Remain Vigilant
November 17, 2015
We are all painfully aware of the tragic events in Paris, Beirut and the tragedy of Metrojet Flight 9268. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and friends. Following an event of this nature, it’s not unexpected that many of us may feel a mixture of contradictory emotions – anger at the senseless loss of life, relief that none of our flying partners were caught up in the actual events and sadness at the misguided efforts to curtail our individual freedoms and our way of life. AFA EAP is always available as a confidential resource if you need to talk with someone about your reaction or your family’s reaction to these events: 800-424-2406.
Remain vigilant. While we aren’t able to control the actions of others, we are able to act in a way that minimizes our potential exposure to these senseless acts of violence. As First Responders and Safety Professionals, our specialized training causes each of us to be more situationally aware – not only in our role onboard the aircraft, but in every situation. Given these recent world events, we should continue to be observant while on personal time as well as while we are on duty. If you see something out of the ordinary, say something. Our training in CRM provides us with the best resource to advocate for ourselves and to advance any concerns we may have.
At work we advance our concerns through the captain on the aircraft and our airline ground staff and away from work we report to local authorities.
News Resources:
- DHS Enhanced Security following Metrojet Flight 9268 Crash
- Beirut Attacks News Report
- Paris Attacks News Reports
- Coping with Reaction to Terrorism
While on layover, we strongly urge you to be cautious. Remain vigilant in your surroundings, always aware that a spontaneous event intended to be peaceful, in fact entertaining, can turn violent quickly. Always exercise caution if within the vicinity of any large gathering. We encourage you to review our Layover Safety Information. Never refer to specific layover locations by hotel name in social media, onboard the aircraft or in other public areas.
Our safety and security is of course our top priority. Ensure your Union is aware of any unusual circumstances so that we can together support Flight Attendants with resources and the best possible information. If you encounter a threat or something that feels unsafe, on or off the aircraft, it is important that you report it to your airline, your AFA Local Council, and/or the local police, if necessary.
If you have any safety concerns, as always, please contact your AFA Local Council.
