Traveller irked by fellow LIAT passengers’ disregard for safety
By Gerald Rose From The BVI Beacon
On a recent Friday, I made a trip to another Caribbean territory on LIAT — the Caribbean airline — which involved three intermediate stops at other islands.
As we are all very much aware, LIAT is in nearly everybody’s bad books. The most recent cause for concern was the action taken by the pilots’ association, LIALPA, resulting in the unavailability of pilots to enable the airline to carry out its already chaotic timetable service. Press reports in more than one Caribbean country soundly blamed the pilots for the action that was taken. While at one of my scheduled stops waiting for a service that was, not surprisingly, delayed, I had the opportunity to read, from the local press, an article giving details pertaining to LIALPA’s action. I found the article very interesting since it gave a perspective that was not evident from other news reports concerning the disruption in service.
My reading of the article suggested that a LIAT pilot, in the interests of safety, did not feel that appropriate operational procedures for checking airworthiness were being followed and refused to fly a plane that had previously been pulled from service for repairs. This reportedly led to his suspension. The president of LIALPA tried to intervene on the suspended pilot’s behalf and after a somewhat heated meeting with relevant personnel, he too was suspended. This led to the calling of an emergency LIALPA meeting, which culminated in the severe disruption which occurred. The association apologised to the public for causing these disruptions.
Safety record
Regardless of the various difficulties with which LIAT seems to be interminably faced, the Caribbean traveller has always placed great faith and trust in the airline’s enviable safety record. The public has been prepared to endure endless delays and cancellations because they felt that the airline had passenger safety as its number one priority and therefore went to every conceivable extent to ensure that safety was paramount. Now, after reading this article, I am beginning to have some concerns. What has caused me to be even more sensitive to this issue of passenger safety were four incidents that occurred on my trip, all after reading the article, and all relating to passenger safety and the passengers themselves.
1. On boarding the aircraft, we are all reminded that we should place our hand luggage “completely underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment.” On one sector of my trip, a male passenger entered carrying a bag which he could fit neither under the seat nor in the overhead compartment. So he placed it between his legs. The flight attendant told him that was unacceptable. She suggested how a change of its orientation might allow it to fit and turned her attention to other embarking passengers. In the meantime, the man kept the bag between his legs. On her return, the attendant, noticing that nothing had been done, then suggested that he bring the bag to be tagged and put in the hold. He did not do so. Very calmly, but clearly and distinctly, and in a manner that indicated she was not going to stand anymore noncompliance, the flight attendant told him that she was not going to speak to him about it again. Fortunately, a nearby female passenger, seemingly related to the stubborn, selfish, insensitive man, took the bag from him and took it to the front of the cabin, where it was tagged and then placed in the hold.
2. Not far away from where the above incident took place was the exit row of seats. The passengers seated there did not seem to be all English-speaking, so the flight attendant enquired whether they could all speak and understand English. One man seated with his partner answered, “Yes.” The flight attendant asked the twosome if both of them could speak and understand English. The man said that he would translate for her. The flight attendant told him that if he needed to translate, then she clearly could not speak/understand English and therefore it would be unsuitable for her to sit in the exit row. The man was not very happy and seemed prepared to argue. That did not bother the flight attendant, who went in search of and found someone who was willing and able to sit in the exit row. She requested the lady to move, which she did. Fortunately, a fellow passenger was willing to trade places with the lady’s partner so that they could still sit together.
3. Several times during the boarding and preparation for takeoff, the passengers were told — by recorded announcement and also by the flight attendant herself — that cell phones were to be turned off when the main cabin door is closed and for the duration of the flight. Would you believe that just as the plane was beginning to taxi down the runway that a cell phone belonging to a passenger directly behind me rang loudly. The passenger hastily (after two rings) spoke to the caller and rang off. About a half-minute later, the same cell phone rang with the passenger requesting the caller not to ring her again. So much for turning off cell phones. I will not state what I said to her, angrily but nicely, but her phone did not ring again during the flight.
4. Arriving at our destination, the flight attendant reminded the passengers to “Remain in your seat until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the ‘fasten seatbelt’ sign has been switched off.” The plane came to a temporary stop and one passenger got up to reclaim his luggage from an overhead compartment. The flight attendant indicated that the seat belt sign had not been switched off and reminded everyone to remain seated. The plane moved forward a little. You think that the disobedient passenger would sit himself down? No: He continued to pull at the bag, which he had in the overhead compartment. Eventually he was able to get it out. The plane stopped. The seatbelt sign was switched off. We all got up to collect our onboard luggage and prepared to disembark.
Passengers’ responsibilities
We talk about airline and passenger safety. When things go wrong, we immediately think of blaming airlines, aircraft, pilots, and flight attendants. Seldom do we focus on the passengers and think of how an individual’s selfishness, stubbornness, and recalcitrance could be the starting point for disaster. I made a point of complimenting that particular flight attendant on her professionalism and self-control. If there is one thing we must always commend about LIAT, it is the dedication of its personnel towards ensuring the safety of their passengers whether by pilot or by flight attendant. I hope they will never lose their perception of passenger safety, no matter the prevailing economic conditions.
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