Angry flight attendant uses emergency inflatable slide for dramatic exit.

It’s already being called “pulling a JetBlue.” On Monday, a flight attendant who was furious at passengers made a dramatic exit from an airplane(and his job) by unleashing a tirade on passengers, grabbing a beer and disappearing down an emergency chute.

We’ve all wished at times that we had ejector seats that would launch us out of our offices, or transmogrifiers that would instantly transport us to a sandy beach in Hawaii. Most people lack the courage to tell their bosses to stuff it (or have the brains not to do it).

But this guy, Steven Slater? He actually did it.

From the New York Times:

After a dispute with a passenger who stood to fetch luggage too soon on a full flight just in from Pittsburgh, Mr. Slater, 38 and a career flight attendant, got on the public-address intercom and let loose a string of invective.

Then, the authorities said, he pulled the lever that activates the emergency-evacuation chute and slid down, making a dramatic exit not only from the plane but, one imagines, also from his airline career.

On his way out the door, he paused to grab a beer from the beverage cart. Then he ran to the employee parking lot and drove off, the authorities said.

Oh, but it gets better. The New York Post adds this gem of a detail:

Slater, asked later by incredulous investigators if he actually grabbed his luggage before fleeing, coolly responded:

“Oh, yes. I threw the bags onto the chute. Then I slid down after them,” sources told The Post.

The story is resonating with people everywhere. This morning, it’s a trending topic on Twitter (#jetblue). He’s also got more than 12,000 supporters and fan pages on Facebook.

Public opinion seems to be on Mr. Slater’s side. On his MySpace page, supporters are posting supportive comments:

• Congratulations on your “mad as hell and not gonna take it any more” moment.
• congratulations on not beating up that smart ass passenger, thought ur arrest was overkill — they should go after the real criminals, U have a new great chapter ahead.
• I love the way you made your escape, like Batman or something.

The story continues today when Mr. Slater, 38, makes a court appearance. He is charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.

But that beer? It probably tasted pretty darn good.

I’ll bet Mr. Slater has been dreaming of slipping down that fun inflatable slide for years.

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