JetBlue Airlines, deservedly well known for offering cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, now has to deal with a flight attendant turned folk hero to some who now wants his job back. This is the same flight attendant, Steve Slater, who after being repeatedly verbally abused by a passenger responded in kind and then exited a parked JetBlue plane by triggering an emergency slide.
After being cursed several times by a passenger who was unwilling to sit in her seat while the plane was still on an active runway Steve ultimately got on the plane’s public address system and said, according to another passenger on board "To the passenger who just called me a mother f-----, f--- you, I’ve been in this business 20 years, and I’ve had it."
Steve’s lawyer has been quoted saying that Steve wants his job back "That’s his life. His father was a pilot; his mother was a flight attendant. That’s in his blood. That’s what he likes to do."
Whether Steve can ever regain his job is uncertain. JetBlue has said that Slater was removed from duty pending the outcome of an internal inquiry. His behavior has been described by JetBlue as "highly unique." An internal JetBlue memo commented on Slater’s actions noting "Intentionally arming and deploying an evacuation slide for anything other than the express purpose of protecting the safety of our crew and customers is unacceptable. It will not, and can not, be tolerated."
While Slater’s behavior clearly violated JetBlue’s employee standards, JetBlue is keenly aware of the popular support that has been expressed for his actions. Over 200,000 "fans" have expressed support for Steve Slater on a public Facebook page.
Slater’s lawyer is optimistic regarding the charges Steve faces saying "I believe there will be a favorable outcome for my client that should satisfy all parties in this case."
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