Here’s looking at you
JetBlue’s recent emergency landing at LAX grabbed headlines all over the world. Like most onlookers, I was impressed by two things: the heroic and nearly flawless response of the crew (both pilots and flight attendants), and the weirdness of the media event.
As we all know by now, the passengers on the disabled aircraft were able to watch live television coverage of their own emergency up until 10 minutes before landing. As a flight attendant myself, I think I would have shut off the system immediately. Before you disagree with me, read the entire column; if you still disagree with me, send me an e-mail.
My main objection is that the in-flight coverage could have led to panic or distracted the passengers from hearing the crew’s instructions. Believe me, in an emergency you really need everyone’s full attention.
But camera trouble is nothing new in the airline industry. There once was a system that allowed passengers to watch the goings-on in the cockpit (at the pilots’ discretion, of course). One airline was known for showing a live shot of the flight panels and instruments during takeoffs and landings. On one flight, a pilot decided to get cute and put a banana in the middle of the shot.
When it was time to pull up the landing gear, the pilot donned a gorilla arm he’d gotten at a costume shop; the next thing the passengers saw was a hairy arm retract the gear and grab the banana. Minutes later the peel was tossed away in plain sight. All the passengers thought it was hilarious, except for one. That person prevailed in a costly lawsuit, shutting down the camera on that airline for good.
On a different airline, the cockpit camera was once turned on accidentally in flight. It was pointed directly at the captain. While the co-pilot was off on a restroom break, the passengers got a full shot of the captain’s extended nose-mining experience. The passengers laughed till they cried.
Another airline unplugged its cockpit cameras after one of its airplanes crashed in Chicago, killing all aboard. A relative of one of the passengers filed a lawsuit and won a monumental settlement, claiming undue pain and suffering for the passengers who witnessed their imminent demise live on camera.
That’s what surprised me most about the JetBlue incident. The above plaintiff prevailed on the basis of 10 seconds of terror caught on tape. What would have happened if the JetBlue emergency had ended badly, after 40 minutes of live television coverage?
Of course, Big Brother is still alive and well elsewhere in the airline industry. In fact, in a typical day of flying the average passenger will be watched from a surveillance device at least 10 times.
1. In the airport parking lot
2. At curbside check-in
3. At the flight check-in area
4. In the security line
5. During the security screening process
6. In the post-security area
7. In the terminal
8. At the gate
9. At the arrival destination
10. At passport control (on an international flight) or in the baggage claim area (on a domestic flight)
Now some airlines are introducing an onboard surveillance system to keep an eye on the cabin in flight. Flight crews are fighting the move, fearing supervisors may later scrutinize the tapes. So far, onboard surveillance has prevented a man from choking while waiting for the lavatory, caught a few thieves stealing alcohol miniatures, and discovered a couple pulling a Monica Lewinsky in the back galley when the flight attendants were busy elsewhere.
As of yet, there are no cameras in the restrooms (at least, not so far as we know). But where will it all end? Are we safer for the cameras’ presence, or is it 1984 after all?
Certainly there are good arguments for increased camera presence. Video surveillance has been proven to reduce general crime by as much as 90 percent. Perhaps it could do the same at airports. And I have to admit, I feel more comfortable with video surveillance now than I did when I was younger and had more to hide.
But what do you think? Should JetBlue have shut off the TV? Should some of those cameras be yanked from the airport? And what about cameras in the cabin? Is privacy the price of security?
Send me an e-mail and let me know what you think. Until then, here’s looking at you.