US Airways FA found dead on Mexico City layover

I went to Juarez and felt perfectly safe and that's the murder capital of the world. It's all about how you carry yourself. Act scared and you will get pounced on. Act like your willing to put up a fight, not afraid and not apart of any of the gangs and you "should" be fine.
 
That's why it's great being short and black. Everyone presumes you're packing your "gat" so no one bothers you. :)

(Yeah I said it!)
 
Just because you felt safe doesn't mean you actually were. I feel for anyone who expires on an overnight, no matter the cause.
 
Italianaviator said:
I went to Juarez and felt perfectly safe and that's the murder capital of the world. It's all about how you carry yourself. Act scared and you will get pounced on. Act like your willing to put up a fight, not afraid and not apart of any of the gangs and you "should" be fine.
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Wisdom. I walked around El Paso for hours in neighborhoods where I was pretty obviously "out of place". I'm a 5'10 pasty white guy who weighs maybe 155 soaking wet. Nothing but polite smiles and nods. People are people everywhere. If you look like you have something to be afraid of, you'll be treated as such. If you look like you know what you're about and aren't looking to cause Trouble, you'll be treated that way, too. The sad truth is that most people who find themselves In Trouble did something to put themselves there. Don't do nuthin stupid, and you're more liable than not to walk out under your own power.

Which is not, btw, to say anything about the subject of the post. Lord knows what happened to that poor guy. Regardless, sucks.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Maybe it's one, maybe it's the other. Either way, it sucks that the dude died. As an aside, I always find it darkly amusing that Americans are falling all over themselves to decry the violence of our southern neighbors when it's our own desire for drugz that's the ultimate cause of most of it. "Let's fix all the horrifying drug violence of those poor savages, preferably with JDAMs,...as long as it doesn't get between me and my dime bag..."
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Legalize it here and get rid of the black market.....
 
Doug Taylor said:
Layover safety is paramount but people take very few precautions.

Personally, I suggest blending in. Watching where you eat and where you drink because you can "disappear" very easily overseas and just as easy in the US.

When you "resemble a pilot" with the dad jeans/khakis and the flip-flops/black shoes, you've just indicated that you're temporarily in town, unsure of your surroundings and an easy target. In Europe, it's even worse because you've just displayed that you don't speak the language, don't know how to contact the authorities, and you'll be leaving soon so you're a SUPER easy target.

Blend in, watch your back, have fun but be suspicious and you'll be fine.
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In the words of my hero..GI Joe...konwing is half the battle! Condolences out to this persons family and friends....
 
I loved when Adult Swim re-dubbed the GI Joe "knowing is half the battle" videos. They're all over the youtube.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Layover safety is paramount but people take very few precautions.

Personally, I suggest blending in. Watching where you eat and where you drink because you can "disappear" very easily overseas and just as easy in the US.

When you "resemble a pilot" with the dad jeans/khakis and the flip-flops/black shoes, you've just indicated that you're temporarily in town, unsure of your surroundings and an easy target. In Europe, it's even worse because you've just displayed that you don't speak the language, don't know how to contact the authorities, and you'll be leaving soon so you're a SUPER easy target.

Blend in, watch your back, have fun but be suspicious and you'll be fine.
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In other words...do your best not to dress like a typical American.

I have done plenty of layovers down in Mexico this past year..Leon, San Luis Potosi, etc... Never felt unsafe. Me and the crew took a bus into Guanajuato this past summer and spent the day walking all over town. Again, never felt unsafe for a second. That's not to say we didn't take precautions...including me advising our Captain to take his watch back up to his room before we left.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Wisdom. I walked around El Paso for hours in neighborhoods where I was pretty obviously "out of place". I'm a 5'10 pasty white guy who weighs maybe 155 soaking wet. Nothing but polite smiles and nods. People are people everywhere. If you look like you have something to be afraid of, you'll be treated as such. If you look like you know what you're about and aren't looking to cause Trouble, you'll be treated that way, too. The sad truth is that most people who find themselves In Trouble did something to put themselves there. Don't do nuthin stupid, and you're more liable than not to walk out under your own power.

Which is not, btw, to say anything about the subject of the post. Lord knows what happened to that poor guy. Regardless, sucks.
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Actually, having lived in El Paso, you can pretty much do this. Last year there were only 5 murders and 4 of them were domestic violence. The other was a hit. You can walk in any area at night and be safe. I never had to worry about my wife working late. Crime that involved personal contact was very rare there.
Now Juarez... sorry, even blending in you are asking for trouble there. It seemed like once a month some poor kid from El Paso was over there visiting relatives and got caught in cross fire.
 
Italianaviator said:
I went to Juarez and felt perfectly safe and that's the murder capital of the world. It's all about how you carry yourself. Act scared and you will get pounced on. Act like your willing to put up a fight, not afraid and not apart of any of the gangs and you "should" be fine.
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Sorry, but you're a fool. Many people with your attitude have been found face down in a pool of blood in Juarez. I literally could see Juarez from my back patio, so I've got a little experience there.
 
Nick said:
I put zero stock in feeling safe!

I never felt unsafe on a layover in Guanajuato either, or any other Mexico layover for that matter. In fact I even have done some urban hikes with not much on me other than a little bit of cash into areas that I would not go in now.

Mexico isn't what it used to be, from what I've read since I stopped flying there anyway. As much as I really liked laying over in places south of the border on a regular basis, at this time I don't really mind that I'm not doing that anymore.

And yes, Memphis is in the same league as Mexico. :/

I felt safe walking around Johannesburg a few days ago but that doesn't mean I wasn't in one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
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Mind you, I put zero stock in 'feeling safe' through ignorance. Feeling safe through vigilance, planning, and good communication are something else entirely.

1) Stay visible.
2) Don't be an obvious target (flashing cash, jewelry, etc)
3) Don't draw attention any more than you already do.
4) Eyes on the exits. Know the way you came in. Know a different way out. Multiple, if possible.
5) If you start feeling the heebedy-jeebedies, get lost in a crowd.
6) I say again, eyes on the exits. Always know your way out.
7) Ah yes- stay sober. No reason to have all this awareness and then tank it intentional. Derp.
 
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