Release #10.PCL
February 22, 2010

Pinnacle Pilots Union Backs Pilot’s Invocation of Captain’s Authority
Delta Connection Flight 887’s Captain Clears Aircraft to Ensure Safety

Memphis, Tenn.— Today, pilot leaders of Pinnacle Airlines, as part of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), voiced their support for the captain of Delta Connection flight 887 and his decision to invoke “Captain’s Authority” to clear the aircraft cabin due to an onboard altercation. The Delta Connection flight, operated by Pinnacle Airlines, scheduled to go from Rochester, New York, to Atlanta was cancelled earlier today when two flight attendants got into a dispute before take off. The captain ordered the flight attendants off the plane and asked that the passengers disembark. The passengers were rescheduled on to other flights.

“Our highly experienced captain exercised sound judgment in his decision to empty the aircraft cabin,” said Capt. Scott Erickson, chairman of the Pinnacle unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. “When faced with an unstable environment, regardless of the cause, the responsible and professional action is to clear the aircraft cabin rather than put anyone’s safety or security at risk.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union and represents 53,250 pilots at 37 airlines in the United States and Canada, including more than 1,250 pilots at Pinnacle Airlines. Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACTS:
Capt. Scott Erickson: (651) 226-3797