Flight Attendants Safely Usher Travelers to Holiday Destinations

Upcoming Anniversary of the 2009 Christmas Day Bomber Reminds All that There is Never a Holiday from Safety and Security Work for Flight Attendants

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the world's largest Flight Attendant union, reminds the traveling public of the heroic acts of Flight Attendants to thwart the terror attempt during the final approach of Delta flight 253 into Detroit on December 25, 2009. Flight Attendants are always vigilant and focused on their work as the last line of defense as well as their responsibilities as first responders.  The traveling public can fly with confidence in the care of the nation's Flight Attendants.

"As the last line of defense, professional Flight Attendants are a vital link in the chain of commercial aviation security," said AFA International President-Elect Veda Shook. "We are an integral part of a crew that works in concert for the security of each flight. In working to defend the best interests of professional Flight Attendants, AFA is in turn defending the best interests of the flying public and our national security."

One year ago on Christmas Day, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to take down Delta flight 253 by detonating an explosive. Swift action by the crew stopped the potentially tragic events and saved the lives of everyone on board. The professional Flight Attendants quickly took control of the situation, successfully averting a possible tragedy. Two Flight Attendants, with the assistance of one passenger, extinguished the fire, stripped and searched the offender and ultimately restrained him. In the midst of the chaos, the rest of the Flight Attendant crew acted to maintain control of the cabin and ensure the well-being of all passengers.

The flight deck remained locked down as Flight Attendants assumed their role as first responders and maintained their role as the last line of defense by taking any and all measures to protect the integrity of the flight deck. Relying on communication with the pilots, their training and on personal judgment, they implemented the appropriate response to the security threat.

Trained and certified in passenger safety, the nation's Flight Attendants will not only usher millions of passengers to friends and family over the holidays, but also stand alert and ready to respond to any potential threats in the aircraft cabin.

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill.  More than 42,000 flight attendants at 21 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000- member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO

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