Baggage Handler Phones From Hold, Plane Aborts Take Off

Ah, what to do, what to do. You're an Aer-Lingus baggage handler trapped in an Airbus A330 that's ready for take off from Dublin, Ireland, to New York. So what do you do?

Why you call air traffic control with your cell phone.

That's exactly what the 55-year old baggage handler did during a December 28, 2005 incident on board an Airbus 330 with 325 passengers aboard.

The unfortunate occurrence happened when a bag bound for Los Angeles was found to be among the New York-bound luggage late in the close-up of the airplane.

While the baggage team shift leader climbed into the hold to recover it, the bulk cargo hold door was closed by another baggage handler who did not realize his colleague was inside.

"By this time the leader had located the Los Angeles bag. However, as the lights remained on in the hold, he did not notice that pushback had commenced," a report said.

"When the engines powered up he realized that he was locked in."

The plane was recalled and the baggage handler was released.

Said Ministry of Transport Inspector John Hughes, "This was a serious incident. Cases have occurred where loaders have been inadvertently locked in a hold. Some years ago, a loader was locked in a hold on a two-hour flight from Philadelphia to Chicago. This was a traumatic event for this person."

Hughes recommended that procedures be tightened up for the close-up of aircraft and for the late removal of items from the hold.

The baggage handler would probably have survived the transatlantic flight trapped in the hold because it was pressurized and supplied with oxygen. He would have ridden with any pets in the hold. Woof!

FMI: www.aerlingus.com, www.transport.ie