Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

September 24, 2013

Dear AFA Member:

The AFA-CWA Board of Directors (BOD) is the highest governing body of our union, consisting of the officers who are elected by members at each airline and base or Local Council. Directly-elected Flight Attendants set the priorities and objectives of our union. Yesterday, these leaders came together in special session to address timely policy issues and objectives for our union.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) issued the following statement on the 12th year since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks changed the country and the Flight Attendant profession forever:

“On September 11, 2001, twenty-five Flight Attendants took action as first responders in a war we didn’t know we were fighting. These heroes were among the first to relay the intelligence that alerted our country and our flying partners in flight 93, who in turn sacrificed their own lives to save countless others on the ground.

Many passengers on Asiana Flight 214 grabbed their bags before exiting the plane, which goes against FAA evacuation procedures.

Since Saturday's crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport, there have been many stories about the heroics of firefighters and other emergency crews who rushed to the scene. But mostly overlooked have been the very first responders -- the flight attendants who are trained to do exactly what the crew aboard the Asiana flight did, help get as many people as possible off the plane safely.

It is reported this afternoon that at least two large explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon have caused the death of two and several other injuries. It is not yet clear the extent of this incident, nor the actions behind it. We encourage all members to be vigilant across the nation.