What is meant by 'Deadhead' in airline terminology?

In airline terminology, 'Deadhead' refers to the transportation of crew members (such as pilots or flight attendants) who are traveling at company expense to or from a duty assignment. This term is commonly used in the context of personnel who need to be repositioned to complete a flight or to start a shift at a different location.

When crew members are deadheading, they do not perform any operational duties on the flight; instead, they are simply traveling as passengers to get to where they are needed for their next assignment. This practice is essential for ensuring that the airline has the appropriate staff in the correct locations to maintain its flight schedule.

The other choices involve concepts not directly related to crew movement. Passengers leaving the aircraft refers to the general deplaning process. A flight that is operating behind schedule pertains to punctuality issues, and a steep descent during landing is a piloting maneuver, none of which capture the specific meaning of 'Deadhead' in the context of airline operations.