Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"The enraging fact is that a non-union baggage handler ran into the side of the plane moments prior to take-off... and that it was never reported."

Source: Alaska Airlines Flight 536 passenger Jeremy Hermanns, recounting on his blog the incident aboard Monday's flight from Seattle to Burbank, CA. A crease in the MD-80s fuselage, caused by a baggage handler who ran into the plane with a tug (and who failed to report the incident), blew at 26,000 into a footlong hole -- causing the aircraft to depressurize and the flight crew to beat a hasty retreat back to Sea-Tac. The incident has called into question the safety of Alaska's use of contract employees from Menzies Aviation, instead of unionized company employees.

FMI: www.alaskaairlines.com, www.menziesaviation.com, www.jeremyhermanns.org