Sabotage on the ATL ramp?

[COOPERVANE]

ASA had an air return this week due to Airspeed mis-compare. Airspeed was way off on the FO side, and Captains side was similar to the standby.

Earlier the crew had refused to leave without a bug wash. During said bug wash, the rampers were visibly upset at being "forced" to perform such an unnecessary action for us prima donna pilots.

After the return a melted rubber glove was found on BOTH pitot tubes.

Either this guy was totally incompetent and should be fired, OR should go to jail for sabotaging an aircraft. If it hadn't been VFR, it would have been a more exciting flight. We have incompetent hoods working our ramp. Most likely nothing will come of this.

Be CAREFUL out there

 

[Metro752]

Jail sounds good to me after we find his address, and beat the ******************** out of him first!

 

[CaribPilot]

Yea he needs to be publicly flogged, then thrown in jail for gross negligence. He just gambled with up to 80 lives.

 

[414Flyer]

The FBI would take a serious interest in this, if it happened as described.

 

[DX Rick]

Why wasn't this brought to the attention of the media? Sure Fox and CNN would love to hear this after all the other reports they've been doing.

 

[CaribPilot]

All jokes aside this guy needs to be prosecuted.

 

[wickedpilot]

Send 'em back to where they came from....JAIL.

 

[CFI2766]

I doubt that anyone could track down the guilty party. Are there records kept of which ramper worked where? Is there video?

A more likely question, would the company, either mother 'D' or ASA, do anything about it?

 

[Tarzan]

I doubt that anyone could track down the guilty party. Are there records kept of which ramper worked where? Is there video?

A more likely question, would the company, either mother 'D' or ASA, do anything about it?

I don't believe ASA or Delta could say much about it if the crew decides to press charges. Last time I checked, it was federal offense of the felony type to interfere in the operations or duties of a flight. This isn't something either company can stop even if it chose to attempt it.

On a side note, while the rampers tend to get a black eye on FI, if you talk to those guys like people, they tend to help you out as well. There are guys and gals out there that work their butts off. Give them some credit. You wouldn't catch my lazy tail down there tossing bags when it's over 100 on the ramp.

 

[CRJ puppy]

Isn't the push back crew just as negligent for not looking up...it's not like the pitot tubes are that high up...

 

[Browntothebone]

Send 'em back to where they came from....JAIL.

Why are you assuming the most African American men were in jail at one point in their lives? You are obviously a racist and biggot.

 

[volav8r1]

Why are you assuming the most African American men were in jail at one point in their lives? You are obviously a racist and biggot.

why do you assume he or she in question was african american? Sounds like you are the racist biggot!

 

[CaribPilot]

Why are you assuming the most African American men were in jail at one point in their lives? You are obviously a racist and biggot.

We need to send you back to 'Nam and drop you off in the middle of the jungle with nothing but a plastic knife and a fresh pair of tube socks.

 

[cjdriver]

Don't you guys do a walk around before you get in the airplane for god's sake? I would bet the faa would have an issue with someone taking off with melted glove on their pitot tubes. But that's just me.

 

[JustaNumber]

Don't you guys do a walk around before you get in the airplane for god's sake? I would bet the faa would have an issue with someone taking off with melted glove on their pitot tubes. But that's just me.

From the story it sounds like it happened well after the walk-around was completed. I hope a very thorough investigation is conducted, by the FBI if necessary (fingerprinting the gloves, interviewing all ramp workers at that gate, etc). That's clear and straightforward sabotage, and could have resulted in a catastrophe. Hasn't anyone read those signs at FBOs that list the legal consequences of aircraft sabotage? 20 years in the federal slammer I believe.

 

[30West]

Is there video surveillance of that area?

 

[duck_killer]

Why are you assuming the most African American men were in jail at one point in their lives? You are obviously a racist and biggot.

Where did he say ALL black people have been to jail?

 

[79%N1]

Don't you guys do a walk around before you get in the airplane for god's sake? I would bet the faa would have an issue with someone taking off with melted glove on their pitot tubes. But that's just me.

Maybe you are clueless. Maybe the walkaround was completed long before someone intentionally or otherwise left a glove on a pitot tube. In fact, window washes are done after the doors are closed just prior to pushback. Would you have the FO jump out and do another walk around to ensure nobody left a glove?

 

[buscap]

It's quite possible this was a bone-headed but honest mistake. I can't see anyone who is drawing a paycheck doing this on purpose.

And yes, Browntothebone, we are all racists. Including you. It's based on pattern recognition imprinting which occurrs the first few months after birth. Why do you think Tarzan didn't like people?

(and no, that is not a racist comment, I just thought it had more impact than a 'boy raised by wolves' analogy)

Read a book you.

 

[JettBoii]

Where is my sheet? Ohh....left it at the cleaners.