Steven Slater, JetBlue Flight Attendant, Curses Passenger, Grabs A Brew And Slides Into Trouble

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

JetBlue Flight Attendant Steven Slater (Personal Photo)

NEW YORK (CBS/WCBS) Steven Slater, a fed-up JetBlue flight attendant, slid into infamy Monday after cursing out an uncooperative passenger over the loudspeaker, grabbing a beer and pulling the emergency exit slide.

"That's it, I'm done," Slater said on his way out, according to another passenger.

PICTURES: Steven Slater, JetBlue Flight Attendant

The trouble started when an impatient passenger jumped up before the seatbelt sign was turned off to grab her luggage after the plane landed at Kennedy International Airport. She reportedly ignored Slater when he told her to sit down, and when Slater approached the passenger to tell her again to sit down he got hit in the head with her falling bag. When he asked her to apologize she responded with a foul refusal, according to reports.

That, apparently, was the wrong answer.

Authorities said Slater dropped several f-bombs over the plane's loud speaker, grabbed two beers, deployed the plane's emergency slide, and ran to his car.

Police were notified about 25 minutes later and Slater was eventually arrested at his home.

Sporting a cut on his forehead from fallen overhead baggage, Slater walked out of Port Authority Police Headquarters handcuffed with a smirk on his face and absolutely nothing to say, CBS affiliate WCBS reports.

But passenger Philip Catelinet said Slater had plenty to say over the plane's public announcement system while he was on board JetBlue Flight 1052 out of Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon.

"He said, 'to the passenger who called me a (expletive expletive, expletive) you. I've been in this business 28 years. And that's it, I'm done'," Catelinet told WCBS.

"You know, you don't want to see a flight attendant lose their cool like that," Catelinet told the station. "I'm glad it happened on the ground and not anywhere in the air."

JetBlue Airways Corp. said in a statement that it was working with the Federal Aviation Administration and Port Authority police to investigate the matter. It said the safety of its customers and crew members was never at risk.

According to a spokeswoman for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Slater is being charged with 2nd- and 4th-degree criminal mischief, 1st- and 2nd-degree reckless endangerment and criminal trespass in the 3rd degree.

If convicted he could get seven years in prison.

Reporting Contributed by CBS Affiliate WCBS

40 Photos

Steven Slater, JetBlue Flight Attendant

Add a Comment


by brugey August 12, 2010 8:15 PM EDT: I think this is all absolutely hilarious in one sense (media/legal involvement) and ridiculous in another (clueless bystanders/witnesses). I wish I had been on that flight. After he made his announcement, she didn't oblige, and he approached her about the safety of all passengers after she clearly did not follow protocol, I would have reset her luggage at an angle in that overhead bin, nudged her stategically dead center under that bin filled with luggage,and popped it open so the luggage could fall on her head. To deliver expletives to a person in charge of safety for so many passengers? What if this woman's luggage had fallen on an infant's head? Different story, right? We'd all be chasing after her. He was only concerned for her and other passengers' safety? For whatever reason, this woman felt she was above the rules and could do whatever she pleased. Are you kidding? Those of you who side with the travelers who are beating up a seasoned flight attendant professional clearly do not fly often and do not witness the ABUSE these travel attendants endure regularly, flight after flight. My recommendation if you don't want to abide by air traffic rules: buy a Greyhound ticket and enjoy the ride.; Reply to this comment


by lucyparker August 12, 2010 11:52 AM EDT: Jetblue Flight Attendant Steve Slater Arrest Video

http://www.monkeydollars.net/2010/08/jetblue-flight-attendant-steve-slater.html

American flight attendant Steve Slater was arrested at his home and charged with criminal mischief, trespassing, and reckless endangerment.; Reply to this comment


by jascazz August 12, 2010 8:19 AM EDT: Steven Slater should be given an award! As much as I travel, with my kids, I smile ...@ everyone.... I nhave also taught my kids that. Always smile, maybe making someone's day. The older I get the more rude ,it seems, people are becoming. So I think Mr Slater, represents everyone who's encountered nasty,miserable people throughout travel & life actually.KUDOS! It doesn't take much effort to smile when rushing through an airport, airplane, and life. Biggest thing I don't get out of all this...Why wasn't that woman that hit him give a ticket or arrested for assault? Life is short..Slow down and smile , even if its a bad day!; Reply to this comment

by elindsey351 August 10, 2010 12:59 PM EDT

I blame Steven Slater. As he said, he has been in this business for 28 years and he should have known better. You have to learn to take some things, especially when you are being paid to do it. The passenger was just being a passenger. You get good ones and you get bad ones. Just put on a smile and keep on trucking! That's what customer service is. There are hundreds of kind, caring, personable, and friendly passengers to every one unkind and disrespectful passenger. I know Mr. Slater feels terrible now for making an a** out of himself. He just showed the whole world that his mouth needed to be washed out with soap because he really does have a filthy one. If his parents are living - he has really embarrassed them. As I've always said, "we must think before we speak because once it is spoken you can't take it back." Hind sight is 20/20!

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by Milasmom August 13, 2010 7:58 PM EDT: Being on the payroll does not mean one is being paid to take abuse. I'm sure this woman was much more important than others in the flight, and clearly her needs surpass FAA law which requires us passengers to do what they say. Personally I think it's pretty funny and tragic. Yes, 28 years of service offers a lot of experience, but also offers the opportunity for a lot of stress to build up. That's the kind of thing you joke about doing--exiting the job out of an emergency exit with a cool one after telling the group about themselves. He was probably as surprised as anyone that he actually did it. I suspect he meant what he said on the PA-- and he may or may not be regretting acutally having done so. I feel bad for the guy. I vote for parole and a stress management program. Everyone has a breaking point--I guess he hit his.

by maxoverd August 10, 2010 11:44 AM EDT

I can't necessarily condone his reaction, but I can certainly see where he is coming from. What I really want to know is the repercussions for the passenger who was initially breaking the law. Had she been in her seat per FAA regulations, this might not have happened. Send her to jail as well. Let them share a cell!

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by dlmills August 11, 2010 1:51 PM EDT: Took the words out of my mouth. Its also against FAA regulations to disregard orders the crew members give to passengers. Its ridiculous that the guy was literally hit in the head because of some impatient b$%&@h and no charges have been filed against her yet.


by SillySlogan August 10, 2010 11:12 AM EDT: Steven Slater should be featured in the JetBlue's new ads campaign. The new slogan to replace the current "We like you too..." is "I hate you too..." -Silly Slogan; Reply to this comment