This JetBlue A320 pictured at Fort Lauderdale is the same aircraft that a TSA screener helped himself to an employee jumpseat aboard. Photo: Andrew Thon - OPShots.net
Thirty year old Carlos Rodriguez, a screener for the TSA at New York’s JFK airport, apparently believed his space-available buddy pass from a JetBlue friend entitled him to a carte-blanche ride on an employee jump-seat during a flight to Santo Domingo last Saturday, May 14th.
Approximately forty-five minutes into flight 819, a scheduled service from JFK to Santo Domingo, the pilots were made aware of the unusual passenger. Realizing the man did not have the proper credentials to ride a jump-seat, the crew turned the plane around and returned to New York where the “passenger” was unloaded.
“Space-available” travel is a perk offered to many airline employees, and these perks can extend to family and friends as well. Upon checking in for his flight, Mr. Rodriguez was informed that the flight was full and that no seats were available to accommodate him in the cabin, yet somehow, he convinced the JetBlue agents that he was authorized as a “jump-seat” rider and consequently, he was allowed board the plane.
“Jump-seat” riding, is generally reserved only for authorized crew members who are familiar with all the safety procedures of the aircraft, and have been fully trained in emergency procedures, and may be used by non-working, qualified personnel for travel. If a crew member is traveling on a jump-seat but is not working the flight, they may often sit in an open seat in the cabin. It is unclear at this time exactly which scenario unfolded on this flight.
Upon returning to New York, the man was removed from the aircraft, and “…barred from the airport pending results of the probe.”
-Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. – OPShots.net
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