Cabin Crew member causes panic

I am sorry to rant, but really; now the BBC is in on the act. CAT does seem most likely, but 8000ft (as others have said hundreds of feet feel like the world has ended), and CAT is a short term thing - these reports seem to imply it was a prolonged incident. The worst of it is that what ever VS say they are damned. No I am wrong, the real worst of it is that stories like this just scare the living daylights out of people who already have a fear of flying. At least they have stopped short of naming the poor cabin crew who proably did nothing more than letting out a small yelp through lack of experience.
I am sorry to rant, but this really gets my goat. Probably the result of a bad week with the media.

Originally posted by sailor99
At least they have stopped short of naming the poor cabin crew who proably did nothing more than letting out a small yelp through lack of experience.

Oh no, they named her, just the first name, so now everyone will be on the look out for her no doubt. [:(!]

I'm with you sailor the BBC story paints a bad picture, just because the cabin crew are trained to make the tricky decision on who gets the last UC steak, and more importantly look after our safety whilst onboard, doesn't make them any less vulnerable to the fear that if something really does go wrong, the next piece of solid ground is 35,000ft away.

Flying is an extremely safe and regulated form of transport, but I feel better knowing that the people who will be looking after my safety in the event of an incident are not blasŽ about the risks. A little fear focuses your mind in a dangerous situation.

I think papadoc may have been on the outbound flight? Not sure if he's back yet?

S

Unfortunatelly I was on that flight, and I can honestly say that for about 10mins it was the worst turbulence that I have ever been through. Overall it went on for over an hour, but the first 10 mins were crazy and totally unexpected.

I was sitting upstairs in PE, for the first time, and it happened right as we hit the coast of Greenland. The captain ordered the crew to their seats inmmediatelly, and they remained there for over an hour.

I didn't hear the crew member scream, or even realise that we had dropped so much until I read this thread, but did hear a lot of shouting from downstairs. The only thing the two crew members who were looking after us upstairs said was that we were lucky to be up there, as loads of people had been sick downstairs, once one started it seemed to start a 'chain-reaction', and they had to go down to give a hand to clean up.

A couple of people upstairs did feel queasy, but luckily they were not sick, and the two girls did their best to look after them.

Needless to say, I didn't bother with any of the roller-coasters this time!

We also had the majority of the same crew on the flight back which arrived this morning, and thankfully there was no repeat performance, although it was fairly 'bumpy'.

papadoc.

Thanks pd for the "horse's mouth" version. I knew we'd find one if we waited long enough.

So, now the question is, how many VS flights DON'T have a V-Flyer member on board???

[buns]

Papadoc

Thanks for the clarfication.

Your balanced report is, of course, unlikely to taken up by the media [:(!][:(!]

buns

I know one thing for sure. It made my first trip in PE memorable, I definetally won't forget it.

The captain did explain afterwards that they had had no prior warning as there were no other aircraft in that area or at the same height at the time.

Well, that was his excuse anyway[:?]

Hmm, I'm glad I wasn't on that flight.

8000 ft seems a bit much TBH and I think papadoc is much more reliable than the Sun (sorry any Sun readers[:I])

Cheers,
VS045

Originally posted by papadoc
I know one thing for sure. It made my first trip in PE memorable, I definetally won't forget it.

Welcome back to earth Papadoc, I think that deserves adding to my respect list [:$]

Originally posted by papadoc

I think papadoc may have been on the outbound flight? Not sure if he's back yet?

S

Unfortunatelly I was on that flight, and I can honestly say that for about 10mins it was the worst turbulence that I have ever been through. Overall it went on for over an hour, but the first 10 mins were crazy and totally unexpected.

I was sitting upstairs in PE, for the first time, and it happened right as we hit the coast of Greenland. The captain ordered the crew to their seats inmmediatelly, and they remained there for over an hour.

I didn't hear the crew member scream, or even realise that we had dropped so much until I read this thread, but did hear a lot of shouting from downstairs. The only thing the two crew members who were looking after us upstairs said was that we were lucky to be up there, as loads of people had been sick downstairs, once one started it seemed to start a 'chain-reaction', and they had to go down to give a hand to clean up.

A couple of people upstairs did feel queasy, but luckily they were not sick, and the two girls did their best to look after them.

Needless to say, I didn't bother with any of the roller-coasters this time!

We also had the majority of the same crew on the flight back which arrived this morning, and thankfully there was no repeat performance, although it was fairly 'bumpy'.

papadoc.

If you ring BBC5live Radio I bet they will have you on, its the only station that takes all sides of a story, been talking about it all day on there.

That whole area of the US is a hotspot at this time of year from Denver along to the West Coast. If you're ever listening in to ATC or channel 9 on UAL you can predict just how long you have before you hit the chop that the flight in front of you has just reported.

I've had a few flights that have gone tits up and have always found that the crew tend to go rather quiet instead of the outburst described here. Perhaps she was a new CC and it's enough to scare anyone when they first encounter it.


As said before, flight deck do so should everyone else with their belts!!!

Originally posted by PVGSLF
Why does it always get very bumpy when the drinks trolley is next to me and waiting to send hot tea all over me? [?]

The routes across siberia seem really smooth. Every time I've experienced significant turbulance it has been going into LAX or SFO, must be all those mountians stirring things up.

I do enjoy listening to the Cockpit comms channel on UA flights, and have frequently heard cup throwing type turbulance described as "slight chop".

I guess it depends where you are in the plane!

