US meltdown flight attendant avoids jail

The flight attendant who became an instant folk hero when he quit his job by hurling himself down the aircraft's emergency slide, pleaded guilty Tuesday but will avoid jail time.

Steven Slater, 38, pleaded guilty in a New York court to two counts of criminal mischief, the Queens district prosecutor's office said.

He had faced between one and three years of prison. Instead, he was allowed to remain free on condition that he pay 10,000 dollars to his former employers and to undergo 12 months of mental health counseling.

"I believe that the defendant finally has recognized the seriousness of his actions and is willing to accept responsibility," District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Slater made headlines around the world and won huge sympathy after his job-quitting meltdown in August aboard a JetBlue flight that had just arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.

Complaining over the cabin intercom that he'd lost patience with a rude passenger, Slater helped himself to two beers from the galley, opened the plane's door to activate the emergency exit slide, and shot off.

He was arrested a short time later at his home.

Prosecutors said the slide could have caused serious injury if ground staff had been standing under the plane when it deployed.

"Slater created a dangerous condition by intentionally activating the aircraft's emergency escape slide and then using it to exit the plane," the prosecutor's office said.

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