CABIN ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; LGA-BNA; PAX IMPERSONATED FAA INSPECTOR. CAPT CALLED FOR POLICE TO MEET FLT. PAX DETAINED FOR INTERROGATION BY FAA.
Synopsis
CABIN ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; LGA-BNA; PAX IMPERSONATED FAA INSPECTOR. CAPT CALLED FOR POLICE TO MEET FLT. PAX DETAINED FOR INTERROGATION BY FAA.
Narrative
AFTER TKOF; THE #4 FLT ATTENDANT TOLD ME (#2 FLT ATTENDANT) THAT THE PAX IN SEAT B RANG HIS CALL LIGHT AND WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE 'MALE STEWARD.' I WENT TO HIS SEAT AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS 'I'M AN FAA INSPECTOR; YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF NOT DOING A SEATBELT CHK BEFORE TKOF AND THAT BAG OVER THERE (IN ROW X) IS STICKING OUT TOO FAR.' 'I WANT YOUR NAME;' HE SAID. I TOLD HIM 'WHY ARE YOU SINGLING ME OUT OF 4 CREW MEMBERS? WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CABIN.' HE SAID 'I SAW THAT YOU DID NOT DO A SEATBELT CHK.' 'I WANT YOUR NAME;' HE SAID AGAIN. I SAID 'I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR FAA BADGE.' HE SAID 'YOU WANT TO SEE MY BADGE; YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE NOW.' HE PULLED OUT AN X BANK VISA CARD. I SAID 'THIS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE IDENT; I CAN HAVE YOU SPEAK WITH THE CAPT.' I WENT TO THE COCKPIT; TOLD THE CAPT THE STORY. HE CAME BACK OUT AND WENT TO PAX IN ROW XX ALONE. HE (CAPT) THEN CAME BACK TO ME (ON THE BEVERAGE CART) AND SAID; 'DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SEAT NUMBER; BECAUSE THAT PAX SAID HE DIDN'T SAY THAT.' I THEN WENT BACK TO PAX IN ROW XX WITH THE CAPT AND SAID; WHILE POINTING AT HIM; 'THIS MAN TOLD ME HE WAS AN FAA INSPECTOR.' HE HAD THE NERVE TO SAY 'I DID NOT.' I SAID 'YOU ARE A BOLD FACE LIAR.' THE CAPT TOLD HIM HE HAD COMMITTED A FELONY BY IMPERSONATING AN FAA INSPECTOR. IF HE CHOSE TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE HE WOULD HAVE HIM TAKEN OFF THE PLANE IN BNA IN HANDCUFFS. UPON LNDG; POLICE AND FAA MET THE FLT. PAX AND MYSELF WERE BOTH INTERVIEWED. HE DENIED EVERYTHING. I FEEL PAX ROW XX SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. HE IMPERSONATED AND LIED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE MAN DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE INTOXICATED OR SUSPICIOUS LOOKING. IN FACT; HE TURNED OUT TO BE A COLLEGE PROFESSOR; ACCORDING TO THE FAA INVESTIGATOR WHO INTERVIEWED HIM. THE FAA INSPECTOR CHOSE NOT TO ARREST THE PAX.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.