US

Man Captures Emergency Plane Evacuation on His Cell Phone

Remember when a disgruntled flight attendant quit by pulling the emergency chute and sliding down? Airline passengers in Colorado Springs got to experience what that’s like when their plane had to make an emergency landing Thursday.

Passengers were evacuated from a Delta Airlines flight going from Detroit to Phoenix after it lost an engine mid air. An alert traveler pulled out his iPhone and captured the evacuation:

Local TV station KKTV interviewed a man who took video of the evacuation, although it‘s unclear if it’s the same person:

Comments (40)

  • EnlightenedinGA
    Posted on January 1, 2011 at 4:22am

    My dad worked for Eastern Airlines for almost forty years. I can’t remember the first time I flew on an airplane. Today you couldn’t pay me to fly. It’s insane.

    Report Post »  
  • marcoman
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:19pm

    You are safer being in the air 24 hours a day then you are crossing the street.

    Report Post »  
  • NeoFan
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 5:21pm

    @cal757driver: Your attitude personifies the attitude of the majority of airline employees. Blame the customers. I traveled for a living for over 11 years and did my best to endure the condescending and nasty attitude of the flight attendants and ground personnel that act like they are doing you a massive favor in letting you get on their plane. I have had too many bad experiences to mention that were entirely the fault of the airline and its staff. Say what ever you want to about your customers but just keep treating them poorly and eventually they will all go away. I avoid flying at all costs. I am willing to drive if time allows. I just don’t like being treated like crap by arrogant condescending aholes that seem to understand all to well that most people have no alternative. Go ahead and blame the customers all you want. The fact is that flying is a horrible experience and doesn’t need to be.

    Report Post »  
    • cal757driver
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 5:48pm

      I don’t see how my post insinuated that my customers are the problem. I was specifically addressing those who always seem to pop out at any hint of a problem and then try to turn it in to a referendum on the industry to save their own fears. Many of these people tend to talk as though they know what really goes on behind the scenes. To those of us who actually do this job day in and day out, these people’s lack of experience comes out immediately. They want to play “Johnny airline pilot” and armchair quarterback everything that makes the news even if they don’t know all the facts. Do you think they do that to their Doctor?

      It is NEVER lost on me who pays my paycheck. Every passenger does and they deserve and get that respect from me. I hold myself to a high standard of personal professionalism and integrity. My professional demeanor to my customers is always one of openness and assistance weather it is in the terminal or if they are visiting my office. I want them to LEARN about flying, not just fear it and point fingers at every opportunity.

      The airline industry, just like any big industry has it’s share of poor employees. That embarrasses all of us that try to do the job right every day. I wish that I could take some of these people and actually give them enough knowledge to actually see the amount of safety and redundancy that is built into these systems and they would likely feel somewhat better…

      In this case…Was man or machine hurt? No. As “Big Sis” says…The system worked. As far as to weather or not they should have evacuated the airplane, I am not arrogant enough to second guess the Captain’s decision without knowing all the facts FIRST!

      Your flight crews are indeed, generally speaking, competent, highly trained and mission oriented. We want to get the job done safely and on time. Not all of us are perfect, but many of us including myself consider our performance a source of pride.

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 1, 2011 at 3:50pm

      @cal757driver: My apologies. I missunderstood you to be speaking of customers. My mistake.

      I realize the crews are just doing as trained with incidents like this one but I am one of those people that no longer give the airlines the benifit of the doubt.

      Between the FAA, TSA, the unions and the economy I don’t see a bright future for the industry.

      Add to that some of the brain dead public that attempt to bring every thing they own on the flight instead of checking it.

      I know flight crews have to deal with these morons but the managenment isnt helping.

      I once lost over 10k in earnings because United Airlines refused to tell us that the flight would not make its connection in Chicago.

      They kept telling us “Just another 15 minutes”. They put us on the plane only to tell us that it would be another 2 hours because the flight crew had exceeded their maximum hours. Then once we are airborne they tell us the food is over the time limit and they cant feed us.

      So from that point on I made sure to bring a sandwitch which just adds to the mess on the flight.

