Watch: AirAsia Pilots Flee Out Cockpit Window To Avoid COVID-Infected Passengers

Two AirAsia pilots climbed out the window of their plane on Friday when they arrived in Delhi. Video shows one of them taking luggage from the other. They had learned a passenger on board might be infected with the novel coronavirus – or at least was sneezing, which isn’t commonly a symptom of COVID-19.

Word “started circulating mid-flight about suspected cases of COVID-19 in the first row” and the pilots didn’t want to go anywhere near the first row.

The video, shot Friday, shows the AirAsia pilots — moments after they landed in New Dehli, India — popping out of the cockpit window and getting down to the tarmac that way … rather than go through the cabin with the rest of the crew and passengers. The reason for their hasty, and awkward, retreat — there was a rumor they had a couple sneezy travelers.

In their position I might have just stayed in the cockpit until passengers were done disembarking the plane. Then, upon finally leaving themselves, wash hands right away without touching their faces first.

Ultimately it turned out that no one was the flight was infected. Passengers were “”screened and tested negative” on arrival.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

Comments

  1. reminds me of Captain Schettino of the Costa Concordia who escaped on a life boat while the rest of the passengers were still on the ship ….lol

Comments are closed.