Airline employees used to solving problems for travelers, found themselves without any solutions during the operations meltdown, and in a survival situation of their own.
Pilots were sleeping in terminals, on planes, or in homes of coworkers in whatever city they were stuck in, said Michael Panebianco, a member of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. He offered his own house in McKinney, since he was stuck in Florida with his family.
When they'd head back to the airport, Panebianco said pilots would wander the concourse trying to cobble together a legal crew to fly, but could never get through to teams in Dallas to clear it. Panebianco said he'd heard from dozens of pilots, who turned to handing out coffee or pizza to travelers they were stuck with, since there was little else they were able to do.
"Because in some cases it's gotten to a point where passengers are so frustrated, and so upset and angry, that it's really gotten to a point of hostility in some areas," he said.
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