Plane leaves Seattle with napping airport worker stuck in cargo

Flight made an emergency landing after it took off with a worker trapped in a cargo area under the cabin


Reuters April 15, 2015
Flight made an emergency landing after it took off with a worker trapped in a cargo area under the cabin. PHOTO: STRAITSTIMES

SEATTLE: A Los Angeles-bound Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing at a Seattle-area airport on Monday afternoon after it took off with a worker trapped in a cargo area under the cabin where he had fallen asleep, the U.S. carrier said.

The pilot of Alaska Airlines flight 448 reported hearing banging from beneath the aircraft after takeoff from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, south of Seattle, the statement said.

Read: After Bollywood and Nollywood, Uganda brings 'Wakaliwood'

Screaming could also be heard from the cargo hold, an airport spokesman said.

When the aircraft returned safely after being in the air for 14 minutes, a ramp agent was found inside the pressurized and temperature-controlled front cargo hold, the statement said.

Read: Zombie or miracle, cat claws his way back from dead

After exiting, the Menzies Aviation employee told authorities he had fallen asleep, Alaska Airlines said in a statement.



"The ramp agent appeared OK, and was transported to the hospital as a precaution," the airline said on its website. "We are actively investigating the matter."

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