Gossip
Flight Attendant Appears in Court
The gay flight attended who made headlines around the world after quitting his job in sensational style has appeared in court today charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and trespassing.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Steven Slater, a
38-year-old JetBlue flight attendant, got in an
argument with an impatient passenger after she wouldn’t stop retrieving her
overhead luggage while the plane was moving down the runway.
Slater released his anger on the PA system after a piece of
luggage hit him in the head. It's reported that he then grabbed a beer off of
the beverage cart, activated an emergency exit and took off down the inflatable
chute.
He then drove to his beach home in Rockaway, NY. A heavy
police force descended on the home and Slater was arrested, supposedly, as he
lay in bed with his boyfriend
Allegedly Slater’s parting words over the intercom
were: "To the passenger who called me a motherf***er... f**k you! I've been in
this business for 20 years and that's it. I'm done.'”
Slater appeared in a state court in New York accused of
criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing - counts which carry a
maximum penalty of seven years in prison. The judge set his bail at US 2,500
dollars (£1,580), and he was later released.
After the hearing Slater told reporters: "It seems like
something here has resonated with a few people. And that's kinda neat."
Slater, whose father was an airline pilot, has already been
elevated to folk-hero status with more than 20,000 supporting him on various
Facebook groups.