Brickbat: This One Is Just Right

Italian aviation officials blocked a British Airways flight from leaving Milan for London after a surprise inspection found some of the seat cushions were too thick and too wide. Seat cushions on exit rows over the wings are supposed to be smaller to create more room in case of an evacuation. The air crew called out serial numbers for the correct seats and had passengers see if any of the cushions on their seats matched those numbers. They were able to locate enough cushions to swap out for those over the exit rows, and the flight departed after a delay of an hour.

Comments

[SQRLSY One]

Fucking regulators LOVE to throw their weight around and hassle people!!! They just could NOT be bothered to, instead, do a surprise inspection for this, on planes that were sitting idle in maintenance... They just HAD to be butt-holes, and do it to a plane just about ready for take-off!!!

"Look at MEEEE and how much POWER I have!!! Quake, bow, and tremble, peons!!!"

[ace_m82]

To be fair, the Euros (the non-Anglophones generally), they actually think that if they don't follow these rules to the letter, that there will be chaos, and that the only think keeping everyone safe are these rules.
They can't begin to comprehend how emergent order (aka, the free market) works.
So, it's not all about power, though for many I'm sure it is. They just don't know any other way.

[Brandybuck]

"But if we don't fuck with people then there would be anarchy! And that might lead to Brexit!"

[Adans smith]

Yeah, Italy has such a reputation for efficiency.

[Fist of Etiquette]

...after a surprise inspection found some of the seat cushions were too thick and too wide.

Commercial aviation thrives on surprises.

I guess the Italians have had enough of Brits too thick and too wide.

[Davy C]

Is airline safety really a brickbat?

Also... WTF? I'm not paying to comment, Reason, and if I can't comment I'm not likely to stay and read your stuff either.

[Longtobefree]

I think that is why they changed the policy.
Too many libertarians clogging up the site with political comments.

[mad.casual]

Babylon Bee (2021): Biden Proposes $2 Trillion Bill To Study What's Causing Inflation Rates To Rise.

Reason (2024): To Combat The Sociopolitical Economic Echo Chamber, We'll Continue To Raise Fees Until Morale Improves

[Idaho-Bob]

Is airline safety really a brickbat?

It's the illusion of safety. Read 14 CFR25.853.

[Jerry B.]

Hey. Bureaucrats gotta bureaucrat, and Italy is a prime example.

[LIBertrans]

This is unequal yet apposite retaliation for what sort of pettifoggery victimizing the Italians? These irritants cut both ways.

[vanessaa]

It's always a bit frustrating when flights encounter unexpected delays, but safety measures are paramount in aviation. In this case, Italian aviation officials made a necessary call to ensure compliance with safety regulations before allowing a British Airways flight to depart from Milan to London. The issue with the seat cushions being too thick and wide may seem minor, but it directly relates to passenger safety, particularly in emergency situations. It's commendable that the air crew swiftly took action to address the problem by identifying and replacing the non-compliant cushions, allowing the flight to proceed with only a one-hour delay. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous safety inspections and adherence to regulations in the aviation industry, ensuring the well-being of passengers remains the top priority. For those who may have experienced similar flight disruptions and are seeking guidance on their rights or compensation options, platforms like AirAdvisor can be valuable resources. AirAdvisor specializes in assisting passengers with flight-related issues, including delays, cancellations, and overbooking. Their expertise can help passengers navigate the often complex process of claiming compensation or refunds from airlines, providing support and advocacy throughout the journey. Overall, while flight delays are never ideal, they're sometimes necessary to ensure passenger safety and compliance with regulations. Platforms like AirAdvisor can offer assistance and support to passengers affected by such disruptions, helping to ease the inconvenience and provide recourse when needed.

[TryLogic]

Are you a PR flack for the bureaucrats? Or a shill for the legal eagles raising the cost of everything with pointless lawsuits? I didn't realize there were ticks that lived on the other ticks...

[Davy C]

I assume it's an AI-generated comment promoting the link they gave.

[Liberty_Belle]

Japan is highly rated for safety and efficiency and I don't think you would ever have a last minute inspection hold up an entire flight from the people who issue a formal apology for the train running 2 minutes late. They would have inspected & fixed the problem out of rotation and never dared to make a transit late with shenanigans.

Bureaucracy is fine in small amounts, so long as you do it on your time and not mine.