Hungover employee falls asleep in plane cargo hold, wakes up in another city
Cargo hold was heated and pressurized, employee was not hurt
Cargo hold was heated and pressurized, employee was not hurt
A hungover airline employee is lucky a cargo hold was heated and pressurized after he fell asleep in Kansas City and woke up in Chicago this week.
Chicago police and American Airlines told ABC News a hungover Piedmont Airlines employee (Piedmont operates many regional American Airlines flights) inadvertently fell asleep in the forward cargo hold of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft on Oct. 27.
The employee woke up after an hourlong flight in Chicago and was discovered at the gate by American Airlines employees, who called police.
The man was arrested. He told authorities he had been drinking the night before, and at some point, he fell asleep in the cargo hold of the plane.
A source told ABC News the man likely wasn't discovered before departure because there was no luggage in the forward hold for this particular flight.
Luckily, that cargo hold was heated and pressurized. The employee did not request medical attention upon landing in Chicago.
American Airlines said the employee has been suspended from work pending an investigation. So far, the FBI and Chicago police have declined to press charges.
A statement from American Airlines said the company is reviewing what transpired at Kansas City International Airport.
STATEMENT:
“A Piedmont Airlines employee, who was working an American Airlines flight on the morning of Oct. 27 at Kansas City International Airport (MCI), inadvertently fell asleep in the forward cargo hold of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The flight subsequently took off with the team member in the cargo hold, which was heated and pressurized.
“The flight landed safely at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at 7:09 a.m. CT and taxied to the gate. The team member was then discovered upon arrival at the gate in Chicago.
“Our top priority is ensuring the well-being of the Piedmont employee. He did not request any medical attention upon arrival in Chicago, and we are grateful that he did not sustain any injuries.
“The American team is very concerned about this serious situation, and we are reviewing what transpired with our Piedmont and Kansas City colleagues.”