An anonymous donor has stumped up the $2,500 bail to release a Jet Blue flight attendant for his 'take your job and shove it moment.'
For fed up workers around the world the attendant has won himself hero status with more than 20,000 people declaring themselves supporters of him on Facebook. It is no surprise the bail was paid with at least one fan setting up a legal fund on his behalf.
On Monday, Steven Slater decided he had had enough of rude passengers and his job on board Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh to JFK airport.
The 38-year-old airline veteran got into an argument with two female travellers as the plane was taking off.
He tried to keep them from removing luggage from the overhead locker and was then struck on the head by either a bag or the compartment door, say authorities.
The steward then angrily cursed the passengers over the intercom when the plane was taxiing to land, telling them he had "had it." He then grabbed some beer from the plane's gallery and made a grand exit down an emergency slide before driving home to Belle Harbor.
Slater was later arrested at his home and was in court on Tuesday on charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing. He faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
Outside of court his attorney Howard Turman said:
"All of you travel, aren't you aware of how rude people are? How many people refuse to turn off their phones and delay flights, shove their luggage, put it over your head, drop things on?"
It is clear that Slater's action have struck a chord with workers around the world said George Hobica, founder of Airfare Watchdog.com.
"Overwhelmingly people said it should have been the passenger who was ejected from the plane."
"I've never seen such an outpouring of support for a flight attendant," she added.
