Fremantle Dockers players forced to use sinks for toilets on flight home from Launceston amid water shortage
Fremantle players were forced to use bathroom sinks as toilets on their flight home from Launceston last weekend, in a debacle the Transport Workers Union has slammed as ‘unacceptable’.
Dockers players and staff were caught short after their chartered flight ran out of water just 30 minutes into their four-hour journey following the team’s loss to Hawthorn, resulting in the plane’s toilets malfunctioning.
Cabin crew were forced to manually scoop toilet waste into basins, with passengers instructed to use basins for urination in a breach of hygiene standards.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Transport Workers Union has blasted the inadequate conditions which resulted in “distressing experiences” for both the crew and passengers.
“This situation is utterly unacceptable and demonstrates a glaring neglect of duty of care towards both our members and the passengers they serve,” the TWU’s WA State Secretary Tim Dawson said.
“Our cabin crew members should not be subjected to such hazardous working conditions, and passengers should not have to endure such distressing experiences.”
The company which runs the charter flight are reportedly investigating the incident.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our members is our top priority. This incident highlights the critical necessity for HSRs and to have a strong voice for workers to report these incidences before the plane is in the air” Mr Dawson added.
“We are committed to fighting for the rights and safety of our cabin crew members, and we need to make sure preventable incidents like these don’t happen again”.
Fremantle are yet to comment on the incident, with defender Luke Ryan set to weigh in at his scheduled press conference on Thursday afternoon.
The shambolic scenes add to Freo’s forgettable history in fixtures in Launceston. The Dockers have won just two of their 14 games at York Park, but have had just one chance to celebrate victory on the flight home after their 2006 ‘Sirengate’ triumph was only confirmed days after the event.
