28-8-2023 (BERN) An incident aboard a SWISS flight from Buenos Aires to Sao Paulo has sparked controversy and concern. The incident involved the crew of the Star Alliance airline’s flight, which operates from Zurich (ZRH) to Sao Paulo (GRU) to Buenos Aires (EZE) and back, with the crew divided into three shifts.
The controversy arose during the Buenos Aires to Sao Paulo leg of the journey when the crew had some extra time on the ground between passengers deplaning and boarding for the next segment. During this time, for reasons that remain unclear, the crew opened the third door on the right of the Boeing 777-300ER, situated over the wing. What followed was a photo shoot where three crew members ventured out onto the wing, dancing and posing for pictures.
Two of the individuals appeared to be regular flight attendants, while the third, distinguished by multiple stripes, seemed to be one of the chief flight attendants.
This behavior flagrantly violated SWISS’ policies and raised significant safety concerns. The wing of the Boeing 777 sits nearly 16 feet above the ground, and any fall from such a height could result in severe injury or even death.
Once the incident was brought to the airline’s attention, SWISS took swift action. The head of cabin crew at the company issued a video message to all employees denouncing the behavior.
Michael Pelzer, a spokesperson for SWISS, commented on the incident, emphasizing the gravity of the situation:
“What looks like fun in the video is life-threatening. The wings of the Boeing 777 are about five meters high. A fall from that height onto the hard surface can be devastating. This behavior will not be tolerated.”
“The behavior of the employees in the video neither corresponds to our security requirements nor does it reflect the high level of professionalism of our employees. In this case, individual crew members failed to act as role models. We cannot approve of this.”
Martin Knuchel, SWISS’ head of cabin crew, also addressed the incident in a message to the airline’s employees:
“Hey guys, I’ll be honest. I’m angry and disappointed. What if the passengers no longer trust us when they see this video? This has to stop; there must be no more videos. But to counteract the first rumors, we won’t just fire someone.”
It is heartening to note that the airline is using this incident as an opportunity for education and improvement, without immediately resorting to dismissals. However, the behavior displayed by the crew has raised questions about their judgment and commitment to safety, particularly given the critical role flight attendants play in ensuring passengers’ safety during flights.
SWISS cabin crew in serious trouble for taking selfies on a 777 wing in Buenos Aires. pic.twitter.com/NrwevZ8ys8
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) August 25, 2023
