QF deadheading pilot saves the day...

[Quickstatus]

I was flying in J MEL-SYD QF B767 on January 17. (This flight put me into SG!). Flight lands normally, reverse thrust on seatbelt sign on, the overhead bin suddenly opened over 1-2 D. I was 4D and could see the FA for front left door facing us look horrified. Short pregnant pause as im sure everyone waiting for FA to do something. There was a QF pilot (captain I assume as he had 4 stripes) deadheading in front of me in 3D. After a few seconds, inspite of seatbelt sign on he gets up, closes overhead bin and resumes seat.

I think a sigh of relief (perhaps quietly) all round..

I would think that risk of pax getting hit by overhead bags is higher than risk of injury due to getting up and closing bin while seatbelt sign on.

The actions of the QF captain in my mind makes the FA look lame.

If the QF pilot was not there I wonder what would the FA have done?

 

[Anna]

I don't know what the FA would have done if the pilot wasn't there, but I have seen FAs yell at pax doing what the pilot did and tell them to sit down - in no uncertain terms.

 

[markis10]

The actions of the QF captain in my mind makes the FA look lame.

If the QF pilot was not there I wonder what would the FA have done?

I disagree, the pilot probably had better situational awareness as to the risk compared to the FA.

 

[legroom]

Work, as in life, is about balancing competing risks.

Some is quicker and/or more thorough / thoughtful than others.

Some could not act under pressure while others see / act with clarity under duress.

Some soldiers crouch while others go forward when the s***t hits the fan.

Some surgeons are slow and/or take wrong options when planned things go wrong.

FAs are the same.

So are pilots !

That is why JB, RdC or Sullenberger are rightly praised for their decisions.

I don't know what the FA would have done if the pilot wasn't there, but I have seen FAs yell at pax doing what the pilot did and tell them to sit down - in no uncertain terms.

Like markis10, I beg to disagree there.

The immediate risk of falling objects would be far, far higher than the potential risk of standing up in a controlled / aware manner.

That FA is plainly wrong IMO.

 

[Quickstatus]

Probably, but the cabin is the FA's domain. I dont think there is a right answer but I wonder what the procedure would be for FA in this situationl.

 

[samh004]

Is there perhaps something in the training manual about what to do in that situation, perhaps the FA did everything right.

As for what would cost more, on one hand you have a bad landing on a passenger (it shouldn't be that heavy anyway... ~7kg, so perhaps there's some points compensation or a court settlement for a slightly more serious injury. On the other, you have a member of staff who gets injured and can't get back to work, they might become a bigger cost to the company over time?

Overhead bins have popped open before on flights, happens all the time.

 

[maninblack]

Potentially quite hazardous for the FA to take a walk down the aisle of a fast moving/braking aircraft and then try to catch or control falling objects. The pilot just had to stand up and shut the bin and had the cushioning of seating in front and behind if he lost his balance. Also the FA could probably see that the only things in the bin were pillows

 

[Quickstatus]

No pillows on QF Dom J. It had carryon luggage (from where I was sitting). No right or wrong answer. And a lot of carryon are heavier than requisite 7kg.

Wonder if same QF captain dressed in non uniform or non staff pax did the same thing, would he/she have been shouted down by FA.?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Sensationalist headline for what is someone closing an overhead bin

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have stood up to close an overhead locker during takeoff. It was immediately across the aisle form my seat. There was no yelling to sit down. No drama at all.

But it's a judgement call. If there is no immediate danger the bin might well be able to stay open. If you are taking off from somewhere like Hong Kong and there is rough weather you might want to shut the bin

edited to add just asked a cabin crew friend of mine about this (not from QF): they said they have seen pax do this a couple times and as far as they are concerned it is common sense (to close the bin) and could prevent potential injury in doing so.

 

[suze2000]

Having suffered a neck injury in a car accident (not even a serious one!) that has caused me to suffer for 20 years, I would prefer if the bin was closed.

A lot of carryon these days is over the weight limit (since they don't check it and no-one knows), so the potential for serious injury is quite high. Heck sometimes my HANDBAG weighs close to 4kg with the iPad and everything else in it (a nightmare on my poor neck!).

I have seen FAs fail to close these bins properly on a number of occasions (usually straps caught in the catch), so it's not surprising that this happens occasionally, though a little bit more vigilance might help. It doesn't help that 767 bins open upwards, which makes the bags more likely to fall out.

 

[Mattg]

Have seen a similar thing happen a few rows in front during the takeoff roll on a 767. The FA waited until the seatbelt sign was extinguished before getting up to close the bin and check passengers were okay.

