A320 FLIGHT CREW IS INFORMED BY THE CABIN ATTENDANT THAT A SEATBACK HAS FAILED. A WILLING PASSENGER IS FOUND TO SIT IN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT JUMPSEAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT.

Date: 2008-11 · Aircraft: A320 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|flight-deck-cabin-aircraft-event-other-unknown

Synopsis

A320 FLIGHT CREW IS INFORMED BY THE CABIN ATTENDANT THAT A SEATBACK HAS FAILED. A WILLING PASSENGER IS FOUND TO SIT IN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT JUMPSEAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT.

Narrative

APPROX 45 MINS INTO OUR FLT; THE FLT ATTENDANTS CALLED US (THE FO AND I) TO TELL US THAT THE SEATBACK OF A SEAT WAS BROKEN AND THAT THE SEATBACK HAD FALLEN INTO THE PERSON BEHIND THE BROKEN SEAT. SINCE EVERY SEAT ON THE ACFT WAS FULL; AND SINCE THE SEAT WASN'T SAFE TO OCCUPY FOR LNDG; WE (THE FO AND I) WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF OUR DISPATCHER; AGREED TO MOVE SOMEONE INTO ONE OF THE AFT FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEATS SO THE BROKEN SEAT WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE USED FOR LNDG. I ASKED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO FIND SOMEONE TO OCCUPY THE FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEAT CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES: 1) AN OFF-DUTY FLT ATTENDANT OR PLT WHO WAS ON OUR FLT. 2) AN AIRLINE EMPLOYEE. 3) ABLE-BODIED (MEETS ALL EMER EXIT ROW SEATING REQUIREMENTS). 4) CLEAR THINKING -- NOT THREATENING. A SUITABLE PAX WAS FOUND AND ALLOWED TO OCCUPY ONE OF THE EXTRA AFT FLT ATTENDANT JUMPSEATS FOR LNDG. THE REST OF THE FLT PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE EVENT OCCURRED BECAUSE A PAX SEEMINGLY PUSHED BACK TOO HARD ON HIS SEAT AND BROKE IT. PAX SHOULD NOT PUSH BACK TOO HARD ON THE SEATBACK. THE FLT ATTENDANTS; THE FO; OUR DISPATCHER AND MAINT ALL DID A GREAT JOB WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF THIS SITUATION.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.