The ex-wife of JetBlue wing-nut Steven Slater said that the flight attendant is an “extremely patient” man who would love his own clothing line.
Cynthia Niethamer said Slater “was absolutely born to fly” and that he is a dedicated worker.
But now that he jeopardized his job with Monday’s dramatic exit down an airplane chute with a beer in hand, Niethamer said that his dream has always been to be in fashion.
“He’d love his own fashion line. He’s a brilliant merchandiser,” she told The Post. “Actually, we met working at JC Penney when we were 16. He’s absolutely stellar at it. I think that would be a dream.”
As far as dealing with rude passengers, Niethamer said, “He is actually extremely patient. This woman is lucky it wasn’t someone else, like me, for instance, who would have really let her have it.”
She said they were married in 1991 for less than a year.
Asked if she had spoken to her ex-husband, she said, “I have not yet talked to him.”
Niethamer said she is “shocked” at all the attention the situation has gotten over the past few days. Slater, meanwhile, continues to bask in the glory of his newfound popularity, saying today that “it’s cool” to have so many fans.
“It’s so encouraging and so special,” Slater said. “There’s some really great people out there. It’s a surprise. … To come back to this, it’s cool.”
Asked if he had a breakdown at work, Slater replied, “I can’t go there right now.”
The comments come a day after Slater pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment in Queens Criminal Court for his Monday shenanigans.
Slater was finally sprung on $2,500 bail on Wednesday night. He visited a bail bondsman on Queens Boulevard this afternoon to fill out paperwork.
“One door closes, another one opens,” he said of his future employment prospects, without elaborating.
Slater, a sudden Internet sensation, said he “greatly appreciated” the support he has received.
An admirer even put a poster on Slater home in Belle Harbor, Queens, declaring, “Steve Hero!”
The comments also come as a clearer account emerged of the JetBlue incident, which began with two women arguing over overhead space as Flight 1052 sat on a Pittsburgh tarmac, according to Slater’s lawyer, Howard Turman.
One of the women had two bags, one of which was too large to fit — which is Slater’s pet peeve. He told her it would have to be checked, Turman said.
She then flipped out and began cursing at Slater — at one point slamming the overhead bin door down on his head, Turman added.
The woman’s bag was ultimately checked, and she remained unapologetic, sources said.
Once the jet arrived at JFK, the same passenger agitated Slater by trying to take her other, smaller bag down before the pilot gave the OK for passengers to stand.
When Slater confronted her, she cursed at him and everyone else, demanding to get her checked bag back immediately, Turman said.
That’s when Slater let loose.
“I got on the microphone and said, ‘To those who have shown dignity and respect these last 20 years, thanks for a great ride,’ ” Slater said, according to the court complaint.
But police sources said he also used the public-address system to lash out at the “the f – – king asshole that told me to f – – k off!”
Then Slater grabbed his own two bags, swiped some beer, activated the inflatable emergency chute, slid down, headed to the parking lot and drove home in his Jeep Wrangler. He was later arrested there as his boyfriend looked on.
As a result of Slater’s actions, JetBlue will give a $100 voucher to each passenger who was on the flight.
“We certainly think this was an unusual and disruptive situation and they’re being compensated as is consistent with past practices,” said company spokesmand Mateo Lleras.
He also noted that Slater has been “removed from duty pending investigation,” which he wouldn’t comment further on.