Don't leave sleeping passengers on planes after flights land, American Airlines union reminds cabin crew
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- American Airlines flight attendants were sent a union memo about leaving passengers on empty planes.
- The AFPA said cabin crew members should check lavatories and under seats for sleeping passengers.
- A union spokesperson said it "routinely" issued such reminders to members.
The union for American Airlines flight attendants has issued a memo reminding cabin crew not to leave sleeping passengers on board after flights land.
Aviation news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported that the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) recently warned members there had been an increase in such incidents.
"This communication serves as a reminder for flight attendants to complete required post-flight security checks to ensure all passengers have deplaned upon arrival," a spokesperson for APFA, which represents more than 28,000 American Airlines cabin crew members, told Business Insider.
They added that the union "routinely releases communications reminding flight attendants of the importance of conducting these checks."
Leaving a passenger on an empty plane is not only a security concern but can also violate safety rules that mandate a minimum number of flight attendants per passenger.
APFA's recent memo reminded cabin crew to "check lavatories, and make sure no passengers are sleeping in or under seats," Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.
"These procedures are required to ensure that no passenger is ever left onboard," the memo continued. "This is a critical final check to confirm that no one has been overlooked, and this ensures that you and your crew aren't at risk of violating a [federal aviation regulation]."
The lead flight attendant is also supposed to perform a walk-through of the cabin as a final check, the memo reportedly said.
"Leaving passengers on the aircraft unattended is a significant safety and security concern and we appreciate everyone's shared efforts in ensuring this doesn't happen."
In 2019, an Air Canada passenger woke up alone on a cold and dark plane.
Tiffani O'Brien said she fell asleep on the 90-minute flight from Quebec City to Toronto and woke up hours later after the plane had been parked.