      In that instance United was looking out for nobody but United. I have not flown them since.

      I know it may be apples and oranges but this year I drove my family to Los Angeles and boarded a cruise.

      The staff including security as well as the travel agent reminded us several times of what was expected and needed and we received several hand outs with the same information as well.

      Getting on and off the ship was a slow and orderly process but went really well for just under 4000 passengers in less than three hours.

      I think the bottom line is that the cruise industry seems to understand that cruising is a choice and the customers have a choice of cruise lines.

      Being a pilot must be an fantastic job. Its too bad your at the mercy of so many bureaucrats and management dolts.

      Report Post »  
  • wileyone
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 5:20pm

    Wow I think there are some here that need to take their meds. Relax, take a deep breath and repeat the airlines are not out to get me. The airlines are not out to get me…..

    If this airplane did not have the use of the TR on that disabled engine then it would be possible for the brake to get very hot (thanks NJProud for reminding me). When you are trying to stop something that weighs 90-100 tons it is going to cause problems by using brakes alone. Those hot brakes can and do sometimes catch fire. So looking at this situation from that angle it probably was a good idea to stop where they were and evac. The tires can also explode but usually deflate before they send pieces everywhere however the rubber will burn when it hits those hot brake discs…. So keep thinking the airlines are out to get you but this is probably what prompted the whole event, Good job to the crew!

    Report Post »  
  • Determinatus
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 5:19pm

    My 30+ year career is in the commercial aviation business. It‘s at the Captain’s discretion to declare the evacuation. In any unusual event, the company will second guess every decision the crew made and armchair quarterback “what you should have done instead”. Once you decide to pop the slide bottles and evacuate, there’s little to do but go “all out”.

    The Captain is only as good as the information he is able to determine in a very very short time. In this case, turns out to be a little too much, for too little problem.

    Report Post » Determinatus  
  • Alder
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 5:17pm

    As an aircraft mechanic I feel compel to add commit here. The aircraft seemed to have been evacuated because of hot brakes. While there didn’t appear to be any fire, hot brakes are very bad and the evacuation and removal of people to a safe distance was the right thing to do.

    Why are hot brakes bad? Hot brakes tend to be in excess of 500 degrees with the metal often glowing red to white hot. Some aircraft brakes have magnesium which once ignited can not be put out with water or foam. The heat from the brakes can cause aircraft tires to explode like a bomb throwing rubber/metal shrapnel several hundred feet out from the sides of the tires capable of killing people (you will always see safety crews approach suspected hot brakes from front or rear because tires explode out from the thin sidewall). The tires can also catch fire which can quickly spread up the wheel well and into the airframe if unchecked.

    As for additional safety crew, not really needed at close quarters unless things go south quick. Don’t want all your responders injured or killed if the plane suddenly blows up while the are swarming around it before the situation is evaluated do you?

    All in all this was a text book emergency evacuation the seems to have gone extremely well. The emergency response also appears to have been text book as well. Movies are overblown, don’t judge by them. Fling is still safer than walking down the street.

    Report Post »  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:59pm

    What a bunch of horse crap.
    Why did they have to piss on the passengers like that….?

    Report Post » NeoKong  
  • Workforit
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:23pm

    Where were the additional fire safety crews? Or is that just in the movies, no sirens, no nothing. I really am glad it was nothing, but wildly screaming “keep going” … was a little over the top.

    Report Post »  
  • Bronco II
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 3:41pm

    The TSA is the thing that keeps me from flying.If something happend on the plane and I lost my life I know where I‘m going I’ll just be closer to heaven.But thank GOD all went well and no one hurt.There is a reason for everything even when we don’t as mortals understand.

    Report Post » Bronco II  
  • Randeecobra
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 3:09pm

    Why no safety vehicles near the living people only the very expensive airplane. Ok I know the fire truck is there in case of a fire but there is nothing near or heading towards the people! Why is that?

