> >Why don't they believe us when we say that contingencies will get the job >done every time? > >Stewardess takes off as plane lands >The Times of London >May 5, 1999 BY ARTHUR LEATHLEY, AVIATION CORRESPONDENT EVERYONE was pleased >when a British Airways jet arrived almost half an hour early at Genoa. >Travellers were able to make an early start for their hotels, and Italian >airport workers were able to see a half-naked air hostess running down the >steps and around the plane. The stewardess had bet the pilot that she would >strip down to her underwear if their flight from Gatwick reached its >destination early. The 23-year-old brunette not only kept her side of the >bargain, she also put on the captain�s cap, tip-toed down the aircraft >steps after most of the passengers had disembarked and sprinted around the >Boeing 737, �smiling and wiggling� according to onlookers, before >re-boarding. However, while the new incentive for punctual flying was >universally praised in Italy, BA officials back home were less than amused. >�We take this very seriously,� a spokesman said. �It seems there was some >inappropriate behaviour and we are looking into the details of what >happened.� He claimed that the woman also wore a yellow tabard to protect >her modesty. The stewardess, who has not been named, has been allowed to >continue working while an inquiry is carried out, although the company >declined to reveal which route she is using. The pilot on the Sunday flight >to Genoa�s Christopher Columbus airport is believed to have taken advantage >of favourable wind conditions and uncongested air traffic space to make an >early landing. Many flight-times in Europe have built-in delays to take >account of expected traffic congestion. The respected Italian newspaper La >Repubblica praised the ingenuity of the wager: �It is only a pity that most >of the passengers missed the most pleasant and original aspect of the >flight, which was the real reason it came in early.� > > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
