Todos
← Back to Squawk list
A baggage handler was locked in the cargo hold during flight #UA6060 from Charlotte to Washington Dulles
United Airlines says it is investigating after a baggage handler was found in an aircraft's cargo hold following a flight from Charlotte to Washington Dulles International Airport. (www.airlive.net) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Years ago while still at the gate on a 737 at Newark I heard banging noises below the floor under my seat, and muffled shouting, and I notified the flight attendant. I had a window seat right over the cargo hold, and I watched them re-open the hold. I then saw a very upset cargo handler after he got out of the hold. I still wonder how he got stuck in there.
I remember a long time ago on a 737, I was working in the Aft Compartment just in front of the APU finalizing some work. I had a tall ladder and the door was open. Next thing I knew the a/c started pushing back form the gate. I had the log book locked up in the vehicle.. First thing I did was start pulling cannon plugs... especially when I heard the #2 engine starting to spool... I disconnect the stabs, and any other cannon plug that I could find (at least a dozen of them). Upon being pulled back into the gate another mechanic climbed up and opened the door and I flew out! he hollared at me and said (Before you go and kill someone, what did you do"... I yelled back! "Canon Plugs"... Never did find that moron, and I think he knew better than to show his face that day!... I talked with the Captain and asked to see his log book... He could not find it.... I advised him that it was locked in my truck! He had nothing else to say!
The railroads have a safety protocol where a worker places a blue flag that can be seen by the engineer, and it means personnel working...don't move! Only the person placing the flag is supposed to be able to remove it. Sounds like the airlines need a similar protocol. A "remove before flight" flag that could be locked to the nose gear in sight of the tug operator would do.
The cargo hold of all modern passenger aircraft are pressurized, it is contained within the fuselage pressure vessel, but is not necessarily heated. I'm betting he was fairly cold by the time he reached the other end of the flight.
Very True, but it is also quite small, uncomfortable, and not safe. How could anyone close this compartment with someone inside? Also, why was he not making so much noise that the Pax would complain. If it were me, I would remove the canon plugs from the Fire Detectors.... What good would that do... Simple... It would though a failure to the crew and they would have had to do a return to gate or at least send maintenance out to check it. You can defer 1 detector, but not both... To me, I think this guy probably fell asleep, did not realize what was going on and was 1/2 way there before he woke up....
Or he pissed off his co-workers and they shut him in the hold for a one way trip in an attempt to getting him fired. Heard about something like that happening years ago at O'Hare on a Delta flight to somewhere in the southeast (Atlanta maybe?). The guy didn't lose his job, but some other ground handlers did get reprimanded.
As they should have been. They should have been fired on the spot. When you close a compartment, you look inside of it first... PERIOD NO EXCEPTION... Even if you are just looking for FOD!
Would the average ramper know about the plugs in the course of the job?
Plugs?
" If it were me, I would remove the canon plugs from the Fire Detectors.."
Those plugs.
Those plugs.
There are a lot of types of Plugs... Wondering which ones.
I think Joel is referring to the canon plugs you indicated you removed during your adventures in the cargo pit.
I think so, but mine was in the Aft Equipment Bay! While working on the Aircraft!
I inferred from your "If it were me" that there were some plugs in the cargo bay available for pulling to get the attention of the flight deck. I was wondering if the baggage stuffers would normally be aware of them and the effect of pulling them.
I recall your mention of your experience in the bay, but enjoyed the reminder.
I recall your mention of your experience in the bay, but enjoyed the reminder.
I can certainly guarantee that I would have done something... I would have been pounding on the floors to where everyone would have heard if not felt me! UGH...