Was that a**hole of a passenger on the plane that landed on the Hudson

[question everything]

who shoved the flight attendant, opened the back door, filled the back of the plane with water and caused her injury - ever been identified?

I hope that U.S. Air will bar him for ever flying its planes.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. wasn't aware of this

but your description made me immediately think of George Costanza shoving walker-bound grannies and kids out of the way to get away from the fire. LOL!

[question everything]

2. From yesterday's "60 Minutes"

But in the back of the plane, it was a very different story.

"A passenger had come back and pushed back me and opened the door, just enough that the water came flooding in. And I went back twice and tried to re-close it. It would only go so far. It wouldn't stop, and the water was just rising. You know, garbage cans were float coffee pots were floating like at this level. And things were flying. It was crazy back there," Welsh remembered.

The impact was so powerful it tore a hole under the airplane's tail. Doreen Welsh feared she and some of the passengers would not get out alive as water was pouring into the cabin.

"There was no doubt in my mind it was over. And I just went crazy and started yelling people and pushing people and getting people to go over the seats. And as I was getting up, I thought I might actually live. 'Cause a second ago, I thought I was gone. So my emotions had gone through, within seconds, accepting death and seeing life. It was unbelievable," she remembered.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/08/60minutes/main4783586_page3.shtml

[Javaman]

8. Best. panic. scene. in. tv. history. LOL nt

[stray cat]

3. Having never been in a plane crash - I won't condemn panic

The stewardesses didn't even know they were in the water until they opened the doors. People thought they were on land and the plane was about to explode.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Not identified, but

I doubt he/she realized what danger they could have caused in those circumstances.

Mercifully, all worked out well.

60 Minutes was great last night.

[RamboLiberal]

5. It was a female

FA Welsh was interviewed by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate(she's a local resident). She mentioned it was a female passenger who pushed past her and opened the rear door.

I don't blame the passenger, being in the back may not have even known they landed on water. FA Welsh didn't know they were in water right away.

BTW, I don't think the passenger caused the injury. I never heard the FA say that.

The ones I get p*ssed at is reading the stories of those who try to grab their carry on baggage during an evacuation. I heard of at least one passenger who did this on this flight and I've read of it happening in other cases in a crash landing/takeoff.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. I got the impression FA Welsh was seeing the worst of the action

being at the rear of the aircraft, deep water, more confusion, etc.

She sounds like she's not going to fly anytime soon.

Can't say as I'd blame her.

[chrisa]

6. Sometimes people just snap in dire situations.

You have to pop them in the face or restrain them. :)

[RamboLiberal]

7. How the hell can you judge the passenger?

You weren't in the plane to know what the hell was going on at that moment or if the passenger knew they were in water or that a rear door shouldn't be opened in a water landing! That fact sure isn't in the safety briefing or the seatback card.

Even the FA said she thought she might get the door open long enough to get the raft out and let it loose.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Probably Took George Carlin's Advice...

In one of his bits, he suggest when you get on a plane you look at all the exits...then plan your route in case of an accident. Make sure to look for the elderly, infirm, small children and the most vulnerable...so you can get out quick. The damn thing is when I get on planes now, I'm planning my escape route...

[AlCzervik]

10. I'm guessing she just panicked, some people do that and unless you've been in that situation

you really can't pass judgment on her.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. I can't get mad at that passenger

They tell you to go for the exits. The px did. The px almost certainly did not know it would cause flooding.

I took the FA to be suggesting that she was trying to guide the px in the right direction, not that there was a 'dispute' (for lack of a better word) as to what to do.