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Story Updated : August 11, 2010 07:04:00 AM

Flight Attendant Out on Bail


STEVE SLATER X390 (FACEBOOK) | ADVOCATE.COM

The JetBlue flight attendant who was arrested Monday after arguing with a passenger and exiting the plane by pulling the emergency chute posted bail Tuesday night and walked out of jail.

Defense attorney Howard Turman said the incident between Steven Slater and two female passengers started before the flight took off in Pittsburgh, despite reports that the entire altercation happened just after noon when the flight landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

According to The New York Times, “After a dispute with a passenger who stood to fetch luggage too soon on a full flight just in from Pittsburgh, Mr. Slater, 38 and a career flight attendant, got on the public-address intercom and let loose a string of invective.

“Then, the authorities said, he pulled the lever that activates the emergency-evacuation chute and slid down, making a dramatic exit not only from the plane but, one imagines, also from his airline career.”

Witnesses said the passenger cursed at Slater, who was hit in the head with the luggage. Slater demanded an apology, but the passenger refused, which appeared to prompt the outburst and emergency exit. Slater reportedly grabbed a couple of beers from the beverage cart and addressed the entire plane over the intercom on his way out.

“To the fucking asshole who told me to fuck off, it's been a good 28 years,” Slater reportedly yelled. “I've had it. That's it,”

Once off the plane, Slater raced to his parked car and drove home to Queens. He was later arrested and charged with felony counts of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, according to the Times.

According to reports, Slater was in bed with his boyfriend when he was arrested.

Friends said that Slater spent most of his time off work in California, where he cared for his ailing mother, a former flight attendant, as he had for his late father, a pilot.Turman said Slater was stressed because his mother is dying of lung cancer.

Slater is being charged with second- and fourth-degree criminal mischief, first- and second-degree reckless endangerment, and criminal trespass in the third degree, according to a spokeswoman for Queens district attorney Richard Brown. Slater faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

The Facebook page "Free Steven Slater" has 7,200 fans as of 11 a.m. Pacific time Tuesday.

Slater, who worked for Delta before JetBlue, had been a flight attendant for 20 years. He is due back in court September 7.

Watch his first interview with reporters here. 

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Jay Thomas
    Date posted: 8/12/2010 1:21:39 AM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    You go Steven. I know how you felt, I've been there. Officers of the law and judges give Steven a break. After all it was he that was abused, not the two --cking females. They are the ones that should be arrested. Our justice system used to be innocent until proven guilty. The Officers of the law, judges, the DMV, Madd, and rules of us the people treat the individuals now like they are guilty until proven innocent. Let Steven go. And lets work on our laws to make them fair for all.....

  • Name: Rob
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 6:02:53 PM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    Like a few others who've commented here I'm surprised that nothing has been reported about the unruly passenger, e.g. was she arrested, put on a no-fly list, bitch-slapped by the other passengers (I'm thinking of a scene from "Airplane")?

  • Name: Fred Stanley
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 6:01:54 PM
    Hometown: Palm Springs, CA

    Comment:

    I object to the news stories about the cops finding him home in bed with his boyfriend!! I would sue for 5 million dollars for invasion of privacy!!

  • Name: Phillip
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 5:48:36 PM
    Hometown: Reseda

    Comment:

    I heard that before he jumped down the chute, he yelled out, "No on 8! No on hate!".

  • Name: jer
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 4:01:16 PM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    Slater has my support. If no inquiry is made re the passengers, blame the airline.

  • Name: Charles Tyson, Jr.
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 12:45:34 PM
    Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

    Comment:

    Well, he could always start a new career as a voice-over artist. He's got a great voice!

  • Name: David Fierstine
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 7:52:18 AM
    Hometown: Clinton

    Comment:

    Steve Slater, you are my hero. Somebody tell me how/where to send this real American some money. He stood up for himself without hurting anyone, except his own career. We all should buy this real American man a drink, at least the price of a couple of those overly priced airline beers he grabbed before he hit the slide. I want to send him a $20, just a tip, but enough for a beer or two at his favorite watering hole. I been working for the same amount of years and I would not have had the chutzpah to do what he did even though I've thought about it many times. Hang in there Steve, I and many more like me are rooting for you. We need to get back our civility/manners. As my dad would ask when I did or said something rude, "Were you born in a barn?" We all need to act more human to each other or we'll all reach the breaking point like Steve.

  • Name: Peter
    Date posted: 8/11/2010 12:41:38 AM
    Hometown: Tampa

    Comment:

    This guy is my hero, and I'll tell you why. Usually, when a man has a meltdown at work, it involves a gun and a lot of bodies. Not only was this THE best "I Quit" exit ever, and for all time.It is incredibly creative, wildly funny, and very amusing. Sure, I realize you're not supposed to use emergency equipment to stage an exit, so for that a slap on the wrist. But nobody got hurt, and that passenger was probably a real jerk. He is my hero for sure!

  • Name: John Seattle
    Date posted: 8/10/2010 6:26:44 PM
    Hometown: Seattle Washington

    Comment:

    The passenger should be arrested for assault....hitting him with her luggage. Justice here is better serve with common sense....I hope our justice system gives him a fair trial. Our world has become very rude, and manners have largely disapeered. We all live together in this world, and should be there to help each other instead of expecting our asses to be serviced and kissed all the time. We are in tough times now, and we all need to share, and give a lending hand. This man here is a hero, and has opened alot of eyes to the rudeness of people all around...we need to come down back to earth and be human again.

  • Name: Mark
    Date posted: 8/10/2010 6:00:39 PM
    Hometown: Omaha

    Comment:

    Are you kidding me? He gets assaulted by a passenger (hit by her luggage) who then swears at him when he demands an apology, and in a fit of anger he chooses NOT to physically assult the passenger but instead to simply run away - and then HE'S the one in trouble? Why haven't they arrested the passenger and thrown her stupid ass in jail?

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