Pilot pleaded to evacuate passengers stranded in Rochester

Note to Pilot:

In the future pull the plane up to a gate and open the door. No one will blame you for making an intelligent executive decsion.

If that isn't going to work, point the plane north for the 15 minute flight to MSP. You can rest assured the security staff is available 24 hours a day there.

You don't "plead" for SIX HOURS. Be the Captain you are paid to be.

Ya really think anyone is going to take the blame for this mess? In everyone's mind their not at fault. Someone else is.

The airlines involved and the staff at the Rochester airport need to man up and take the responsibility for this mess.

If they don't think is was "that big a deal" we need to lock them into a plane of the same size with the same number and kind of passengers for six hours and see how they enjoy it. Maybe they'll get the picture then.

As for the pilot - nice try by pleading for six hours, but you could have just done what needed to be done and said f*** the airport authority.

The Captain of a ship of fools.

"improperly refused the requests of the captain to let her passengers off the plane"

She, the captain needed to man up and just do it. You are the captain, make a decision and stand by it. You chose to attempt to beg to deplane. You are still at fault for not taking a position of this is what we are going to do and deal the consquences of making a decision later. You are the CAPTAIN, period.

As a captain at a "Regional Airline", I am still amazed that this happens. That being said, I was not the one in the situation so I do not have all (or any for that matter) of the facts. But, one thing is for sure....there is no way I'm sitting on that aircraft that long - I don't want to any more than the "paying" passengers. If it were me, and no one wanted to cooperate, I would A) Call my manager on duty and say "Fix it"....I even have my President/CEO's phone numbers in my manual if need be or B) Very simply call 911 and say that someone from the Rochester police department better get to the airport and open it up or there will be a break in....I'll do it. What are they going to say? I'm getting off the airplane along with the passengers and into the terminal. Additionally the airport is "attended" 24 hours....call up the air traffic controllers and get the airport managers number and call the guy at home at 1:00 am and tell him to get his a@# out of bed and open up the airport. This is a symptom of the airline industry - very few can seldom think "Outside the box".....there really are very simple solutions to these simple problems.....This should not happen......

NightRider wrote:

The airlines involved and the staff at the Rochester airport need to man up and take the responsibility for this mess.
If they don't think is was "that big a deal" we need to lock them into a plane of the same size with the same number and kind of passengers for six hours and see how they enjoy it. Maybe they'll get the picture then.
As for the pilot - nice try by pleading for six hours, but you could have just done what needed to be done and said f*** the airport authority.

The Rochester airport was ready and able to deal with the plane. They never got the chance.

Yikes wrote:

As a captain at a "Regional Airline", I am still amazed that this happens. That being said, I was not the one in the situation so I do not have all (or any for that matter) of the facts. But, one thing is for sure....there is no way I'm sitting on that aircraft that long - I don't want to any more than the "paying" passengers. If it were me, and no one wanted to cooperate, I would A) Call my manager on duty and say "Fix it"....I even have my President/CEO's phone numbers in my manual if need be or B) Very simply call 911 and say that someone from the Rochester police department better get to the airport and open it up or there will be a break in....I'll do it. What are they going to say? I'm getting off the airplane along with the passengers and into the terminal. Additionally the airport is "attended" 24 hours....call up the air traffic controllers and get the airport managers number and call the guy at home at 1:00 am and tell him to get his a@# out of bed and open up the airport. This is a symptom of the airline industry - very few can seldom think "Outside the box".....there really are very simple solutions to these simple problems.....This should not happen......

Like I said earlier, the Rochester airport was ready, willing, and able to let the passengers into the terminal. They just never got asked to do so.

NightRider wrote:

The airlines involved and the staff at the Rochester airport need to man up and take the responsibility for this mess.
If they don't think is was "that big a deal" we need to lock them into a plane of the same size with the same number and kind of passengers for six hours and see how they enjoy it. Maybe they'll get the picture then.
As for the pilot - nice try by pleading for six hours, but you could have just done what needed to be done and said f*** the airport authority.

The president of the parent airline couls have defused this whole media mess by flying to Rochester, holding a press conference and admitting "we messed up", then promise to introduce corrective measures and follow through.

The way they "didn't" handle it is the cause of the perceived mess.

This gives liberal politicians fuel to stoke the evil corporation fires which produces anti-business laws that cost jobs.

They really sdcrewed up on this one didn't they?

Now, watch the law suits claiming irrepairable psychological harm.

Only in America folks...only in America!!!

Get a Grip wrote:

Note to Pilot:
In the future pull the plane up to a gate and open the door. No one will blame you for making an intelligent executive decsion.
If that isn't going to work, point the plane north for the 15 minute flight to MSP. You can rest assured the security staff is available 24 hours a day there.
You don't "plead" for SIX HOURS. Be the Captain you are paid to be.

And lose your job and never be a pilot again. Do you honestly think if she did without permission that there wouldn't be huge repercussions, both for her personally, and for the airline? Typical naive response from someone who has never had to make a real decision in their life...

