RetiredATLATC
Well-Known Member
While waiting to board/and once boarded DL632 UIO-ATL on September 24, my wife and I observed something that, after over 30 years of aviation experience (ATL air traffic controller (30 yrs)-retired), had us & at least one other passenger concerned and thinking about exiting the flight.
The pilot was first to arrive to the gate area, followed by the FA's a few minutes later, so far normal.
Approximately 10-15 minutes later the First Officer arrived and looked quite unsteady and severly unkempt and not sure of where to go (obviously could have been his first time in UIO, but his actions didn't seem to be that).
After boarding and seated (2C/2D), the First Officer came out of the flight deck & stood just outside the flight deck in front of the bathroom door and flight deck door. He had most of his shirt untucked, almost down to the back of his knees, his belt hanging out on both sides and undone and his fly completely open where you could see his briefs underneath. Honestly, he looked like he was inebriated & unsteady on his feet.
The passenger seated in 1C was texting someone about his appearance and that she seemed concerned. He stood there for approximately 4-5 minutes talking with the FA's oblivious to his appearance.
The FO went into the bathroom and then back to the flight deck. The woman seated in 1C attempted to go to the bathroom right after and something had happened in there, after the FO had left, that sent her back to her seat with a disgusted look, and mentioned something to her husband and the FC FA.
As I said, I've worked in aviation my entire working life and have spent hundreds of hours on the flight deck observing crew operations/CRM and this is the first time that I was seriously comsidering removing myself & my wife from the flight. I was reluctant to say anything as I'm sure you've seen in the press how sometimes things can be misconstrued and the passengers are removed from aircraft for voicing concerns. I said nothing as the captain seemed ok with the situation.
In the end, the flight arrived on time, and no worse for the wear, but this was unnerving in the moment.
Would you have said something, or should I have said something and possibly been tagged as a problem passenger?
Thanks
CJ
(On the plus side, he had 4 Union affirmative type lanyards around his pasty unshaven neck/face.)
The pilot was first to arrive to the gate area, followed by the FA's a few minutes later, so far normal.
Approximately 10-15 minutes later the First Officer arrived and looked quite unsteady and severly unkempt and not sure of where to go (obviously could have been his first time in UIO, but his actions didn't seem to be that).
After boarding and seated (2C/2D), the First Officer came out of the flight deck & stood just outside the flight deck in front of the bathroom door and flight deck door. He had most of his shirt untucked, almost down to the back of his knees, his belt hanging out on both sides and undone and his fly completely open where you could see his briefs underneath. Honestly, he looked like he was inebriated & unsteady on his feet.
The passenger seated in 1C was texting someone about his appearance and that she seemed concerned. He stood there for approximately 4-5 minutes talking with the FA's oblivious to his appearance.
The FO went into the bathroom and then back to the flight deck. The woman seated in 1C attempted to go to the bathroom right after and something had happened in there, after the FO had left, that sent her back to her seat with a disgusted look, and mentioned something to her husband and the FC FA.
As I said, I've worked in aviation my entire working life and have spent hundreds of hours on the flight deck observing crew operations/CRM and this is the first time that I was seriously comsidering removing myself & my wife from the flight. I was reluctant to say anything as I'm sure you've seen in the press how sometimes things can be misconstrued and the passengers are removed from aircraft for voicing concerns. I said nothing as the captain seemed ok with the situation.
In the end, the flight arrived on time, and no worse for the wear, but this was unnerving in the moment.
Would you have said something, or should I have said something and possibly been tagged as a problem passenger?
Thanks
CJ
(On the plus side, he had 4 Union affirmative type lanyards around his pasty unshaven neck/face.)