JustinS
Well-Known Member
She could've at least called 911 and had someone sent over to see him, and try to save him. It's a sad story all around.
Southwest denies emergency phone call before take off
- Thread starter jgheggie
- Start date
She could've at least called 911 and had someone sent over to see him, and try to save him. It's a sad story all around.
No, she didn't have the chance to stop him from killing himself. He already had done it. A 911 call might have gotten emergency response there in time to save him (might). But apparently she wasn't calling 911. To save his life, he needed emergency medical attention to deal with the drugs that were now in his system. A phone call from her to him will not accomplish that. He had already taken the drugs. It was not possible for her to "talk him down", he had already done it.
I'm not trying to defend the FA. As I've said, I'd have brought the pilots into the loop, which apparently she didn't. We need to hear the entire story. Why didn't the FA notify the pilots? Exactly what did the woman say when told to turn off her phone?
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
There wasn't even a need to notify the flight deck. Just let her make the call. Good grief. No phone call has ever endangered an airliner.
I think in a situation like that, the pilots do need to know what's going on. While it's not a safety-of-flight "emergency" situation (like smoke in the cabin) it is a "situation". The pax would have been better off taken back to the gate to deal with the situation, and I'm genuinely curious to hear why this wasn't an option or wasn't done.
Goonie
Never say die
That's the thing. There is no reason I could think of why that wasn't an option. If the plane was on the ground than it was an option. I guess the FA didn't think a persons spouse about to kill themself justified compromising on time performance. And I'm not even blaming her for that, It's an airline culture thing.
And like @ATN_Pilot said. Phones do not disrupt any flight instrumentation what so ever. It's a myth that has been debunked many times, but the FAA wants to hold onto it.
I know pilots personally who have overheard pax cell phone conversations on the radios.
Why this flight didn't go back to the gate, I don't know. I would like to hear the crew's story to understand.
People hell bent on killing themselves are going to do it, regardless of what intervention occurs.
I wouldn't call them losers, as its their life to do with what they wish, including ending it. And if they end it at a time and place of their own choosing and in their own way, taking only their own life, who am I to judge?
I'd be calling 911 and like Doug has said, clearly and firmly communicating what was going on. My phone is turned off during all phases of flight where it's required to be, so I would not be receiving a txt like that during a time when I couldn't make a phone call.
I doubt the husband just texted her out of the blue, with no other indicators of any other kinds of problems, that he just wanted to kill himself.
That said, I wonder along with Doug, what was she doing on some girls weekend vacation if there were problems of this depth, at home?
That's the story that's missing.
Ultimately, I think it's person's right to live or not live their life as they see fit. If they want to kill themselves, I know it's not a popular opinion but I say I don't judge and it's none of my business. I do ask that a person not involve kids in any way (don't do it in such a way the kids will find the body), but it's their life to live or not. I would caution that it is absolutely permanent. There's no changing your mind. So be sure. And most suicidal tendencies are depression induced, and depression is treatable. Treat the depression, and the suicidal thoughts often disappear. However, ultimately, I think a person's life is theirs to choose to live or not.
Goonie
Never say die
Yeah but that story is none of our business. And really has no relevance on what happened. There is zero reason they couldn't let her make the phone calls. Weather it was too late with him already eating pills is irrelevant.
Lets speculate and say his depression was deep and a big problem at the household. There are many cases where the spouse or loved ones start becoming victims themselves to people's clinical problems. I know people that have had long battles with cancer and the loved ones secretly inside are hoping they die soon so they can start a normal life again. This might be one of those things they agreed on where she needed to get away from the situation. Who knows and not our business.
Sure it has relevance. It's the lead-up to this whole damn mess.
Now we're getting somewhere. So, why the sudden change of heart?
The backstory is relevant here. Along with the ways she chose to handle the situation, as well as how the airline chose to.
PositionAndHold
Well-Known Member
I would've thought the same thing until a few years ago. One of the most successful guys I went to high school with killed himself. He just had a little boy a few months prior, he and his wife were getting along. Things seemed great. One day he drove to one of the families old camping spots and killed himself. Didn't tell any one where he was going or doing. Just did it. In fact, it took them several days to find him based on credit card transactions etc. Bottom line, some people are really good at hiding those emotions until they act on it. We don't know if that's the case here but it's definitely possible.
