The pilot of an Iberia flight from Miami to Madrid pushed back the Airbus A330 despite “DOZENS of passengers still waiting to find their seats and stow their bags.”
One passenger, filming the cabin, noted that flight attendants seemed “unconcerned” and wanted to report this to government authorities. In fact, one crewmember is distributing predeparture beverages in the aisle and overhead bins remain open as well.
Post by @blueforthewin1View on Threads
Passengers weren’t being told to sit. Flight attendants weren’t shown notifying the cockpit to wait. Still, while instructions are always to be seated while on an active taxiway there are rarely issues even if contrary to standard safety procedures.
However 14 CFR 121.317 requires the seat belt sign to be on whenever the aircraft is moving on the ground. And it also requires passengers to obey the seat belt sign. That clearly wasn’t happening here.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (l) of this section, the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign shall be turned on during any movement on the surface, for each takeoff, for each landing, and at any other time considered necessary by the pilot in command.
(f) Each passenger required by § 121.311(b) to occupy a seat or berth shall fasten his or her safety belt about him or her and keep it fastened while the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is lighted.
Foreign air carriers operating under Part 129 are generally required to follow similar safety standards.
However these rules are explicit about a seat belt sign being on, and passengers following those signs. They aren’t explicit about the pilot’s obligations when passengers are not (i.e. whether choosing to taxi is a violation of regulations). So perhaps this is more of an issue of company policy, as a tool for conforming with regulations, than something expressly in the rules themselves? Or perhaps there’s a relevant regulation I am unaware of. I would love to hear from readers familiar with this area.
(HT: JohnnyJet)
That happened on a flight on Lufthansa I took last week. Nobody was hurt or fell over, but everyone got to their destination faster.
It is no big deal. Some of these bureaucratic regulations are over the top. Their only purpose seems to be to make you fell and act like an obedient brainless child. The plane while pushing back is moving very slowly and if FAs are safe standing, then so are passengers. During an AA flight, it seems never safe enough for a pax to get up and go to washroom, although FAs could be pushing beverage carts around.
For a country that tries to be tough we are a bunch of pussies when it comes to planes. If the plane is moving you’ll learn fast that you better speed up and sit the F down.
America is just so bent on the rules due to….litigation.
Elsewhere. FAs serve drinks on taxiways. Etc.
This is no big deal.
I’m surprised by the comments thus far. While not frequent, there are reports of aircraft on taxi getting hit. If the passengers are walking about when this happens, you tumble. What happens to the bags in the overhead of there is a jolt?
I would also like to point out that many times, people can’t get to their seat until others in front of them move, so snarky comments about sitting the f down are uncalled for. I know you’ve been there.
Lastly, rules are enacted in response to previous accidents, not in a proactive manner. Complaining about the rules is just dumb, because something bad happened in the first place to get the rules instituted.
The “horrified” passenger needs to declutch their pearls and chill. The pilot’s just trying to get the show on the road.
Obviously plenty of airline regulations of questionable use, but I wouldn’t say this is no big deal. If people are handling bags and the plane suddenly moves that’s enough to increase the chances people drop bags on other people.
I suspect they had to clear the gate to make way for an arrival.
not by the book but no big deal