Flight Attendants Injured by Bursting Soda Cans on Southwest Airlines
Flight attendants on certain Southwest Airlines flights are experiencing a unique challenge with canned carbonated drinks exploding during opening due to extreme heat, as reported by airline officials.
“We have been addressing the issue and implementing measures to ensure that beverages remain cool on board, particularly in our airports that are facing extreme temperatures,” stated Chris Perry, the spokesperson for Southwest Airlines. “The collaboration involves both our airport teams and those working in the air.”
Recent events have primarily taken place on flights departing from airports in Phoenix and Las Vegas, where extreme heat waves have been causing havoc. This week, temperatures are expected to reach triple digits. Additional cities on the list are Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Sacramento.
The airline is currently unaware of the number of incidents reported or the extent of injuries sustained by its employees due to the exploding cans.
“However, even a single incident is unacceptable,” Perry stated. “We are taking steps to address the issue.”
According to him, there have been no injuries reported among the passengers.
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CBS News, the first to report the incident, stated that approximately 20 flight attendants were injured by the cans that burst open, with one requiring stitches.
Perry suggested that there may be an issue related to the storage and loading of drinks on Southwest planes. According to the speaker, Southwest has a unique approach compared to other airlines. They do not carry perishable items on their flights and they rarely rely on air-conditioned catering trucks.
The airline has taken steps to tackle the issue of exploding cans. They have introduced new procedures, such as using coolers and instructing ground crews to send back carbonated drinks that are 98 degrees or hotter to the warehouse for cooling. Flight attendants have also been instructed to refrain from opening cans that appear deformed.
“We are also experimenting with the utilization of air-conditioned trucks in Phoenix and Las Vegas,” he mentioned. “The two markets are experiencing significant growth and are among our largest operations.”
The measures were similar to those outlined in an internal email to employees that CBS News obtained.
In an email sent on July 12, company officials addressed the issue of “bursting hot cans” and emphasized their commitment to finding solutions. The email, titled “Provisioning Procedural Changes,” outlined a number of measures being taken, including reducing the time cans are exposed to heat and stocking fewer cans on provisioning trucks.
Perry expressed optimism about the recent developments, noting a decrease in the number of incidents.
