The Steven Slater saga is due to wrap up, with the former JetBlue flight attendant expected to plead guilty in Queens to one felony charge in exchange for no jail time.
Slater, who famously exited a JetBlue plane via the inflatable slide in August after a confrontation with a passenger, will agree to undergo mental-health counseling, and will have the felony charge dropped when he completes the program, WNBC-TV reports.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to various felony counts of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
Slater became a global sensation in the wake of his dramatic deplaning, but prosecutors said he could have killed or grievously injured anyone standing on the tarmac below the inflatable plastic chute.
Slater had claimed that a passenger became abusive with him aboard a flight during a dispute over luggage. But a number of passengers later stepped forward to challenge his account.
His 15 minutes may have been up weeks ago, but JetBlue has returned Steven Slater's name to the headlines.
The airline has announced that the man who hilariously, dangerously resigned amidst a curse-filled, emergency slide-utilized tirade will not be rehired by the company. Spokeswoman Jenny Dervin said on Saturday that Slater, who says he's return to the job, will never work for JetBlue again.
Meanwhile, Slater's attorney, Howard Turman, recently released his own statement, elucidating what went down at the conclusion of his client's infamous flight:
"A number of passengers were competing for overhead carry-on luggage areas. With great difficulty, they were shoving the bags around, attempting to get it in. Steven came over to assist and either the bag or the overhead (bin door) hit him in the head and at that point he suffered an injury.
"[A woman] started cursing and - based on the information - slammed the overhead luggage bin on his head."
Slater has pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. Facing up to seven years in jail, he has a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.
Apparently it pays to have a hissy-fit and quit your job in dramatic and well-publicized fashion.
Stone Entertainment is said to be interested in hiring former JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater to host a show in which various disgruntled workers quit their jobs in extravagant ways, according to TMZ.com.
Police are investigating just what happened when Slater flipped out aboard a JetBlue plane at Kennedy Airport in New York. The 20-year airline veteran allegedly used the plane's intercom to chew out a passenger and announce he was quitting, grabbed two beers and made his grand escape down the emergency slide.
Investigators are increasingly skeptical about Slater's story about a rude passenger hitting his head with the overhead luggage compartment door, however. And if Slater's story doesn't add up, he can likely kiss that reality show goodbye.
Steven Slater developed an instant cult following when he abruptly quit his job as a JetBlue flight attendant Monday, cursed over the loudspeaker, grabbed some beers, then bolted via the emergency chute.
But the flamboyant flight attendant's crash landing seemed to cap off what appears to be a gleeful 20-year career in the friendly skies.
According to photos posted on his Facebook and MySpace sites, Slater began his career at SkyWest Airlines. "I was 19!!! And THIN!!!" wrote Slater, whose father was also reportedly in the airline industry.
Gigs at TWA and Delta followed – as did plenty of travel, including flights to Dublin, Zurich and Barcelona.
"My airline affiliation allows me amazing travel privileges," he posted on his MySpace page, which is listed under the moniker NYCFLYER. "And I love to max it out with trips around the world, sometimes on a moment's notice! Let's go!"
He also showed an affinity for aviation history, writing posts about Berlin's Tempelhof Airport: "Built to be the hub for Hitler's Europe. Site of Berlin Airlift, later controled [sic] by U.S., France, and Britain. Only British Airways, Air France, Pan Am, and TWA allowed to serve afer [sic] the war. Lufthansa got the boot. Closed in Oct 2008," he wrote in a Nov. 2008 posting.
His latest job at JetBlue seemed to come after a five year break from flying.
"Back flying after five years off the job and having a ball," he wrote on MySpace at the time. "If I am on the ground, I am probably in my humble home in the 'burbs doing something domestic and trite. like vacuuming. Or dining, as I just love to dine. Which leads to the gym, to offset the dining. Big fan of sand and sun, I am often found on the beach or in a park, anywhere I can catch some exercise and a few rays."
Slater, who is being held at Rikers Island according to the New York Times, is facing charges of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. An attorney for Slater could not be reached.
The Steven Slater saga is due to wrap up, with the former JetBlue flight attendant expected to plead guilty in Queens to one felony charge in exchange for no jail time.
