Buzz
In today’s world, air travel has become more of a hassle than a pleasure. Between the constant delays, ever-changing rules about what’s allowed on board, and those annoyingly smaller seats, even the walkways to the parking lot at the airport can seem like a more relaxing destination. And the worst part? You’ll likely have to go through all of it again just to return home.
Whether flying fills you with anxiety or drains you with exhaustion, the experience is often made worse by the behavior of the flight crew. These ten stories highlight some of the most epic and laughable mistakes and meltdowns involving pilots and flight attendants that passengers will never forget.
10. Wrong Flight Path
In January 2014, passengers aboard a Southwest Airlines flight were shocked when their 737 had to execute a hard brake on landing to avoid going over a steep drop. Had the plane not stopped in time, they would have found themselves in serious danger, as the aircraft had landed on the wrong runway at the wrong Missouri airport due to pilot error. The pilots admitted to confusing the runway lights of a smaller airport with those of their intended destination. Deborah Herman, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, emphasized, 'Mistaking a nearby airport for the intended one, or landing on the wrong runway or taxiway, can have catastrophic consequences.' Following the incident, an investigation led to the suspension of both pilots, with the copilot ultimately retiring.
However, such mistakes are not as rare as one might think. In 2015, an AirAsia flight from Sydney to Malaysia ended up in an entirely different location after the captain mistakenly entered the wrong coordinates into the plane’s navigation system. The situation worsened when the aircraft lost its route directions and GPS. Despite the complications, the flight eventually landed safely, albeit in Melbourne.
9. Daredevils
In October 2017, two sentimental Air Berlin pilots decided to make an unforgettable final gesture by taking their Airbus A330 on a daring ‘honorary lap’ over the airport after their transatlantic flight from Miami to Berlin. This flight was the airline's last one across the Atlantic, and the pilots, in an emotional bid to say goodbye, chose to break from standard procedure and make an unusual, dramatic maneuver. Unfortunately, this 'dignified farewell' turned into a moment of reckless daring.
The pilots disregarded the usual landing procedures, making a sharp left bank, flying dangerously low over the airport and just inches away from the control tower. Passengers were left screaming in terror, fearing they were moments away from disaster. Onlookers on the ground and airport staff were understandably alarmed, assuming that the jet was on a collision course with the terminal. 'It was a strange feeling when the A330 came right at us, as we did not know before that it would do a honorary lap,' one stunned observer said.
Although the stunt concluded without incident, it triggered an immediate investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and both pilots were swiftly suspended indefinitely.
8. The Breaking Point
Everyone has a breaking point. For JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater, his meltdown became infamous when it cost him his job. While his plane was approaching the gate at Kennedy International Airport in August 2010, Slater tried to calm an unruly passenger who refused to stay seated. As he approached the man, who was rummaging through the overhead bins, Slater was hit in the head by the passenger's heavy carry-on bag.
Rather than apologizing, the passenger cursed at Slater, causing him to respond via the plane’s intercom with a string of choice, colorful insults. After announcing, 'It’s been great!' and signaling that he had enough, Slater downed a beer, activated the emergency slide, and made a dramatic exit, marking the end of his two-decade career.
Later that afternoon, authorities surrounded Slater's home as if it were the scene of Raid on Entebbe. The cheerful, newly jobless flight attendant was taken into custody. He was charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, though his fellow flight attendants rallied behind him, saying, 'Enough is enough—good for him. If he had called me, I would’ve come to pick him up.'
7. Texas Airspace Expletives
In March 2011, a Southwest Airlines pilot had an early morning rant when he expressed his frustration to his copilot, releasing a string of expletives. Although private conversations are allowed in cockpits, the pilot accidentally broadcasted his entire tirade throughout Texas airspace. His anger was directed at the personal attributes of his coworkers, including their sexuality, age, and size.
