In tragic news, a Hawaiin Airlines flight attendant passed away from COVID-19. Jeff Kurtzman, the deceased flight attendant, was one of 17 who attended a training session and then tested positive. This case highlights the risks hostesses face during COVID-19, having to stay safe both on the ground and on flights.
Tragic death
Jeff Kurtzman, the 60-year-old flight attendant, worked for Hawaiian for almost 34 years, and joined the airline in 1986. He was one of 17 people who attended a Hawaiian Airlines training session in June and hired COVID- 19.
It is reported to be the first death of the training session, with others in quarantine. Since then, the airline has tightened its training rules and has made masks mandatory to prevent transmission, according to NBC.
Hawaii is currently in the midst of a wave of COVID-19 cases. The island has already delayed the date of its reopening to the mainland, affecting airline plans and lengthening quarantine rules. Now, with cases on the rise, the island may have to push its reopening even further if it isn’t brought under control soon.
Hostesses face high risk
Mr. Kurtzman’s death also highlights the double threat that flight attendants face during this pandemic. Hostesses must take all necessary precautions to stay safe on the ground, while also spending hours on board interacting with hundreds of passengers.
According to a study by the New York Times, hostesses are considered to have a very high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their proximity to people. While this case of the flight attendant’s death is unrelated to any incidents during the flight, it highlights the threat everyone faces on the ground.
Airlines have implemented different solutions to keep flight attendants safe. Security measures include full PPE suits to only one mask, per airline policy. Initiatives also vary by flight duration, with the goal of minimizing interaction to keep everyone safe.
New reality
While the news of the death of the Hawaiian stewardess is terrible, unfortunately this is the new reality of COVID-19. Several other airlines have also reported that many of their staff have contracted the virus. Delta has seen 500 staff members who tested positive and 10 of them died later. While these figures may not be directly related to flying, the risk remains high in all customer-oriented roles.
With employees facing high-risk environments, airlines now also offer testing to their employees. Cathay Pacific announced today that it had tested 3,200 crew and found no cases, a positive sign for the global operator. Other airlines around the world are using tests to ensure their staff remains safe.
Our thoughts are with those affected by the situation.
