Good Morning America Season 35 Episode 24 Steven Slater on Dramatic Exit
- October 27, 2010
Steven Slater, the former JetBlue flight attendant who gained notoriety for his dramatic exit from a plane, is interviewed on this episode of Good Morning America. In 2010, Slater made headlines when he grabbed a beer, deployed the emergency slide, and exited the plane after an altercation with a passenger. He subsequently pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and was sentenced to probation.
Now, more than a decade later, Slater looks back on that incident and its aftermath. He tells GMA co-host Robin Roberts that he was "unhappy" in his job at the time and that the altercation with the passenger was the "straw that broke the camel's back." He also admits that he was under a great deal of stress, both from his personal life and from the demands of the job.
Slater acknowledges that his actions were "unprofessional" and that he shouldn't have put his colleagues and passengers at risk. However, he also maintains that he has no regrets about his decision to leave the job. "It set me on a path to a whole new life," he says.
In the interview, Slater discusses how he has since moved on from the incident and found success in other ventures. He now runs a business called Slater Hospitality, which provides services for events and conferences. He talks about how starting his own business has been a challenging but rewarding experience.
Slater also reflects on the ways in which the airline industry has changed since he worked as a flight attendant. He notes that the job has become more demanding and that workers are under even more stress than before. He also talks about some of the challenges that come with the current state of air travel, including long lines at security checkpoints and increased security measures.
Throughout the interview, Slater is candid and introspective. He speaks openly about his struggles with addiction and mental health issues and how they have impacted his life. He credits his recovery with helping him find a new perspective on life and says that he has learned to "take it one day at a time."
Overall, the interview with Steven Slater offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a person who became an unlikely symbol of workplace frustration. Rather than dwelling on the incident that made him famous, he looks at it as a turning point in his life and an opportunity to move on to something better. It's an uplifting and inspiring story of resilience and the power of second chances.