B737-700
Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Manuals; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related
We had just landed after a five and a half hour flight. It was dark outside and in the back galley; but the cabin lights were just switched to bright. By the time I put my gloves on and was heading to unarm the door on the catering side; it started to open. I yelled and grabbed the handle of the door to stop the proceedings. THE STRAP WAS STILL ACROSS THE WINDOW! I put the door back in place; disarmed it; and opened it to meet an unhappy catering guy greeting a scared flight attendant as I could have seen me pinned against the other door from the slide. I said to him in a loud voice; 'WHATS THE RUSH?' His reply was 'I have 3 other planes on the ground'. I said 'BUT THE STRAP IS STILL ON!' He said 'But it was dark in the back galley!' Then I said; 'THATS NO REASON TO OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT WAS DARK. THE STRAP IS STILL ON THE WINDOW!' Then he switches his tune about 'DISRESPECTING HIM'. Hell disrespecting a person that almost caused me bodily injury! I've never had a catering guy open a closed door before at least knocking once! Or have I ever had a catering guy come to the back galley so quickly! HE OBVIOUSLY NEVER LOOKED AT THE WINDOW TO SEE IF A STRAP WAS ON! Because he has 3 other planes on the ground; THAT WE KNOW HE IS NOT GOING TO DO ALL 3 OF THEM AT ONCE WAS A WEAK EXCUSE FOR HIM NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES. AND WHAT IS IT WITH IT ABOUT 'BEING DARK IN THE BACK GALLEY MEANS I CAN OPEN THE DOOR WITHOUT LOOKING? I would suggest A. Follow procedures of never trying to open a closed door. B. Look for the orange strap. C. Maybe put in flight attendant manual that back galley light has to be put on bright once we hit the gate!
A rushed catering agent attempted to open an armed aft cabin door with the window warning strap in place because a new Company procedure had the galley lights dimmed after dark and the agent did not see the strap.