Poor hubby got quite upset during some turbulence once - not because of the turbulence itself, but because the cabin crew thought it a good idea to only give him half a glass of red wine as it had got so choppy. I'd aldready been served and got a full one

What I dont understand, it was over Greenland, doesnt the hot air rise from Washington?

Seriously does that show how important it is to keep the belts on whenever seated, even loosely.
I dont think I would like to be the crew member involved, and am interested to hear about the investigation? how much was exagerated, and how much was truth?

Originally posted by milehigh
What I dont understand, it was over Greenland, doesnt the hot air rise from Washington?

Haha... but actually, according to a friend who used to fly 747s for ANZ, there's a chunk between Greenland and Canada which is prone to turbulence from time to time, depending on the jetstream condition.

Seriously does that show how important it is to keep the belts on whenever seated, even loosely.

Loose belts are worse than tight belts, as you can be injured by being thrown "against" the seatbelt.

Cheers,
Mike

Be interesting to see what stance VS take with their next press release. The media is certainly gunning for a quick response.

Still on sky news this morning, surely must be something better going on in the world to blow up into something that it surely wasn't[V]

Good to here from you Papadoc, thanks for your insight....[y]

What level of turbulance could actually damage a plane in flight?
Can a plane stall because of this?

Egg, I believe this was discussed in depthhere

Hope that helps:)

Cheers,
VS045

The more i read this the more I imagine it could be a really funny joke (kind of Dom Jolly gone wrong)... but then I have a very sick sense of humour sometimes!

Originally posted by V-Ben
The more i read this the more I imagine it could be a really funny joke (kind of Dom Jolly gone wrong)... but then I have a very sick sense of humour sometimes!

I remember when the Channel Tunnel opened a comedian suggested running through a Eurostar train, clutching a wet fish, shouting "look what I found!"[:o)]

I remember when the Channel Tunnel opened a comedian suggested running through a Eurostar train, clutching a wet fish, shouting "look what I found!"[:o)]

Good good good

Must say when I read all this it makes me roar with laughter. Unfortunate for those who were ill and the FAs cleaning up!

Could have been a scene in Dispatches on RyanAir!

Hi papadoc

I was on the flight too! We were sitting at the front upstairs in PE originally but were taken downstairs just before take off to UC.

It was pretty calm in UC. However, the bar was awash with booze and somebody was thrown off a bar stool across the cabin. The cabin crew showed no emotion and were very good. My only concern was the pilot telling us how strong the plane was in a very nervous manner.

On return to the UK, I have received an apology letter from VS. What concerned me more was the lack on champers in PE on VS44 yesterday!

Goldenoldie

Originally posted by papadoc

I think papadoc may have been on the outbound flight? Not sure if he's back yet?

S

Unfortunatelly I was on that flight, and I can honestly say that for about 10mins it was the worst turbulence that I have ever been through. Overall it went on for over an hour, but the first 10 mins were crazy and totally unexpected.

I was sitting upstairs in PE, for the first time, and it happened right as we hit the coast of Greenland. The captain ordered the crew to their seats inmmediatelly, and they remained there for over an hour.

I didn't hear the crew member scream, or even realise that we had dropped so much until I read this thread, but did hear a lot of shouting from downstairs. The only thing the two crew members who were looking after us upstairs said was that we were lucky to be up there, as loads of people had been sick downstairs, once one started it seemed to start a 'chain-reaction', and they had to go down to give a hand to clean up.

A couple of people upstairs did feel queasy, but luckily they were not sick, and the two girls did their best to look after them.

Needless to say, I didn't bother with any of the roller-coasters this time!

We also had the majority of the same crew on the flight back which arrived this morning, and thankfully there was no repeat performance, although it was fairly 'bumpy'.

papadoc.

Originally posted by Goldenoldie

It was pretty calm in UC. However, the bar was awash with booze ....

I wonder if that's why there was no Jack Daniels for the flight back that we were on ? [:(]

S

Originally posted by Goldenoldie
Hi papadoc

I was on the flight too! We were sitting at the front upstairs in PE originally but were taken downstairs just before take off to UC.

It was pretty calm in UC. However, the bar was awash with booze and somebody was thrown off a bar stool across the cabin. The cabin crew showed no emotion and were very good. My only concern was the pilot telling us how strong the plane was in a very nervous manner.

On return to the UK, I have received an apology letter from VS. What concerned me more was the lack on champers in PE on VS44 yesterday!

Goldenoldie

Hi Goldenoldie

I do remember somebody being moved just before take off. I was in seat 74K. Lucky you to get the upgrade[y]

Did everybody on your flight get an apology, or were they just giving them to people who were on that flight on friday? I never received one on the monday, but then again I wasn't really expecting one either, and also the story hadn't really made the press by then.

Pity I didn't reaise there was another v-flyer on board, it would have been nice to say 'hello'.

Hope you enjoyed your time in Vegas,

papadoc.

We were on this flight also. We were upstairs in seats 74A and C.
I was oblivious to all the bedlam going on elsewhere in the aircraft as I had covered my ears, closed my eyes and taken my mind off to a 'happy place'.
I'm a poor flyer at the best of times.
I was also rather concerned at the captain's reassurance that the aircraft was "robust" as the one thing I hadn't considered at that point was that the thing would break up!
I haven't received anything from Virgin by way of apology (it wasn't really their fault), explanation or reassurance.

Gosh I am glad we did not hit that turbulence! We flew from Manchester to Orlando on the same day V075 take off time was 10.25 amd I am very glad to say we only had a few bumps along the way, mostly the first two hours but nothing like that. I would have been terrified I am sure.