There’s twelve flight attendants. Eleven (expletive) over the top (expletive), (expletive) homosexuals and a granny. Eleven. I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party-land. After that, it was just a continuous stream of gays and grannies and grands. Now I’m back in Houston, which is easily one of the ugliest bases. I mean it’s all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies and there’s like maybe a handful of cute chicks.
At some point, Houston air traffic control had enough of the offensive rant, especially when the pilot started insulting their own colleagues. They intervened, saying, 'OK, whoever is, uh, transmitting, better watch what you’re saying.' One can only imagine the moment of realization and the shock on the pilot’s face when he discovered that the microphone was still on. The pilot was eventually suspended without pay after air traffic controllers sent the recording to the FAA.
6. When Nature Demands Urgent Attention
Diarrhea is never a pleasant experience, especially when you're 11,600 meters (38,000 feet) up in the air, and your name is Joao Correa. On a Delta flight from Honduras to Atlanta in March 2009, the 43-year-old Cleveland man found himself urgently needing to go just 30 minutes into the flight. Despite his best efforts to hold it in, Correa attempted to reach the restroom, only to find that the only aisle in the Boeing 737 was blocked by a beverage cart. After his request to use the business class lavatory was denied, Correa waited, but his patience was running out.
Realizing he couldn't wait any longer, Correa sprinted toward business class like an Olympic sprinter. There, he encountered an inflexible flight attendant who insisted on following the rules. Despite his desperate need, she blocked his access to the restroom with her arm. The flight attendant's actions were remarkably lacking in common sense, considering the horrific odors the entire plane would soon be forced to endure. With no time left, Correa grabbed her arm and twisted it to force his way into the bathroom.
Although Correa managed to relieve himself in private, he was arrested upon landing in Atlanta after the stewardess accused him of assault. He was charged with interfering with the flight crew and spent two days in jail before a federal magistrate could hear his case. Ultimately, he struck a deal with federal prosecutors, who agreed to drop the charges if he completed a three-month 'pretrial diversion program.'
5. The Mile-High Club (Solo Edition)
In the past decade, British Airways has faced its fair share of controversies. From cabin crew members indulging in champagne bottles to pilots getting into physical altercations to attendants engaging in intimate acts in front of passengers, there has been no shortage of drama. However, in 2016, the airline faced perhaps its most humiliating scandal when 51-year-old Captain Colin Glover was caught in the act, no pun intended.
A series of explicit photographs surfaced (and made their way into the tabloids) showing Captain Glover pleasuring himself in the cockpit at an altitude of 11,600 meters (38,000 ft). Adding fuel to the fire, a pornographic magazine could be seen placed on top of the plane's controls, and to make matters worse, Captain Glover was wearing black lace stockings, with a photograph showing a naked man in the plane’s lavatory.
The scandalous photos are believed to have been taken on two separate long-haul flights, though some speculate the incident might have occurred in a simulator instead of an actual flight. Despite Captain Glover's denial that the images feature him, he was grounded indefinitely while the airline carried out an investigation.
4. Shout! Shout! Let It All Out!
It's often assumed that in times of uncertainty, one can look to their flight attendant for reassurance. Though we expect them to maintain composure, human nature can override any training when the unexpected happens. Such was the case in October 2017 when an AirAsia flight traveling from Perth to Bali experienced a sudden drop in cabin pressure, causing the plane to drop 6,700 meters (22,000 ft).
Initially, there was no real panic—until the flight attendants began screaming bloody murder, causing many of the 145 passengers to soil their shorts. This naturally led to the passengers joining in with the screams, as if they were at a death metal concert, desperately reaching for their oxygen masks. One passenger, in particular, was so terrified by the crew's dramatic, diva-like reaction that he sent a goodbye message to his son. 'The panic was escalated because of the behavior of the staff who were screaming,' a tearful and shaken passenger remarked, only to realize their fate was not sealed once the cabin pressure was restored.
