The Telegraph has come up with some passenger testimony on the Ryanair flight that lost cabin pressure last night - and it comes from arctic explorer Pen Hadow.
Hadow claims that oxygen masks weren't working properly because bags 'failed to inflate', and complains that staff didn't make a PA announcement when the incident took place.
Both Michael O'Leary and Telegraph commenters give all this pretty short shrift, pointing out that
- a) cabin crew have to wear masks too, which stops them making announcements; and
- b) the bag doesn't always inflate when oxygen is flowing.
Not everyone is so level headed, however. Elsewhere, there is anecdotal evidence that after a few air incidents this summer people are scratching around for a macro-level scapegoat.
Enter, with grim inevitability, the credit crunch. See this on Yahoo Answers and Darren's post on the Spanair crash on Travel Rants.
I think Pen and his family, plus all the other passengers must have gone through hell.
All it really needed was some announcement, to explain to the passengers what was happening and what to do next.
I can see why Pen and some of the others on board were annoyed by the lack of communication and sympathy.
It's a disgrace in the modern age to think of a reputable airline(debatable!), not to have the basic human innate skills of social behavior.
My final paragraph relates to the unnecessary backlash of a celebrity. I've been reading some of the coverage over the last few days. An i'm horrified how critical and harsh our citizens can be, do they really an truly believe Pen would use this to his advantage?
Small minded people should find positive interest to keep themselves amused.
It's a shame when people become so sinister to think that after such an ordeal he would take advantage of this situation. I've listen attentively and watched the reports, I can honestly say, he just seems like a normal guy (well spoken - not a crime) relaying his version of events. All related to the incident. NOT promoting his self interest.
I hope all the passengers make a full recovery.
Thanks Pen for being so out spoken.
Thanks Tasha. As O'Leary pointed out, it's impossible to make an announcement while wearing an oxygen mask. It's my understanding that an announcement was made as soon as it was safe for staff to remove their masks.