Trapped in the Cargo Hold

First a JetBlue baggage handler makes an unscheduled flight to Boston from New York, trapped for more than 200 miles in the cargo hold.  Now, word that a US Airways baggage handler was rescued from the belly of an aircraft moments before take-off from Washington, D.C.  Some TV commentators put an almost comic spin on the latter incident, with passengers reacting to screaming and banging from beneath the cabin.  There’s nothing funny about these incidents.  Sounds to me like too much rush-rush is causing too little attention to basic safety protocols. Clearly, this has happened in the past, but two instances in such close proximity should raise warning flags to everyone on the ramp.  Depending on the type of aircraft, the distances to be flown and the weather, a flight in the cargo hold can prove deadly.  While most cargo holds are pressurized, most are not heated.  Temperatures can drop to dangerous levels quickly.  If temperatures at altitude can be below -50 degrees, it’s obvious that an unheated cargo hold can get quite inhumanly frigid.  Afterall, cargo holds are made for cargo, not passengers willing or unwilling. What happened to the basic practice of checking the hold before closing the cargo door?  It’s easy to blame the ramp guys, but management bears some responsibility for creating the kind of operation that emphasizes compliance with basic safety measures, including protecting their own employees.