New York flight attendant Steven Slater is accused of a spectacular workplace exit from a jetliner, but his strategy to get out of jail Tuesday was slightly more conventional: he got bail.

On Monday at Kennedy Airport, police say an enraged Slater used the plane's PA system to curse out 100 passengers as it sat on the tarmac, before grabbing some beer and leaping to freedom by deploying the jet's emergency slide.

Though he's freshly famous for the incident, the 39-year-old Slater has been charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing. Bail was set at US$2,500.

The JetBlue Airways attendant has also been suspended from his job pending the outcome of the investigation -- although it's doubtful Slater had any intentions of coming back.

Police say the incident began just after a flight from Pittsburgh landed in New York. As the plane touched down, a female passenger got up to fetch her luggage from the overhead bin and ignored a request from Slater to sit down.

As Slater approached the passenger, the luggage dropped from above and struck the flight attendant in the head. Other reports suggest the compartment door struck Slater. Instead of apologizing, the passenger swore at Slater.

Moments later, police say Slater flew into a rage, cursed out all the passengers and then leapt from the plane with a few beers in hand. Slater was arrested a short time later at his home in Queens, where he had driven after the incident.

Despite the charges, in a world full of disgruntled employees, Slater's story has turned him into a celebrity literally overnight.

The Internet is awash with the story, as thousands voice their support for Slater in the comments sections of news sites and on Facebook, where thousands have signed up on a page called "Free Steven Slater."

One user wrote: "Steven, set up a PayPal account, get all your peeps to donate just $1 and u will be fine for any legal fees and other expenses that come up. The working class people of the world got yo' back!"

On the celebrity news site People, a top headline reads: "Is JetBlue Flight Attendant Steven Slater a Hero or Felon?"

Still, many of the details of the incident are just emerging.

According to Slater's lawyer, the trouble started just after takeoff in Pittsburgh, when two women started arguing over space in the overhead bin.

It was during the squabble that Slater was struck in the head, said lawyer Howard Turman.

During landing, the woman then became angry that she would have to gate-check her bag, the lawyer said.

"The woman was outraged and cursed him out a great deal," Turman said. "At some point, I think he just wanted to avoid conflict with her."

Prosecutors allege that Slater also got on the plane's microphone before his exit, saying: "Those of you who have shown dignity and respect these last 20 years, thanks for a great ride."

Meanwhile, passenger Phil Catelinet told The Associated Press that he heard Slater's tirade, but he did not see him slide out of the plane.

The passenger said it was "the most interesting part of the day to that point."