If you’re going to quit your job then you might as well do it in style, much like air-steward Steven Slater who hit the headlines with his novel way of handing in your notice.

The 39-year-old air steward reached the end of his tether after an argument with a passenger, announcing he was quitting over the aeroplane's tannoy system before grabbing a beer and activating the emergency slide to exit the plane.

Slater then drove home, only for his life of early retirement to be interrupted with police arriving at his home to arrest him. He was charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.

The incident occurred on a flight from Pittsburgh to New York where an argument with a passenger ensued, who was pulling down luggage from the overhead storage units. The luggage allegedly hit Slater on the head and the passenger refused to apologise, thus leading to Slater’s impromptu decision to quit.

Slater has become something of a folk hero across several social networking sites, with support and praise for the rebellious air steward pouring in.