Narrative:

We were departing for [destination]; I [was] deadheading in first class. During pre-flight; I volunteered to do the walk around; reported to the cockpit that all was good; and suggested if anybody wanted to take a break I would relieve them for a while. First officer declined; but the captain said he would like to watch a movie; I said ok if that is all right. 2 1/2 hours into the flight I called the flight deck; I stood in the cockpit while first officer took a bathroom break. I informed the captain that the in flight entertainment system was inoperative; and the flight attendants were not issuing tablets to first class. He said 'I will get them'. Right after that the captain left he called on the intercom and told me he needed the crash axe; I was pretty amazed; and I asked 'is this an emergency?' he said 'no; give me the crash axe'. I mentioned this to the first officer; he seemed amazed; I was kind of confused but I checked through the peephole for the cart in the aisle and I quickly handed the axe to the captain thru the door. I heard three loud bangs; and I said to the first officer in amazement; 'he is breaking the lock off of the cabinet!' the captain then called on the phone; to return the axe; I checked; and opened the door and retrieved the axe. After two hours; the captain called forward; and I returned to my first class seat; the tablets had been issued to the pax. We landed.captain requested me to do so! I should stand up for myself and what policies and rules depict next time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 First Officer reported the Captain used a crash axe to open a cabinet.

Narrative: We were departing for [destination]; I [was] deadheading in first class. During pre-flight; I volunteered to do the walk around; reported to the cockpit that all was good; and suggested if anybody wanted to take a break I would relieve them for a while. First officer declined; but the captain said he would like to watch a movie; I said OK if that is all right. 2 1/2 hours into the flight I called the flight deck; I stood in the cockpit while first officer took a bathroom break. I informed the captain that the In Flight Entertainment system was INOP; and the flight attendants were not issuing tablets to first class. He said 'I will get them'. Right after that the captain left he called on the intercom and told me he needed the crash axe; I was pretty amazed; and I asked 'is this an emergency?' He said 'No; give me the crash axe'. I mentioned this to the first officer; he seemed amazed; I was kind of confused but I checked through the peephole for the cart in the aisle and I quickly handed the axe to the captain thru the door. I heard three loud bangs; and I said to the first officer in amazement; 'he is breaking the lock off of the cabinet!' The captain then called on the phone; to return the axe; I checked; and opened the door and retrieved the axe. After two hours; the captain called forward; and I returned to my first class seat; the tablets had been issued to the pax. We landed.Captain requested me to do so! I should stand up for myself and what policies and rules depict next time.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.