Pastor's (Joel Osteen's)wife involved in flight disturbance

ABC 13 ^ | 12-20-05 | Jessica Willey

[truthandlife]

A dispute that involved the wife of Houston's most famous pastor, Joel Osteen, and a Continental Airlines flight attendant ended up delaying a flight for hours Monday. And now, Victoria Osteen's actions on that flight are in the spotlight. Also on ABC13.com: Send us a news tip | RSS feeds | ABC13 E-lert | Info mentioned on air Statements from Lakewood and Continental Following the incident on Continental flight 1602 Monday, both Lakewood Church and Continental Airlines released these statements. The Osteens run the largest church in the nation, so passengers on a Continental flight were shocked Monday when Mrs. Osteen was removed from that flight after a disturbance.

Taking time off from the high profile hustle and bustle of running a mega-church, Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen and his family boarded Continental flight 1602 Monday morning at Houston's big airport. They were bound for the slopes in Colorado.

Their trip was delayed and so was the entire flight by almost two hours. Fellow passengers blame the popular Osteens, specifically Joel's wife, Victoria.

According to passenger accounts, the Osteens were sitting in first class. Soon after the plane's door was closed, the FBI says Victoria Osteen was removed following what Continental would call only a disturbance. The Osteens' spokesman confirms it involved a flight attendant, but that's all. However, one passenger tells Eyewitness News she was alerted to the front of the plane when she heard a commotion.

"She violently ran towards the cockpit, scaring everyone around her," said passenger Knicky Van Slyke. "Everyone was terrified about what was going on. And a bunch of flight attendants ran up and had to restrain her. She was banging on the door."

"Of the cockpit?" we asked.

"Yes."

Passengers say Victoria was removed first. Joel and the children followed. Meantime, everyone waited.

"They unloaded all the luggage to get their luggage and deplaned her, Joel, and the kids," said passenger Dawn Dixon.

Passenger Chad Clay said, "They kept telling us they were waiting on some passengers to find their luggage underneath in the plane, and it was going to be delayed for looking for that luggage."

According to the Transportation Security Administration, federal air marshals were never involved. Local authorities also know nothing of this event. Continental would not discuss details.

The Osteens' spokesman denies a physical altercation, denies Victoria ever banged on the cockpit door, and says she left on her own.

"The account of the event which has come to our attention is inaccurate and overblown. The misunderstanding was minor and was resolved when Victoria voluntarily removed herself from the situation," read the statement.

The FBI says it was not voluntary. Though agents are not investigating, they will review the incident as the Osteens enjoy their Colorado vacation.

The Osteens' spokesman says they took another flight to Colorado Monday.

Nobody has been charged. As for the FBI's involvement, we're told it's standard procedure for them to review all passenger removal incidents. According to Continental, this one is a closed case.

Pastor Joel Osteen preaches to an average of 40,000 people a week at Lakewood Church services. Lakewood opened in the former home of the Rockets, Compaq Center, back in July. It took $90 million and a year and a half of renovations. Osteen's ministry is taped and aired around the world.

[Rockitz]

Health and Wealth False Gospel Bump!!!

Bingo!

[Sloth]

And what do you expect a PREACHER to do? Be rude?

If he is anything like Christ, yes.

[NittanyLion]

I will probably find out what happened, but I will be dammed if I share it here, good or bad. The capacity for some of you to go off half-cocked is growing by the day.

If this place is so bad, maybe you should craft a verbose opus, only to rescind your opus a couple days later.

[Sybeck1]

LETTER FROM ADRIAN ROGERS Dear Friend, If you are reading this letter, it means that God has called me into His glorious presence…and I am now with our dear Lord Jesus, praising and worshiping Him! While my earthly work is completed, I wanted you to know what would be on my heart if I could still speak to you today. The simplest way I could state it would be that---while the messenger is gone, the message must continue. Today there are still millions of people who do not know our dear Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and who are in desperate need of His redeeming grace. And friends like you need the inspiration, strength and wisdom that only God’s eternal Truth can provide. So what does this mean for Love Worth Finding? It is my heart’s desire that, until Christ returns for His Church, this ministry would continue to proclaim the truth of God’s Word; that souls would be saved, believers strengthened and encouraged in the wonderful name of Jesus, and His life-giving, life-altering love be broadcast throughout the world. Please know that the strength of this ministry was and is not Adrian Rogers. It is the power of the Holy Spirit working through the proclamation of His Word. And my prayer is that you would continue---and even deepen---your support to ensure that the truth of God’s great love worth finding is proclaimed until Jesus returns. My deepest heart-felt thanks to you for your faithful support. In the matchless name of Jesus our Savior, Adrian Rogers Love Worth Finding

[Al Simmons]

You are right about Mr. Graham. He is one of the few "big-time" preachers who actually "walks-the-walk" instead of just "talking the talk". And he was one of the men largely responsible for our President turning his own life around.

God Bless him in the twilight of his life....

[securityMama]

Me too.

[no dems]

Can you explain this? I'm no big fan of the Osteen's but please tell me they are not enamored with Nancy Pelosi.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

[don-o]

Is this another Tammy Faye in the making?

I do not recall TF making trouble on an airplane. The face paint is an other issue.

[Petronski]

That's gonna leave a mark.

[MikefromOhio]

I don't know.

I wouldn't worry about anyone else.

The only person you can control is yourself.

When I figured that out, it made it a LOT easier for me.

[SDGOP]

Class warfare on a free republic thread? Say it isnt so.

[MikefromOhio]

ok then.

[MikefromOhio]

ouch that one burns LOL

[securityMama]

Most people are allowed to go on vacation. Ministers are on call 24 hours per day....we all should try walking in a pastor's shoes sometime. Wait it out. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

[MamaB]

I am Southern Baptist and that does not describe our minister or the more than 6600 members. We are a caring bunch of people. Our minister teaches directly from the Bible--verse by verse. He was in Genesis when I started and he is in Luke now. We usually adopt some families for Christmas but this year the whole inner city bus ministry was adopted. We raised over $80,000 for Katrina victims. We have a clothes and groceries closet or rather part of a building so people can come and get food or clothes that they need. We serve our community by having a Christmas program, our annual I Love America Celebration with a Living Flag, and we have an Easter program. This next year, we are adding a Living Christmas Tree. Our pastor is well known for his Biblical teaching.

[Dane]

It is pretty tough to get thrown off a plane. JMO, Mrs. Osteen could have taken it up with the airline when they got to Colorado.

And JMO, it just doesn't sound right that a man of God would go hobnob with the anti-moral, anti-religious hollywood glitterati at their winter playground during Christmas.

[Dustbunny]

Unfortunately, I do not doubt for one second that Victoria Osteen was not trying to push her weight around.

[railsplitter]

If Pelosi was permitted to expound from the pulpit of Lakewood Church... "you will know them by their fruits" is an apt passage. The preacher would be looking for another church, or I would.

[Al Simmons]

Well, it ought to make his next TV sermon interesting at least!! Can you imagine the embarassment of a guy with his profile having to leave the plane after a. his wife went batty and b. he did not (or could not) do anything to calm her down?

I guess we know who wears the pants in that family. He does come across like a wimp. A phony wimp.