The “Harlem Shake” YouTube video of almost all passengers performing the “Harlem Shake” in midair on Frontier Flight 157 from Colorado Springs to San Diego has sparked an FAA investigation and controversy. Are airplanes safe with almost everyone dancing around in it? Frontier says yes, the Federal Aviation Administration, however, does not appear to be so sure, according to a 7News report on Feb. 28, 2013.
“7NEWS has confirmed the performance is now being investigated by the FAA.”
Over President’s Day weekend, Frontier Flight 157 was in midair from Colorado Springs to San Diego when a man dressed in a mask stood in the aisle of the airplane and began to dance the “Harlem Shake.”
Click on the video to the left to watch the "Harlem Shake" on Frontier Flight 157.
Among the passengers of Flight 157 was the Colorado College Ultimate Frisbee team for a tournament in San Diego. Initially, the YouTube video of the “Harlem Shake” shows only the masked man dancing and the other passengers either ignoring him or smiling.
After about 15 seconds, the video cuts and when it continues, the airplane’s aisle is filled with passengers, young and old, dancing the “Harlem Shake.” One passenger is dancing in a banana costume and another passenger is shown dancing in an Abraham Lincoln mask. According to 7News, the costumes and the "Harlem Shake" event was planned by the Colorado College team one day in advance.
Even many of the passengers who remained in their seats joined in the dance by swinging their arms. One father holds up his young son into the camera.
With the airplane’s aisle being filled with dancing passengers, there is no room for anyone to pass by or flight attendants to pass through.
According to Frontier, at the time of the “Harlem Shake” dance performance, the seat belt sign was off. According to a Frontier Airlines spokesperson, “All safety measures were followed and the seat belt sign was off.”
According to San Diego’s 10News broadcast at 11 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2013, the pilot of an airplane is responsible for the safety of the airplane and the passengers. Flight attendants are to ensure that a pilot’s orders are being followed.
While it appears that having an airplane filled with passengers who are entertaining themselves with the “Harlem Shake” might be amusing, San Diego’s 10News, some of the YouTube viewers, and the FAA are questioning whether it is a safe kind of activity to conduct on an airplane.
What do you think?
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