Multiple report, B757. Taxi, in line for runway. Purser informed cockpit that there was a passenger ...

Attributes
ACN	483461
Time
Date	200008
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msp.tower
State Reference	MN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	483461
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	483217
Events
Anomaly	cabin event : passenger illness cabin event : passenger misconduct cabin event other non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : cab #1
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

We were in line for takeoff on runway 12R, positioned at taxiway A9, when the lead flight attendant informed us that we had a passenger in the bathroom. After sitting still for approximately 5 mins (we were now #2 for takeoff), the captain inquired to the lead flight attendant if the passenger was still in the bathroom. The lead ft attendant informed us that the passenger was presently sitting on the toilet and unable to leave it just yet. We informed the tower that we were unable to move with a passenger in the bathroom. The lead flight attendant informed us that it was going to be 'a while.' with at least 10 aircraft in line beneath us, we suggested to the tower that we could cross the runway and situation on the other side on taxiway W10 and wait for the passenger to finish her business in the bathroom. After verifying that the passenger was 'seated' in the bathroom, and receiving clearance from msp tower, we crossed the runway and parked the aircraft on taxiway W10. After approximately 5 mins, the passenger got out of the bathroom and we departed msp for las with no further incident. The tower did question us about moving the aircraft with someone in the bathroom, but we felt it was safe, and with a long line of aircraft waiting for takeoff behind us, we thought it would be in everyone's best interest if we moved out of the way. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that the passenger who was in the lavatory was quite ill and wasn't being obstinate. Supplemental information from acn 483217: the msp tower controller was advised of our passenger complication and gladly accepted our offer to taxi to a position which allowed other aircraft to continue their taxi to the runway. We only taxied the aircraft after verifying that the passenger was securely seated and remained so until the brakes were reset.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MULTIPLE RPT, B757. TAXI, IN LINE FOR RWY. PURSER INFORMED COCKPIT THAT THERE WAS A PAX IN LAVATORY FOR A WHILE. RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM TWR TO TAXI ACROSS RWY TO TXWY TO WAIT.

Narrative: WE WERE IN LINE FOR TKOF ON RWY 12R, POSITIONED AT TXWY A9, WHEN THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED US THAT WE HAD A PAX IN THE BATHROOM. AFTER SITTING STILL FOR APPROX 5 MINS (WE WERE NOW #2 FOR TKOF), THE CAPT INQUIRED TO THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT IF THE PAX WAS STILL IN THE BATHROOM. THE LEAD FT ATTENDANT INFORMED US THAT THE PAX WAS PRESENTLY SITTING ON THE TOILET AND UNABLE TO LEAVE IT JUST YET. WE INFORMED THE TWR THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE WITH A PAX IN THE BATHROOM. THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED US THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE 'A WHILE.' WITH AT LEAST 10 ACFT IN LINE BENEATH US, WE SUGGESTED TO THE TWR THAT WE COULD CROSS THE RWY AND SIT ON THE OTHER SIDE ON TXWY W10 AND WAIT FOR THE PAX TO FINISH HER BUSINESS IN THE BATHROOM. AFTER VERIFYING THAT THE PAX WAS 'SEATED' IN THE BATHROOM, AND RECEIVING CLRNC FROM MSP TWR, WE CROSSED THE RWY AND PARKED THE ACFT ON TXWY W10. AFTER APPROX 5 MINS, THE PAX GOT OUT OF THE BATHROOM AND WE DEPARTED MSP FOR LAS WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TWR DID QUESTION US ABOUT MOVING THE ACFT WITH SOMEONE IN THE BATHROOM, BUT WE FELT IT WAS SAFE, AND WITH A LONG LINE OF ACFT WAITING FOR TKOF BEHIND US, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST IF WE MOVED OUT OF THE WAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE PAX WHO WAS IN THE LAVATORY WAS QUITE ILL AND WASN'T BEING OBSTINATE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 483217: THE MSP TWR CTLR WAS ADVISED OF OUR PAX COMPLICATION AND GLADLY ACCEPTED OUR OFFER TO TAXI TO A POS WHICH ALLOWED OTHER ACFT TO CONTINUE THEIR TAXI TO THE RWY. WE ONLY TAXIED THE ACFT AFTER VERIFYING THAT THE PAX WAS SECURELY SEATED AND REMAINED SO UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE RESET.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

Multiple report, B757. Taxi, in line for runway. Purser informed cockpit that there was a passenger in lavatory for a while. Received permission from tower to taxi across runway to taxiway to wait.