    Report Post »  
  • Metalplate6538
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 2:31pm

    Fox news just reported that the precaution was taken because the “brakes over-heated”. An absolute canard. Jet A fuel has a much higher flash point temperature than does ordinary gasoline.
    So now does grandma have to wait until the wheels of her automobile cool off before pumping the more volatile gasoline into her tank? The fill for my gas tank is right above the left rear tire. I’ve driven a lot in 41 years, have bought thousands of gallons of, and even accidentally spilled some gasoline on a hot motorcycle engine without any kind of fire or explosion.
    With this incident, there is no indication of a leaking fuel tank; plus the tanks are isolated from the landing gear. More fear, more control; and all the passengers bought the lie. Today the lie continues as they relay it to us all.

    Report Post » Metalplate6538  
  • ARIZONA VETERAN
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:28pm

    why evacuate? there was NO fire…tards

    Report Post » ARIZONA VETERAN  
  • jagr1850
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:45am

    Any time you land , you had a fine flight !!

    Report Post » jagr1850  
    • Dustoff
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:57am

      LOL……… almost. (any landing you can walk away from is a good landing)

      Report Post » Dustoff  
  • AzDebi
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:43am

    I don’t understand why they had to walk so far away from the plane…

    Report Post » AzDebi  
  • DaveTaylor
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:14am

    Whats this power tripping woman yelling GET BACK !!! Like the things gonna blow!!! POWER POWER POWER!!

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  • melee337
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:46am

    Why did they have to move so far away from the plane ? Is this normal ? It looks like they were moved far enough away to be safe from an explosion .

    Report Post »  
  • cal757driver
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:44am

    Amazing. One little mechanical problem and all of you pantywaists come crawling out of the woodwork. Thousands of safe departures and landings each and every day go off without a hitch and go completely unnoticed by you (because it wont back up your “frozen in fear” menatlity). 22 years flying…16,000 + hours in the air and it is disgusting to see all of you try to justify your reason to not fly “commercial airlines” come down to single events that you pounce on every time there is the smallest incident.
    More people died in cars today than did on that airplane…no..wait…every commercial flight that took off today…yesterday…the day before that….and the day before that…

    If I were you I would just go back and cower under the bed when you realize that the car you drive is a wheeling death machine that could spell your demise at any moment, or maybe you might get a nasty shock from that computer you are sitting in front of.

    Really….

    Get over yourselves, really.

    Report Post »  
    • C.C.D.
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:38pm

      You kind of sound like a liberal. Because someone expresses their feelings, and has a right not to purchase an airline ticket and fly, makes them a “what did you call us, pantyhose or something”. WoW! I bow down before you for having thousands of flying hours. Lets just hope you and your family fares well when the electric goes off and you can’t buy food wrapped in plastic…

      Report Post »  
  • wileyone
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:40am

    These kind of events are rare. They get attention because they don’t happen that often. Anyway, I am a pilot and I am having a hard time with this evacuation. Was there a fire or something? It seems to me that taking the airplane to the gate (this airplane will taxi on one engine, they do it all the time in normal operations) and allowing the people to get off would be better than throwing them down the chute risking injuries due to falls etc.

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:12am

      @Wileyone

      I talked with an aunt of mine, a former navy plane mechanic, and when I asked her about the problems this plane had, she confirmed it is quite rare (she said something about a better chance of being hit by lightning than having this happen upon the one plane you fly on in any given day.)

      How often as a pilot have you seen or heard of the frequency of emergencies occuring, I am not a piolet and ask out of curiosity? Mind you that the most dangerous travel in AZ I undertake aside from walking is the city bus, and one got torched today due to a faulty fuel line – first accident such as that in many a year.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Dustoff
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:28am

      I’m with you bud. As a pilot myself this evac looks a odd to say the most?
      I guess the tower or ground control told them to park it there.

      Report Post » Dustoff  
    • NJProud
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:32am

      @ wileyone

      I’m a pilot as well, and the pilot on this aircraft acted appropriately. Since the right engine could not provide reverse thrust the PIC had to go heavy on the brakes. That caused the brakes to over-heat to the point of catching fire. While these types of fires typically put themselves out the pilot did the right thing by keeping the aircraft away from the gate and ordering an evac.

