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309 Comments
- wonderchemist, on 07/06/2009, -6/+523But he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
- RHollister, on 07/06/2009, -1/+505Sounds like every engineers dream
- Bukowsky, on 07/06/2009, -6/+326I can already hear the pilot saying over the intercom -- "uhhh.. do we have an aircraft engineer on board?"
The only way i would stay on that plane, was if he stayed on it too... which he did. - TheBifman, on 07/06/2009, -1/+299Buy that man a drink!
- FattyMagee, on 07/06/2009, -1/+270Every engineers dream is the Apollo 13 makeshift filter scene.
- firewall1, on 07/06/2009, -14/+280I really love the way they tell us what was wrong
/s
It's like the media in the UK think that people are too ***** stupid to understand it was 'engine related' or 'landing gear' related and given us some insight to the problem. Was it a paint chip? Was it that the 1 toilet didn't flush?
The BBC has really gone downhill over the past decade or so. - chadsmith729, on 07/06/2009, -4/+202Anyone else slightly disappointed that it wasn't some normal passenger like a banker or something who was able to pull a lever and fix the problem? Hope that guy got an upgrade to first class at least.
- alexkball, on 07/06/2009, -7/+169A girlfriend is probably every engineer's dream.
- CDefense7, on 07/06/2009, -2/+130Re-title: "Airplane mechanic fixes airplane, then rides on it"
A lot less exciting. - XPpro, on 07/06/2009, -4/+123Awful, just awful. Now every airliner is going to use the "we're flying in an engineer, unless someone can fix it in time" trick to get free plane repairs.
- sgvprelude, on 07/06/2009, -0/+107After fixing the plane, he went back to his coach class seat, where the stewardess asked him if he wanted a sandwich for $10.
- knute5, on 07/06/2009, -1/+106Now, if he spoke Jive, that would have been perfect.
- ptoomey, on 07/06/2009, -3/+105Lucky he carries Mighty Putty with him!
- inactive, on 07/06/2009, -0/+99WE'LL DO IT WITH A SOCK!
- snagglefoof, on 07/06/2009, -1/+86If he stays on you'll know he really believed in what he was doing and didn't mess it up or sabotage the plane.
- snagglefoof, on 07/06/2009, -1/+77Still the author could have asked what was wrong. If the airline wouldn't say then the article could have at least said something like "The specific problem was undisclosed."
- Angostura, on 07/06/2009, -0/+73I expect he had a roll of gaffer tape in his bag.
- TrevorPace, on 07/06/2009, -0/+72Holy ***** calm down.
- secrity, on 07/06/2009, -0/+71My dad was a mechanic for an airline and he has done this sort of thing a few times while he was travelling (for free, but he wasn't the type to be a "holidaymaker"). It was always something easy to fix and didn't need a part, or it could be deferred and he just needed to sign off the log book -- and it was at an airport that didn't have an on-duty mechanic. Although it was always a plane owned by the airline he worked for, it wasn't necessarily a plane that he was travelling on; he has fixed planes that were at another gate. Yes, he did put the time on his timesheet, one of the reasons is that it was a union thing. Also, it had to be approved by somebody for him to do it.
A crew member wouldn't ask for a volunteer; a mechanic would usually identify themselves to the flight crew if it looks like there may be a mechanical problem, also the flight manifest would show that a non-revenue employee was on the aircraft and they could be identified as being a mechanic. - CdnStanton, on 07/06/2009, -0/+69"Uh, yeah, sure, it'll hold."
- R3publican, on 07/06/2009, -0/+59Excuse me stewardess. I speak Jive.
- doich, on 07/06/2009, -2/+60It would have been better if he fixed it in the air.
- Charlotte_Web, on 07/06/2009, -3/+59"HI, BILLY MAYS HERE..."
- secrity, on 07/06/2009, -1/+51The article said that the guy worked for an airline that had a reciprocal maintenance agreement with the airline that he worked for. The article also said that he presented his credentials and that his credentials were verified. It was cool, no problem man,
- PhillyMJS, on 07/06/2009, -0/+48http://thereifixedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/0 ...
- tgc1, on 07/06/2009, -0/+47I love reading stuff like this. Makes my day a little nicer somehow. I mean it's a nice change from the cop beatings and huge thefts by the government, erosion of rights etc...
- PRlME, on 07/06/2009, -0/+46omg cool, I thought I was the only one to do it with a sock!
- diggdat, on 07/06/2009, -0/+44Looks like you might have more baggage than the passengers...
- MuadDave, on 07/06/2009, -0/+44I can hear him now: "Ok, Captain, like they taught you in flight school: Hold down control, alt and delete _at the same time_..."
- Skurt, on 07/06/2009, -3/+47Well as you'd have to be certified/licensed to make such adjustments, I doubt a banker or plumber would have an A&P to legally fix said aircraft.
And even if a banker managed to throw the right lever, would you still want to fly the plane? - Frixionburne, on 07/06/2009, -1/+45"The BBC has really gone downhill over the past decade or so. "
TOP GEAR - mercano, on 07/06/2009, -1/+45"Just get us on the ground."
"That part will happen pretty definitely." - Tubal22, on 07/06/2009, -6/+49Holidaymaker = vacationer?
- tgc1, on 07/06/2009, -1/+39I'm pretty sure they paid the man. He worked for a company that had a service contract with the same airline he was flying on, although the man worked for another airline. So more than likely that contract covered the repair and he'll be paid for the job.
- SummerofGeorge, on 07/06/2009, -0/+36http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfDCRAtODa0
- mhuggins, on 07/06/2009, -0/+35The stewardesses...all of them...at once.
Okay, just kidding, only the hot ones. - Kanten, on 07/06/2009, -0/+34I just want to tell you good luck, we're all counting on you.
- CasinoJack, on 07/06/2009, -5/+36Quite an assumption you're making there - perhaps the BBC were never actually told what the problem was?
Besides, I doubt that a plane would be grounded by a paint chip. A broken toilet on the other hand... - MxM111, on 07/06/2009, -0/+30"Just use more Scotch Tape next time"
- Scottish Engineer - PRlME, on 07/06/2009, -0/+29how about we just beat you
- feelmypimphand, on 07/06/2009, -3/+32someone should give him a free pass into the mile high club
- yuanzhoulu, on 07/06/2009, -1/+30Only a terrorist would sabotage the plane or deliberately mess it up. You've got a 99.99999% chance the person is a sane human and in their right mind would not.
- DrDragun, on 07/06/2009, -0/+27I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY
- stayputnik, on 07/06/2009, -1/+28Amen! I love that scene!
- buddyw, on 07/06/2009, -0/+27Engineer...MAN!
Here to save the day! - secrity, on 07/06/2009, -1/+27It is possible that the reporter had no idea what the mechanic told him.
- PedroSilvares, on 07/06/2009, -1/+27I bet the problem was with the left falangy.
- rnawky, on 07/06/2009, -0/+25Good for him.
- Sideshowslob, on 07/06/2009, -0/+24Liar.
- ebcreasoner, on 07/06/2009, -0/+2401
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