SHARE FedEx Express, the air arm of Memphis parcel delivery company FedEx Corp., operates a fleet that includes the Boeing 777 Freighter. (Boeing Co.)

By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal

A FedEx Express hub worker is believed to have napped his way from Memphis to Lubbock after unintentionally falling asleep while loading a plane, officials said.

The employee, who was not identified, reportedly woke up in mid-flight, knocked on the cabin door and communicated with pilots via telephone.

The pilots didn't open the cabin door, but directed the employee to sit in a jump seat-- an extra seat in the cargo hold -- for landing, said Kelly Campbell, director of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.

On the ground in Lubbock, the man was questioned by airport police and other law enforcement officials, but he wasn't arrested, Campbell said. "There was no criminal intent. He has been turned over to FedEx," she said.

"This is very unusual," Campbell said.

FedEx spokesman Jim Masilak said in an emailed statement: "We are aware of an incident involving FedEx Flight 1459 from Memphis to Lubbock. There was never any danger to our employees or cargo. We are fully cooperating with investigating authorities."

The Lubbock airport said FedEx Flight 1459 was en route to Lubbock from Memphis when the flight crew was alerted to an unexpected person aboard the plane.

"That person was a FedEx employee from Memphis, who, it is believed, fell asleep on the plane before it departed. Air Traffic Control was notified of the incident by the flight crew, and dispatchers at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport were notified at 5:17 a.m. The flight landed in Lubbock at 5:30 a.m.," the airport said in a statement.

Airport police and operations staff responded to the plane, and Lubbock police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Transportation Security Administration were notified as well, the airport said.

The person was not arrested after police determined there was no criminal intent. The airport said the employee was released to local FedEx officials, and there was no impact to aircraft operations.

Flightstats.com, an aviation tracking website, said Flight 1459 was an Airbus A310 that left Memphis at 3:46 a.m.

Campbell said she was told the plane was nearing Lubbock when the man woke up. "In flight, he woke up and knocked on the cabin door. They didn't open the cabin door, but they did communicate with him," she said.