After the terrifying roller coaster ride, AirAsia Indonesia issued an apology 'for any inconvenience caused.'
3. 'We’re All Going Down!'
The pressures of the job can sometimes break even the strongest minds. This was the case in 2012 when JetBlue pilot Captain Clayton Osbon had a midair meltdown, forcing his Las Vegas-bound flight to divert to Amarillo, Texas. Over the intercom, Osbon declared, 'This is your captain freaking out,' before running up and down the aisle, shouting about terrorist attacks and calling for passengers to embrace religion: 'Pray f—king now for Jesus Christ. This plane will never make it to Vegas. We’re all going down!' As panicked passengers braced for the worst, a few brave (and increasingly frustrated) travelers tackled Osbon, pinning him to the cabin floor while the flight’s first officer locked him out of the cockpit.
Months later, Osbon faced trial and was acquitted in a Texas federal court by reason of insanity. What seems even more ludicrous is that after his acquittal, Osbon boldly chose to sue JetBlue for nearly $15 million, alleging that the airline had been negligent by not grounding him, which ultimately cost him his job and reputation.
As if things weren't bad enough for JetBlue, 13 out of the 135 passengers on board also filed lawsuits against the airline. A Brooklyn man, who opted to take legal action, recounted, “When he shouted, ‘Put the plane in neutral,’ I thought I was saying my final prayer and bidding farewell to everyone I knew.”
2. Bathroom Break
A series of comedic missteps unfolded 3,000 meters (10,000 ft) in the air in 2011 when the captain of a Chatauqua Airlines flight decided to take a bathroom break just before landing. After his much-needed relief, the pilot tried to leave the lavatory but found himself trapped when the door latch broke. Panicking with only minutes left before landing, he began banging on the door, which drew the attention of a passenger sitting in the front row. The captain instructed the passenger to inform the crew in the cockpit about his unfortunate situation.
Unfortunately for the well-meaning passenger, his accent, which was perceived as “Middle Eastern,” caused alarm in the cockpit, with the crew fearing a hijacking was underway. The copilot immediately contacted air traffic control, reporting: “The captain is missing, and, uh, there’s someone with a thick foreign accent trying to enter the cockpit. I’ve been told he’s stuck in the lav, and, uh, someone with a thick foreign accent is giving me a code to access the cockpit. I’m not allowing him in.”
The captain was fortunate enough to break down the bathroom door just in time to calm his copilot’s anxiety and safely land at LaGuardia Airport. However, upon touching down, the plane was greeted by the FBI and Port Authority officers. As time passed, it became apparent that the entire situation was a rather embarrassing misunderstanding.
1. Warning Signs
In November 2015, an American Airlines flight bound for Germany was waiting on the tarmac in Charlotte, North Carolina, preparing for takeoff when several flight attendants grew increasingly worried about their colleague, stewardess Joanne Snow. Despite informing a federal air marshal that Snow’s erratic behavior posed a potential threat to the safety and security of the flight, American Airlines ignored their concerns and rejected the request to remove her. Even more troubling, Snow herself admitted to the air marshal before departure that she was “crazy” and a “train wreck.”
As the flight continued, the stewardesses' fears were realized when Snow slapped one of the attendants across the face. Less than an hour later, she began shoving an air marshal seated in the front of the plane multiple times, then directed her physical aggression toward another air marshal in the back. Embracing her inner Rocky Balboa, Snow punched one of the officers in the chest, knocking him backward. Despite all of this, Snow was not arrested in Germany and was allowed to board the return flight the following day, during which her unstable behavior only worsened. It wasn't until she tried to bypass a passport control officer in Charlotte that she was detained by several officers, who struggled to restrain her as she kicked and screamed.
Snow was charged with interfering with the crew and assaulting air marshals. In the end, she was acquitted after being found not guilty by reason of insanity. The cause of her actions was determined to be a “psychotic break while being treated with anti-aging hormone injections.”
