https://www.foxnews.com/travel...inner-150-passengers
Pilot steps in after United Airlines flight lands in New Mexico amid 7-hour delay

Published September 27, 2024

A plane full of passengers was forced to make an emergency landing, delaying their arrival by seven hours, but a gesture from the pilot may have made the situation not so bad.

Tanya Stamos, a 44-year-old United States Navy veteran from Woodlands, Texas, said she was recently flying from San Francisco to Houston on a United Airlines flight when things took a turn.

Stamos told Fox News Digital that the nonstop flight was scheduled to arrive in Houston at 7:00 p.m., but the flight had to make an emergency landing soon after takeoff.

"Not long into our flight, the captain had come on and asked if there were any health care professionals, [and] if so, please let the flight attendant know and head to the back of the plane," she said via email.

Stamos said that after learning that a man had passed out and collapsed in the bathroom, they were told by the pilot that the plane would be making an emergency landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to seek medical help for the passenger.

Around 3:30 p.m., the flight landed in New Mexico where the passenger was taken off the plane by medical officials.

"The pilot then gets on and says they are going to refurbish the medical equipment that was used, and we will be departing by 5:00 p.m.," Stamos said.

However, a short time later, the passengers were asked to exit the plane and were not given an explanation as to why, Stamos said.


The pilot (pictured here) told passengers that he would make sure their bellies were full. (Tanya Stamos)

Stamos said she and fellow passengers walked into the New Mexico airport and learned that they would have to wait for a new flight crew to board the plane.

"After sitting there for a couple hours trying to figure out what was going on and the captain to find other flight attendants to serve us so we would not be stuck there overnight, it was near 7:30 p.m. or so," she said.

Stamos said United Airlines gave passengers a $15 food voucher, but the airport restaurants and food options were closed by then.

The pilot ended up taking matters into his own hands and ordered pizza.

"The captain said it was a really disheartening situation, and we may be tired, but he would make sure he personally got our bellies full," Stamos said.

Stamos said 30 pizzas for the 150 passengers showed up to the gate and everyone was "completely shocked."

"Most organizations do not go above and beyond, but that captain did not hesitate," she said, adding, "His display that evening is what we should have more of: selfless acts of love, compassion and humanity."

Stamos said new flight attendants arrived, and the flight was able to take off at 11:00 p.m. The plane safely landed in Houston at 2:00 a.m. the next morning.

She said the pilot stood at the front of the aircraft upon deplaning in Houston to thank the passengers for being patient.

"As it was my turn to exit the plane, I shook his hand and thanked him," she said, adding, "Everyone behind me then followed suit and shook his hand as well."

Stamos said, "It was a beautiful sight."

A representative from United Airlines told Fox News Digital that the company "loves to see our pilots going above and beyond for our customers when the unexpected happens."

A representative from United Airlines told Fox News Digital that the company "loves to see our pilots going above and beyond for our customers when the unexpected happens."[/QUOTE]

LOL wait till the pilot submits the bill!

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
LOL wait till the pilot submits the bill!

No matter what, we can always find something negative to say, can't we?

That’s pretty fantastic! Bravo to the pilot for doing what he could to make a bad situation a little better for all that had been on board.

I refuse to fly United. PERIOD. That said every professional pilot that I've talked to, and know, are the top notch. This guy is getting a thumbs up from me.

In Albuquerque? Pizza? Really? How about chicken and cheese enchiladas "Christmas" style?

Good on the pilot, UA should absolutely reimburse him. For the good publicity at least, not to mention common humanity.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
LOL wait till the pilot submits the bill!

No matter what, we can always find something negative to say, can't we?

It was meant as a joke, not reality. It was awesome what the crew did.

So the delay was to replace cabin attendants? Not the cockpit crew?

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
It was meant as a joke ....

I apologize for my comment.
Most of the time that sort of thing is not a joke.

Is that our member, erj?

^^^ Nah. erj's hair is full.

Ah...another member I can't put a face to.

quote:

Originally posted by BOATTRASH1:
So the delay was to replace cabin attendants? Not the cockpit crew?

Flight attendants have FAA mandated duty limits just like pilots.

quote:

Originally posted by arabiancowboy:

quote:

Originally posted by BOATTRASH1:
So the delay was to replace cabin attendants? Not the cockpit crew?

Flight attendants have FAA mandated duty limits just like pilots.

True, and also how often does the media get all the facts right in a story like this? It could very well have been the whole crew or a single crewmember.

quote:

Originally posted by BOATTRASH1:
So the delay was to replace cabin attendants? Not the cockpit crew?

Every required crew member has a maximum do not exceed, on-duty time, mandated by the FAA.

Flight attendants are required crew members, one FA for every fifty seats (or fraction thereof). Note that is seats, whether or not the seats are occupied, so an airplane with, for example, 235 seats, will require a minimum of five FA's, even if there's only one passenger on board.

I remember coming back from training in Chicago we were scheduled back to ATL that evening. There was a mechanical that delayed us - a couple of times. Finally they deboarded us so we could at least stretch our legs. After an hour or so we boarded again to depart or so we thought. Apparently it was not repaired to the inspector's liking so captain come over the PA and annouced another delay.

I was sitting the the back of the plane and the passengers were near mutiny I tell you. This was not lost on the flight attendent; she immediately got up and pulled out a box from under a seat somewhere and started tossing snacks as she nearly ran up the aisle. The reaction was almost instant, everyone settled down and quietly ate their snack.

Never under estimate the power of the snack.

Shortly thereafter the good folks at United got us back to Atlanta unevently.

quote:

Never under estimate the power of the snack.

Works with grown-ups as well as kids.

That’s the basis of those Snickers commercials- you’re not you when you’re hungry. The term now is “hangry”.