Was it right they had to sit on the plane that long? No. But is it really that big of a deal? No. Things like this happen sometimes.

Yikes wrote:

As a captain at a "Regional Airline", I am still amazed that this happens. That being said, I was not the one in the situation so I do not have all (or any for that matter) of the facts. But, one thing is for sure....there is no way I'm sitting on that aircraft that long - I don't want to any more than the "paying" passengers. If it were me, and no one wanted to cooperate, I would A) Call my manager on duty and say "Fix it"....I even have my President/CEO's phone numbers in my manual if need be or B) Very simply call 911 and say that someone from the Rochester police department better get to the airport and open it up or there will be a break in....I'll do it. What are they going to say? I'm getting off the airplane along with the passengers and into the terminal. Additionally the airport is "attended" 24 hours....call up the air traffic controllers and get the airport managers number and call the guy at home at 1:00 am and tell him to get his a@# out of bed and open up the airport. This is a symptom of the airline industry - very few can seldom think "Outside the box".....there really are very simple solutions to these simple problems.....This should not happen......

Captain, this is not only the airline industry. Everyone has moved to the process based business model in an effort to control costs. Out of the box thinking is severely punished and the concrete sequential are the ones that write the process, even though they have never done nor seen the job. Where process management can be a good thing, there is no latitude for any innovation on the part of the line employee.

Ground the Pilot who obviously cannot be trusted to solve minor problems...you want this ditz in charge when things go wrong at 20,000 feet? Print the name of the dumb bitch at the airport refusing gate service.

I guarentee you...if I am on that plane...and emergency door is opened and I am down the schute

Doesnt surprise me that this was Mesaba Airlines (Delta). I fly quite a bit, and the customer service from Delta since they took over NWest is ridiculous. Not just in MN either, I have had issues with Delta at a few airports across teh county. It seems like there is a lack of managerial direction.
It was not like that a year or two ago. Delta ruined my vacation this year, and when I explained Delta's position to American Airlines and Continental they both could not believe Delta's stance. Continental took care of me and gained a new customer. I will never fly Delta again.

After oh I don't know 3 or 4 hours it didn't dawn on anyone that a "Medical Emergency" would have opened the gate and airport up?

From some reports I heard the head was overflowing. If I'm sitting next to an emergency exit I'd pop that F-er and point to the guy next to me and say, "what'dya doo?"

How about calling the local PD and and telling them your being held against your will on an airplane...

Seriously, why aren't people thinking of alternative ways of solving problems around them?

Incredible wrote:

<quoted text>
And lose your job and never be a pilot again. Do you honestly think if she did without permission that there wouldn't be huge repercussions, both for her personally, and for the airline? Typical naive response from someone who has never had to make a real decision in their life...
Was it right they had to sit on the plane that long? No. But is it really that big of a deal? No. Things like this happen sometimes.

OK meatball:

A. Just because "things like this happen" doesn't make it right or dimissable. EVERYTHING happens!

B. Last time i checked the Pilots Union was one of the strongest unions going. No airline wants a PR nightmare for "attempting" to fire a pilot when she would have ALL 47 paying passengers backing her up, not to mention her own very powerful union.

C. You don't know what types of decisions i make on a daily basis and in fact this pilot DIDN'T make a decsion, she sat there.....for SIX hours.

The Republicans sent a pack of protesters to
the airport the minute they heard Obama was
temporary landing there.

And look what happened, they managed to stop
the airport from taking in those passengers
for 6 whole hours.......great job.

Now go protest for less taxes for the millionaires
because they've earned it.

Someday the government will control
your mind.

Today go hide under a bunker

Tomorrow stay home

Next year asked for a raise

Someday the the government will help
you because you became poor.

Now can I have a sticker?

Umm..........

There IS still a war in the middle east.

Umm..........

We are still in a recession w/unemployment.

Umm..........

Somebody's family/friend just got robbed or killed.

Umm..........

There are too many legislation out there, are we
going to create one for this mess?

Umm..........

Why do we care about a bunch of idiots stuck in
a plane on the ground for 6 hours
when they should be lucky the plane didn't crash
and burn in that bad weather they avoided.

This is why our government is intruding and getting
larger everyday, because people want it not the
governments fault for implementing it.

Thank you and you can keep my 2cents.

Yowza wrote:

After oh I don't know 3 or 4 hours it didn't dawn on anyone that a "Medical Emergency" would have opened the gate and airport up?
From some reports I heard the head was overflowing. If I'm sitting next to an emergency exit I'd pop that F-er and point to the guy next to me and say, "what'dya doo?"
How about calling the local PD and and telling them your being held against your will on an airplane...
Seriously, why aren't people thinking of alternative ways of solving problems around them?

Next time you are on a plane and pull any of your suggested actions you will end up in jail.

This is a country of winers
even though France is more
known for the real wines.

But hey you make me uncomfortable,
I'll sue you.

That's the lottery mentality nowadays.

Good Luck and stop when you see the red
octogone sign.