Curiosity
Shakes On A Plane Has FAA Fuming
Shakes On A Plane Has FAA Fuming
Members of the Colorado College’s Club Frisbee team are being investigated by the Federal Aviation Authority for particpating in a “Harlem Shake” routine aboard a recent Frontiers Airline flight traveling between Colorado Springs and San Diego.
According to USA Today, club members, who put a video of their antics online which drew the attention of federal authorities, insist that they had cleared their actions with flight personnel as well as other passengers to ensure that no one had any objections.
The students said they had the approval of the flight crew, who let them use the plane’s public address system to tell other passengers about their intentions.
“We wanted to make sure that we followed every regulation and that nothing went wrong, and that it was OK with (the airplane crew),” said team member Matt Zelin. “We just figured being on a plane, you know, you need to make sure everything is safe, and we just talked to flight attendants and they were excited.”
Officials of Frontier Airlines refused to comment on any pending FAA investigation, but did acknowledge that the airplane was at a safe altitude and the seat belt sign was off when the students began their now notorious “Harlem Shake” routine.
Officials at the FAA, however, continue to take the matter very seriously, contending that the most frequent injuries to airline passengers occur because they are not wearing their seat belts or are moving about the cabin rather than being seated.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Jim Tilmon, a retired 29-year airline pilot. “A commercial airplane in flight … is not a dance hall, it’s not an entertainment stage, it’s not any of those things.”
“It’s cute, novel, all that sort of stuff,” he said, adding, “Wrong place, wrong time.”
Experts say they are not trying to be party poopers.
“I hate to be a bureaucratic kill-joy,” agreed Steve Wallace, former director of the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation. “I think there is a safety issue here. Turbulence injuries are the most common type of injuries, and they are virtually eliminated when people are in their seat belts.”
On The Web:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2013/03/01/faa-investigates-harlem-shake-skit-on-frontier-airlines-flight/1955937/
Harlem shake reaches new heights; FAA not amused
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/01/travel/harlem-shake-faa