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

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Flight crews from around the world are rallying on social media to support a Chicago-based flight attendant in trouble for a photo she took at O'Hare that was brought to light by the ABC7 I-Team.

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, an I-Team story 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 and what flight attendants have been doing over the past 24 hours is posting the pictures that they have of themselves in the engines," said Sara Nelson, president, Association of Flight Attendants.

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, Savvystews.

Ex-flight attendant Laurie's travel site, called Savvystews, is leading a campaign on behalf of Chicago flight attendant Ericka Diehl. A memo he posted Thursday night from Spirit Airlines states that Diehl still works at the airline. Earlier this week, Spirit said her photos had violated company rules.

"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.

"You just don't want to be messing around, but yeah, I think she shouldn't have done that," said Susan Erickson, who is flying Spirit.

" We are there to guard that airplane and that's what those pictures signify is the work that we do in that role," Nelson said.

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.

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 us - that their engine photos are usually in hangars under maintenance supervision.