Many travelers, upon opening their hopelessly mixed-up luggage once they’ve reached their destination, often suspect their belongings aren’t exactly handled with care by airport staff. In this particular case, those fears were justified when a baggage handler for Southwest Airlines was caught on cell-phone video nonchalantly tossing luggage through the air to its designated location, including several packages containing live tropical fish.
Ain't live no more! pic.twitter.com/m4k9qaM171
— ThanosIsStillAHero (@sgscottieg614) November 26, 2018
Phoenix resident Loudin Krueg witnessed the employee throwing packages outside the window of his aircraft and immediately began filming.
He was especially enraged by the sight of boxes marked “live fish” flying through the air:
“When I saw him throwing a live animal around, I was like this is more serious than my camera. This is something that’s supposed to be someone’s pet, so that’s what got to me.”
@SouthwestAir Hi there, @12News received this video of an employee at PHX tossing boxes apparently labeled as containing live fish. Does Southwest have any comment? pic.twitter.com/sOSW5T6R3f
— Nicole Zymek (@Nicole12News) November 24, 2018
Southwest Airlines issued a statement to Business Insider, saying:
“We’re aware of the video and have handled the situation internally, also having reached to our Cargo Customers to ensure there was no damage in the shipment.”
In a separate statement to ABC News 15, Southwest elaborated:
“The video is deeply concerning. We expect our Employees to treat all Customers’ luggage and cargo as they would their own. We will work with the Employee to retrain on policies and procedures to prevent this type of handling again.”
A very specific professional group. Where do they come from? Their work should be monitored 24/7.
— Hubert Ga?kowski (@HubGalk) November 26, 2018
Krueg was also concerned for his own expensive camera equipment, which he was bringing home after a shoot in Puerto Rico:
“Luckily, we packed them in some pretty hefty stuff, but you get worried, when you have $100,000 of stuff sitting under a plane and this guy’s throwing it 15 feet in the air.”
After watching the video, Twitter was beside itself with anger.
I don’t know what’s more concerning: the fact that this “person” is an idiot for not realizing that everyone has a camera accessible to them in this day and age, or the fact that they just didn’t care. #travel #luggage #jetset #panopticon https://t.co/aWTnzp5Jg3
— ?RIK ?NWALL (@ActuallyErik) November 26, 2018
???????????? If only people could see what other stuff happens to their luggage and checked items out of public sight.. ????https://t.co/qEyh4o2bdv https://t.co/qEyh4o2bdv
— Jeff (@jeffmurray56) November 27, 2018
When you are loaded like cattle, why would you expect your bags to be treated any differently?
— Bob Burns (@bobthetoyman) November 27, 2018
Earlier this year, a baggage handler for Ryanair was caught throwing packages in a similar fashion.
The baggage handlers at Manchester airport give zero f*cks ???? pic.twitter.com/ztYKdqdA8a
— Ryan Williams (@razza699) September 20, 2018
That guy needs to realise by not doing the job properly in the first place he is making more work for himself. Don't work harder work smarter
— sarah t (@sarahsj25) September 20, 2018
Meanwhile, in Japan….https://t.co/T2dNwm8yDM
— omotenashi-cx (@omotenashi_cx) September 21, 2018
That explains this, then.
Could have been a nightmare, It was my first time abroad alone with my girlfriend, if it wasn’t for the fact I had an amazing @TUIUKcares rep, I would have been screwed.
Horrendous, going to avoid flying at your airport at all costs. @manairport pic.twitter.com/WlmkTOiilZ
— Joe | EFC Graphics (@JoeDoesDesigns) September 21, 2018
With airline prices as high as they are, the very least passengers deserve is for their belongings to arrive home in one piece.
H/T – Business Insider, Twitter