Picture of Controversy: Flight attendants rally for colleague in engine photo

CHICAGO -- Flight crews from around the world are rallying on social media to support a Spirit Airlines flight attendant in trouble for a photo she took at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

The "picture of controversy" shows Chicago flight attendant Ericka Diehl posing inside the engine cowling of a Spirit Airlines jetliner. It was taken at O'Hare this month, apparently in full view of some passengers.

The photo resulted in a complaint and Spirit Airlines saying the flight attendant had violated company policy. They still have a disciplinary investigation underway, but that is only the beginning.

"I have a book here that's full of pictures, just one book full of pictures of flight attendants in front of those engines. This is very common," said Sara Nelson, president, Association of Flight Attendants. "What flight attendants have been doing over the past 24 hours is posting the pictures that they have of themselves in the engines."

From around the world, flight attendants, pilots and ground crew members are posting thousands of photos of themselves posed in and around the hulking engines of passenger jets.

"It's just one of those things that everyone who works for the airline industry does. It is like a rite of passage, it is one of those 'Hey, look at this picture that not everyone can have but because I work here I can,'" said Bobby Laurie, a former flight attendant and co-creator of Savvy Stews.

The travel site SavvyStews.com is leading a campaign on behalf of Diehl. Laurie posted on the website Thursday night that Spirit Airlines issued a statement saying Diehl is still employed with the company.

Earlier this week, Spirit said Diehl's photos had violated company rules and an investigation was launched.

"The airplane is not a plaything. The engines are especially not a plaything," said Richard Stone, International Society of Air Safety Investigators.

Stone was a Delta Airlines pilot for 35 years. The University of Illinois alumnus is now executive advisor to the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and says pictures like this are unnecessary and potentially unsafe.

"I'm saying it only takes small objects to disturb the operation of an engine. Somebody who's not familiar with the system of safety in the aircraft may think it's nothing to worry about, but it is," Stone said.

At O'Hare, some Spirit passengers say they are concerned.

"I think it's a little crazy, scary and dangerous, too," said Caroline Morris, a Spirit passenger.

"They really need to stop that because they can get seriously injured or killed," said Deon Cooper, another Spirit passenger.

As the Support Ericka movement continues, the international president of the 50,000-strong flight attendants union says their tradition of loving engines shows the might and strength of aviation.

"Across the industry right now, both flight attendants and pilots are supporting Erica, supporting this picture and telling the public that this is a common rite of passage, a common practice and a way to celebrate our industry," Nelson said. "We are there to guard that airplane and that's what those pictures signify is the work that we do in that role."

In the apparent memo from Spirit Airlines Thursday night, employees are being told not to take photos near planes or on ramps without specific authorization. The company says because engine photos are a part of airline culture, they're looking for safe alternatives. That's similar to what American Airlines told sister station WLS-TV in Chicago - that their engine photos are usually in hangars under maintenance supervision.