What passenger issue warrants a return to gate after departure?

[Slick]

Specific Question ...
for US Scheduled Airline Carriers - What conditions would your airline authorize a taxi back from the active departure runway for a passenger

Recently on a flight from DFW to DTW when Pilot in Command (PIC) advises on PA advising they were heading back to the departure gate to let a passenger off that wanted to deplane. We were almost to the departure runway. After returning to the same departure gate, one passenger walks out without assistance or any visible signs of distress that I could see. I did not see any police or security during the event. 31 minutes later we we back into position at the active runway.

Questions

- What are Airline standard operating procedures that would apply to allow this to happen?
- I suspect the PIC has ultimate authority to return to the gate even if not allowed in the Airline SOP.
- Does any checked baggage from the departing passenger have to be removed (I thought if you did not board the plane your previously checked baggage had to be removed).
- I expect this is a rare as in many years of Airline travel I have never seen this happen.

Thanks

Slick

 

[97prizm]

This is odd as most people don't go "Oh I forgot my backpack can we go back and get it?" I know that gate slots are highly utilized so the gate might already have another flight already deplaning and you might not be able to go back to that specific gate. I personally would have asked but they may not have told you anything.

 

[Astro14]

We would taxi back if someone was presenting a security threat, including behavioral anomalies.

We wouldn’t go back for a lost article.

I don’t discus security procedures or specific SOP‘s for a case like this. I’m sure you understand.

Bottom line, as you suspected, pilot command has complete authority to do so.

 

[6.7 CTD]

IFSO (Air Marshal) needed elsewhere/on another flight unexpectedly/urgently?

 

[97prizm]

It's better to deal with whatever issues there are on the ground than have to deal with an issue en route.

 

[jhellwig]

My guess would be an air marshal, TSA or airline employee issue would be my guess.

 

[Hall]

I can imagine the person that was let off was someone "special" and even then, it probably also involved someone calling the airline, who in turn messaged the cockpit as confirmation or approval. Since no one (police, etc) met the passenger immediately suggests it wasn't a passenger concern by the flight crew.

 

[Astro14]

IFSO (Air Marshal) needed elsewhere/on another flight unexpectedly/urgently?

No. Not a chance.

 

[Astro14]

I can imagine the person that was let off was someone "special" and even then, it probably also involved someone calling the airline, who in turn messaged the cockpit as confirmation or approval. Since no one (police, etc) met the passenger immediately suggests it wasn't a passenger concern by the flight crew.

The OP didn’t see anyone meet this person.

Doesn’t mean they weren’t met.

 

[Slick]

The OP didn’t see anyone meet this person.

Doesn’t mean they weren’t met.

Yes very true as I could not see past the cabin door.

 

[Slick]

We would taxi back if someone was presenting a security threat, including behavioral anomalies.

We wouldn’t go back for a lost article.

I don’t discus security procedures or specific SOP‘s for a case like this. I’m sure you understand.

Bottom line, as you suspected, pilot command has complete authority to do so.

Astro14

I fully understand not discussing security and specific SOP's.

Appreciate your input from your related experience with Part 121 operations as my PIC flying experience is under Part 91.

Best regards

Slick

 

[Slick]

It's better to deal with whatever issues there are on the ground than have to deal with an issue en route.

97prizm

Very true

 

[Slick]

This is odd as most people don't go "Oh I forgot my backpack can we go back and get it?" I know that gate slots are highly utilized so the gate might already have another flight already deplaning and you might not be able to go back to that specific gate. I personally would have asked but they may not have told you anything.

97prizm

We did get the same gate but it was only about 15 minutes since pushback. I figured we got the pleasant "passenger wanted to de-plane" message and likely not the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey use to say as his tag line on his past radio broadcast.

I was happy if it was a true valuable need of the passenger/family or safety issue for flight that it was addressed. But I was thinking based on the efficient boarding process with a full aircraft and pushback we were going to be blessed with a 15 minute early arrival into DTW. That expected early arrival became a 20 minute late arrival to which the Caption did apologize and thank us for the delay. No harm it happens. I was glad my pre-arranged free ground transportation friend was tracking my flight on his mobil phone so he just delayed his departure. and did not have to wait in the cell phone lot.

Slick

 

[Hall]

Yes very true as I could not see past the cabin door.

At least with every video we see online, police or whoever literally escort the person from their seat off the plane.

 

[RhondaHonda]

They probably ate too strong of an edible before the flight and couldn’t handle it.

 

[Cujet]

My company kind of aborted a takeoff, lined up and ready to go, but taxied back to the ramp, door comes down, boss emerges quite angry. All for a 'built in' commercial cappuccino machine that was non functional. That should have been a big fat clue. Had I been onboard, I would have plugged the thing in.

 

[dnewton3]

potential impending medical concern or emergency?
Just because someone was ambulatory, doesn't mean there wasn't a problem.

 

[Astro14]

Also, from a technical perspective, an aborted takeoff is after you have started the takeoff roll. For an aborted, or rejected, takeoff, it has to be an important systems failure, fire, or dangerous situation (like a runway incursion by another airplane, or windshear) to cause that, particularly at high speed.

That was what we call a “gate return”. You’ve taxied out, and now, taxi back to the gate.

The takeoff itself never happened, so it was never abandoned, canceled, or rejected.

 

[Slick]

Also, from a technical perspective, an aborted takeoff is after you have started the takeoff roll. For an aborted, or rejected, takeoff, it has to be an important systems failure, fire, or dangerous situation (like a runway incursion by another airplane, or windshear) to cause that, particularly at high speed.

That was what we call a “gate return”. You’ve taxied out, and now, taxi back to the gate.

The takeoff itself never happened, so it was never abandoned, canceled, or rejected.

Astro14

I fully agree this was a return to gate while taxing to active departure runway. Not a aborted takeoff.

The initial post heading was edited by a moderator at 02:18 today. I do not know the reason and did not consider it an accurate edit.

Thanks for your added input.

Best regards
Slick

 

[Slick]

My company kind of aborted a takeoff, lined up and ready to go, but taxied back to the ramp, door comes down, boss emerges quite angry. All for a 'built in' commercial cappuccino machine that was non functional. That should have been a big fat clue. Had I been onboard, I would have plugged the thing in.

Cujet

I guess "rank has it privileges".

That was an expensive in JetA and time for a fancy drink. Hope the boss toughens up some. Too bad you were not onboard

Nice picture of a sweet high end corporate jet

Best regards
Slick