 

[erkpod]

Ted Stryker saved the day even though mutli engine flying is a totally different way of flying altogether.

Closing an overhead luggage bin ... not so much.

 

[Fruitcake]

This reminds me of a terrifying incident a couple of years ago when landing at SYD - the coughpit door of the NZ A320 swung open as the nose gear touched down! I was certain we were going to be hijacked! Fortunately after the aircraft had decelerated and moved off the high-speed taxiway the brave FA was able to shut the door.

 

[Sdtravel]

Similar situation happened to me a few years back on CX I think it was.
was in my seat and suddenly this bag fell on my lap. obviously the locker wasn't closed properly or checked and it fell during take off turbulence. Was a bit of a shock to suddenly have this thing fall from above. Was going to wait before putting it back but then an announcement came that there was a turbulence a bit ahead so the seat beat sign is going to be left on a little longer. Given it was smooth and levelled out I chose to quickly get up and put the bag back and close the bin. Didn't want anything else falling on me if there was more turbulence.
FA then comes up and lectures me in Chinese which I don't speak (granted I do look Asian but just dont speak). Finally when she is done I say "I don't know what you just said". Somewhat annoyed she just says "please remain seated while the seat belt sign is on". I think she probably had more to say in Chinese than the short telling off she gave me in English.

so it's ok for her to come and give me a lecture in 2 languages while the seatbelf sign is on for like 30- 45 seconds but not ok for me to get up put a bag back and close the locker in under 5 seconds to ensure I don't get more cough on me.

 

[Flying Fox]

Speaking of closing overhead bins.

I remember a few years ago I was on Air NZ flying back from NZ on a 767. I was sitting against the window and next to me was a very pleasant Japanese business man who had the isle seat. Mid flight a gentleman (I use this term loosely) opened the locker above us and got something out and left the door open. He sat back down and then a bottle of booze like Tia-Maria or similar fell out of the locked and got Mr Japanese business man on the head. He didn't say a word - amazing. I called a FA and he got some ice in a pack for his head and some attention but that was about all. The locker was then closed. Mr Moron who left the door open didn't give a cough about it all.

Later on during the flight he did the exact same thing. I was so mad and got up and closed the door by reaching over from the window seat.

I felt super bad for Mr Japanese Business Man and wanted to eject Mr Moron.

So from that day on, I have been super aware of making sure lockers stay closed.

 

[legroom]

I am as upset with the FA (for not remonstrating with Mr. Moron) as with that imbecile himself.

The FA's primary role is passenger safety which had been breached by a negligent act - intentional or not.

And, no words !!!

An epic fail on my book, sorry.

Speaking of closing overhead bins.

I remember a few years ago I was on Air NZ flying back from NZ on a 767. I was sitting against the window and next to me was a very pleasant Japanese business man who had the isle seat. Mid flight a gentleman (I use this term loosely) opened the locker above us and got something out and left the door open. He sat back down and then a bottle of booze like Tia-Maria or similar fell out of the locked and got Mr Japanese business man on the head. He didn't say a word - amazing. I called a FA and he got some ice in a pack for his head and some attention but that was about all. The locker was then closed. Mr Moron who left the door open didn't give a cough about it all.

Later on during the flight he did the exact same thing. I was so mad and got up and closed the door by reaching over from the window seat.

I felt super bad for Mr Japanese Business Man and wanted to eject Mr Moron.

So from that day on, I have been super aware of making sure lockers stay closed.

 

[Flying Fox]

I am as upset with the FA (for not remonstrating with Mr. Moron) as with that imbecile himself.

The FA's primary role is passenger safety which had been breached by a negligent act - intentional or not.

And, no words !!!

An epic fail on my book, sorry.

I understand your point.

However, from memory I think Mr Moron turned his head once, saw the commotion etc and kept his head down the rest of the time pretending to be reading or whatever. He acted simply like a passenger who wast totally unaware of what was going on. He certainly didn't apologise.

I don't remember if the FA 'investigated' the incident and I don't remember if I pointed out Mr Moron as being the offender or not.

Maybe I should have told the FA who the offender was???

 

[Robbi]

I don't remember if the FA 'investigated' the incident and I don't remember if I pointed out Mr Moron as being the offender or not.

Maybe I should have told the FA who the offender was???

I would have. If the businessman was injured Mr Moron should have been identified so he can pay compensation via due process.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would have. If the businessman was injured Mr Moron should have been identified so he can pay compensation via due process.

that's an interesting question. The airline is liable under international law for injury sustained. any action by an injured party would be against the airline.

I don't know whether an airline in turn would sue a passenger. Not good PR. and could lead to other conflicts with safety on board.