      Report Post »  
    • Metalplate6538
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:29pm

      I’ll bet the pilot/flight crew of the jet all eat their oatmeal pablum with a rubber coated spoon. This crap is absurd and just another attempt to sheeple-ise everybody through non-existant fear. Trouble is, that if some brave questioner of “authority” were to disobey the instructions of the STEWARDESS (there I said it) and continue walking into the field, that person would surely be arrested and prosecuted.
      Does the Highway Patrol evacuate the freeways every time a car breaks down? NO.
      Just three weeks ago an entire cruise liner lost its power at sea. Would the crew there have all the guests jump into life boats because of some other potential disaster which may be cause by an engine THAT IS NO LONGER RUNNING? NO.
      Wake up people/sheeple… “Safety” is a “Judas goat” to American enslavement. BAH!
      All of us have a greater chance of being struck by a descending meteorite while racing down the freeway at 200 mph, than ANY of us have of being attacked by a terrorist or ANY other perceived or real external “enemy”. Sure the jihadist are real… but not one of them is ever going to physically injure ANYONE reading these words… ever! The odds are astronomical, hence the meteorite comparison.
      I won’t fly, but not out of fear; I won’t fly as an economic protest to the acquiesce of the airlines to all this nonsense. That, plus the fact that I was singled out in 1998 for “extra” security processing because the idiots at BWI somehow found “nitrates” on my briefcase. And despite cleaning my case before departure and at home after arrival, the idiots at LAX on the return trip did the exact same thing. That’s not coincidence and it was (I repeat) 1998.
      Use your brains people and put a stop to it all. Had everybody dug their heels in at (say) 200 yards away, and refused to move any further, the authorities could do nothing. But because most people are sheep just doing what they’re told, the one person who does take any kind of stand against such misplaced exercise of authority, will be culled from the rest of the herd and publicly revealed to all as the “black” sheep of the group. Afterward that person would be perp walked across all news media. Why? To keep the rest of you sheep right in line.
      I personally am sick of it all. I don’t need you to tell me I am in danger… I determine that; not a dopey bureaucrat and certainly not a $13.00 an hour STEWARDESS.
      ps: Pilots are sheeple too… their belly‘s full of government alfalfa and a pay grade they don’t want diminished; therefore they are a pert of the problem. If they all got together and refused to fly; things would change for the better and do so at light speed.

      Report Post » Metalplate6538  
    • C.C.D.
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:33pm

      What is this allowing people? If I were in a plane that just lost an engine, there wouldn’t be any allowing, my ass is getting off at first opportunity. The only thing you’d be seeing is the bottom of sneakers, and maybe a little smoke..

      Report Post »  
  • walkwithme1966
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:29am

    I haven’t flown since 9-11 – I had problems flying before but after that, no way I will fly!
    http://maboulette.wordpress.com

    Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • C.C.D.
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:38pm

      Yeah, you ain‘t kid’n. I wont even wear pants with zippers any more. It freaks me out when somebody tells me my fly is down..

      Report Post »  
  • C.C.D.
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:25am

    Man! You couldn’t get me to fly right now if it was the only way to the kitchen…

    Report Post »  
  • vngstr
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:24am

    Glad no one was hurt. Happy new year!

    Report Post » vngstr  
  • MamaofJ5
    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:19am

    Seemed like a nice orderly evac. Glad everyone was o.k.

    Report Post »  
    • guyperram
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:27am

      Justlooks like another reason why I don’t want to fly commercial airlines.

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:46am

      Heard about this one, and have been on a plane that lost the braking system due to the overheat effect as well. My time was on a smaller charter plane with twenty of us on board, must have been just as scary though. Glad indeed everyone got off in an orderly and safe means during the evacuation from the plane.

      This is one way for a year to end, sate and sound, and alive to celebrate the new one coming in tonight.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • AmericanSoldier
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 1:57pm

      Pretty nice footage. Good call busting out the cell phone camera.

      Report Post » American Soldier (Separated)  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 5:00pm

      Its getting to the point where a Greyhound bus is a better way to travel than the Airlines.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:56pm

      .
      Search…Boeing 757 Problems Plaguing Delta Airlines!

      The aircrafts have been plagued with engine problems!

      Report Post »  

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