To me, it's less about the "phone call" as it is let's get the lady back to the gate so she can have the space and communication availability she needs to take care of a personal emergency situation. Even IF she was allowed to have free use of her phone throughout the flight (we'll completely ignore FCC and FAA regulations and the fallout from ignoring those) she would probably not be able to maintain a constant signal and uninterrupted communications. Let her get off the plane and be in contact with the husband, the police/emergency personnel and hopefully be taken to quiet area of the airport to deal with it in a somewhat private environment. She needs to deal with the situation, I get it, let's get her off the plane so she can, and so everyone else can be on their way too.
Again, I want to hear from the crew as to why they didn't go back to the gate.
Again, I want to hear from the crew as to why they didn't go back to the gate.
Agreed. And generally people like that do just what you describe here. Just do it. With no fanfare, and no warning, and no "I'm going to......." messages to anyone.
Bob Ridpath
Pit Bull love
One of the most important numbers which you should program into your cell phone is that of the correct police agency which covers the jurisdiction around your home.
The 911 system is designed to connect people to LOCAL help. If you dial 911 hundreds of miles from your home, your call will be answered by someone who is hundreds of miles away from the help your loved one needs quickly. We have no particularly quick way of knowing who dispatches the local fire or rescue squad, if it's the Town of Poughkeepsie or City of Poughkeepsie Police who respond to your home address, for example, or what County Sheriff or specific State Police barracks may cover a small town in Podunk, Wisconsin.
Not every area is covered by a large 911 Center, and guess what? We can't dial 911 lest we talk to ourselves. We have to find a local seven digit phone number to contact ANY agency outside of our own. We have speed dials to adjoinging centers and agencies, and a moderate database of varying accuracy to additional PSAPs but there are THOUSANDS of Public Safety Answering Points throughout the United States, and it can take a while sometimes to get help started to an address hundreds of miles away.
Your cell phone is NOT the quickest way to get help in your hometown while you travel. It will connect you to a resource which is local to you as you place the 911 call but that will only start a time-consuming process of notifying the agency which can finally do something for your loved one.
Local police can do a welfare check and know how to get in contact with the agency that dispatches fire and EMS in your hometown. If you are a traveler, one of the single-best programmed numbers you can have in your cell phone is that of your local police department.
The 911 system is designed to connect people to LOCAL help. If you dial 911 hundreds of miles from your home, your call will be answered by someone who is hundreds of miles away from the help your loved one needs quickly. We have no particularly quick way of knowing who dispatches the local fire or rescue squad, if it's the Town of Poughkeepsie or City of Poughkeepsie Police who respond to your home address, for example, or what County Sheriff or specific State Police barracks may cover a small town in Podunk, Wisconsin.
Not every area is covered by a large 911 Center, and guess what? We can't dial 911 lest we talk to ourselves. We have to find a local seven digit phone number to contact ANY agency outside of our own. We have speed dials to adjoinging centers and agencies, and a moderate database of varying accuracy to additional PSAPs but there are THOUSANDS of Public Safety Answering Points throughout the United States, and it can take a while sometimes to get help started to an address hundreds of miles away.
Your cell phone is NOT the quickest way to get help in your hometown while you travel. It will connect you to a resource which is local to you as you place the 911 call but that will only start a time-consuming process of notifying the agency which can finally do something for your loved one.
Local police can do a welfare check and know how to get in contact with the agency that dispatches fire and EMS in your hometown. If you are a traveler, one of the single-best programmed numbers you can have in your cell phone is that of your local police department.
Goonie
Never say die
But I'm not quite sure I understand what you're getting at? Should the FA have asked the back Story before letting her make the call?? The point is the planes on the ground, her husband is about to kill himself. That's all that's known and needs to be know. Be a human and do something about it.
That's really great info. I know 911 calls route local, but I guess I had thought it was easier than it is to relay an emergency notification from one area to another. Thank you for sharing that.
