-routine to a full evac. Stairs wouldn't be able to approach a door that has a had a slide deployed.

So who ordered the slides - the captain or the Head cabin crew?

Most likely the Capt, but any crew can order an evac if they deem so required (assuming United has a similar procedure).

However in the video from the cabin, there is an evacuation alarm going. This means open any safe door, but it's also possible United have different procedures to what I think of when I hear it. That can be triggered by pilots or the CSM (Purser).

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[bussyboy]

Most likely the Capt, but any crew can order an evac if they deem so required (assuming United has a similar procedure).

I was going to query that question too, as surely there should be no doubt or hesitation by any member of the crew about a decision to deploy slides in a perceived emergency!

 

[RooFlyer]

I was going to query that question too, as surely there should be no doubt or hesitation by any member of the crew about a decision to deploy slides in a perceived emergency!

From my grandstand view, in my comfy chair, its hard to perceive an emergency worthy of deploying the slides at the time they went off, given how slides are inherently dangerous to use. There were 2 or 3 appliances there (there's a gap between the taxiing and the evac in all the videos that have been posted), and stairs at the aircraft. Some time has elapsed between stopping and then. Water had been applied to the engine and looks as though it had stopped being applied. There was still some smoke.

But if the flight deck decided to ring the alarm, something must have occurred right then. But if it came from the cabin (say, Purser) then, like I said above, I think we will hear more on this.