Earlier this week, a United Airlines flight attendant quit her job in dramatic fashion when she deployed the emergency slide and exited the plane without explanation. It might seem like a laughing matter, but not to the airline that has to repay to replace the slide.

Business Insider reports that the stunt could come with a tab as high as $30,000.

That cost will cover the repacking of the slide — which can cost $6,000 to $12,000 alone — and any repairs that may need to be done.

United, which did not say how much it has actually spent on the incident, confirmed on Friday that the crew member responsible for deploying the slide is no longer employed by the airline.

The airline didn’t specify if the flight attendant was fired, noting that it was a private matter between the employer and former employee.

Business Insider reports that while there was a medical emergency in the back of the plane, it was not related to the flight attendant’s actions.

The FAA is also investigating the incident, telling BI that it doesn’t discuss ongoing investigations, but that “these slides are supposed to be activated only during emergencies.”

The $30,000 estimate is in line with the $25,000 figure cited by JetBlue following a similar incident in 2010, when flight attendant Steven Slater made an unexpected exit via emergency slide after a spat with a customer.

United Airlines flight attendant who mysteriously broke a huge rule has left the company [Business Insider]

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