Pilot's actions raise questions: how far is too far

wfaa.com ^ | 2/9/2004 | Brad Hawkins

[sinkspur]

Fort Worth-based American Airlines is investigating an unorthodox speech to passengers by an on-duty pilot over the weekend.

Many passengers felt the pilot crossed a line when asking Christians on board the flight to identify themselves before the plane took off.

Passengers on the cross-country flight from Los Angeles to New York certainly got more than a movie and meal. The pilot, who had just returned from a mission trip to Central America, asked Christians to raise their hands.

"I thought (it) was very bizarre," passenger Jen Dorsey said. "And then he said, 'look around and everyone who doesn't have their hand raised is crazy.'"

"Just given the history of what has happened on planes in this country, anything could happen at this point," said passenger Karla Austin. "We weren't sure if something was going to happen, if he was going to wait until JFK (Airport) to do something. There was definitely the implication that something was going to happen."

The nervous chatter among cabin crew and passengers finally made its way up to the cockpit.

"He came on and said, 'I want to apologize for my comments earlier - I think they really threw the flight crew off a little bit and they're getting a lot of flak, so I want to apologize to my flight crew,'" Dorsey said.

Reverend La Fayette Holland said Christians, who have a Biblical mandate to evangelize, must balance sharing their faith against rules of the workplace.

American officials apologized Monday, and said the carrier would 'handle the matter in accordance with (the airline's) established policies and procedures.'

"For the Christian, the issue is always you want to know up front what the cost is going to be.

"There are a number of other ways the pilot could have shared his faith without violating any policy," Holland said.

Just last week, three Denton pharmacists' joint-decision to withhold a morning-after pill from a sexual assault victim drew protestors.

"You want to always say, 'I want to make sure what I'm doing is going to be the best representation of my Father in Heaven,'" Holland said. "I want to make sure that I'm representing Jesus Christ well in all locations, at all times."

[sinkspur]

"And then he said, 'look around and everyone who doesn't have their hand raised is crazy.'"

Bizarro.

[ClintonBeGone]

You're obessessed with this story. Say a prayer (TO GOD) and go to bed.

[ClintonBeGone]

Just last week, three Denton pharmacists' joint-decision to withhold a morning-after pill from a sexual assault victim drew protestors.

Bizarro.

[Texas Eagle]

Give the guy a break. Maybe he was just drunk.

[blau993]

This is a repeat. And, yes, this is too far by any test.

[gdc61]

you gotta admire a christian with big ones!

[cake_crumb]

Weird story. Tad overblown though. Sounds like the pilot is a Christian who supposedly made non-Christians afraid he was gonna ram their plane into a building while hollaring "Allau Ackbar"

[JennysCool]

Captive audience, definitely. I think it might be safe to say religion and aviation are uneasy partners these days.

[bcoffey]

A truly gung-ho Christian would have reserved a center seat in order to have two chances to share his/her faith! (just kidding ... in a way)

[longtermmemmory]

Must be that co-pilot thing.


Seriously, did the passengers feel obligated? Did the pilot indicate he was going to fly the plain in christian fashion as opposed to a secular fasion? Were those who refused to listen and refused to share asked to get off the airplane? Was anyone denied their honey roased penut snack pack due to their religious beliefs?

Perhaps this was a dumb move but it is no different than the absolutly bizare comments from the former valuejet. (the I am your pilot, BATMAN speech was the sign to get off.)

[JennysCool]

"God is my Co-pilot" springs to mind! :-)

[Theo]

Is that really what he said? Can that be documented? Sounds not quite right....

[muawiyah]

Actually, this is not "too far". Any society that tolerates Christianity really must be prepared for this sort of thing because they're going to be this way from time to time.

Now, if you'd like to suppress Christianity, ........?!

[supercat]

Were I on such a plane, I'd be very worried. Not because I'm a non-Christian (I'm not) but rather because I'd be wondering if some terrorist were forcing the pilot to ask that so that his accomplice could target and kill any Christians on the plane. Unlikely scenario to be sure, but how much less likely than the possibility of a pilot exercising such poor judgement?

[tcuoohjohn]

Captain Evangelical is uh...hmm..as we say in the south " tetched"

I don't begrudge a man his faith. I do begrudge his using a common carrier to ram it down people throats.

[tcuoohjohn]

I know this...I don't want to be on a plane flown by " Captain Nutball, the Christian Fanatic". Flying is a task that requires concentration, responsibility, and attention to detail. If he is musing about Christians and Non- Christians among the passengers and reflecting on the mental stability of those who don't share his beliefs then clearly he isn't doing his job.

[ClintonBeGone]

I know this...I don't want to be on a plane flown by " Captain Nutball, the Christian Fanatic". Flying is a task that requires concentration, responsibility, and attention to detail.

First, if you actually read the article, you'll see that all this happened BEFORE take off. Second, and Central Scrutiniser has shown this time and time again, you don't need to be the sharpest knife in the drawer to work in the airline industry.

[tcuoohjohn]

I dont give a damn when it occurred. His job is to concentrate on the aircraft and the people in it. He is responsible for the lives of all those on board. Not their souls. If he wishes to be a preacher then let him doff his uniform , drop his flight manual and don the robes of a preacher and pick up the Good Book.

[ClintonBeGone]

I dont give a damn when it occurred.

Well Tcuoohjohn, why don't you tell us at what point in his day does he have to stop thinking about his Lord?