8th. Army Aircorps
2004-02-10 14:31:08 UTC
Pilot calls non-Christian passengers 'crazy'
From correspondents in New York
10feb04
AN AMERICAN Airlines pilot is facing an internal investigation after
reportedly asking Christian passengers to identify themselves, and
suggesting that non-Christians on his flight were crazy.
Speaking today on CNN's American Morning, several passengers said
yesterday's flight from Los Angeles to New York had not yet taken off,
when the pilot chose to address everyone on board.
American Airlines has had its fair share of controversy in recent
years.
"He said he'd recently been on a mission trip, and he'd like all the
Christians to please raise their hands," said passenger Jen Dorsey.
According to fellow passenger Karla Austin, "He said, 'If you are a
Christian, raise your hand.' He said, 'If you are not, you're crazy'".
Austin said no passengers raised their hands.
The pilot also asked passengers to look around at each other and use
their flying time wisely.
American Airlines said the pilot, whose name was not revealed, had
recently returned from a mission trip to Costa Rica.
The airline said his comments amounted to a "personal level of sharing
that may not be appropriate for one of our employees to do while on
the job".
Passengers said the remarks had made them deeply uneasy and that many
on board had reached for their mobile phones, fearing the pilot might
take some sort of drastic action.
"Just given the history of what's happened on planes in this country,
anything can happen at this point," Austin said.
"There was definitely implication there that we felt that something
was going to happen."
Complaints were relayed by flight attendants to the cockpit, and 45
minutes into the flight the pilot issued an apology, but one that was
directed at his crew for having had to deflect the passenger
criticism.
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From correspondents in New York
10feb04
AN AMERICAN Airlines pilot is facing an internal investigation after
reportedly asking Christian passengers to identify themselves, and
suggesting that non-Christians on his flight were crazy.
Speaking today on CNN's American Morning, several passengers said
yesterday's flight from Los Angeles to New York had not yet taken off,
when the pilot chose to address everyone on board.
American Airlines has had its fair share of controversy in recent
years.
"He said he'd recently been on a mission trip, and he'd like all the
Christians to please raise their hands," said passenger Jen Dorsey.
According to fellow passenger Karla Austin, "He said, 'If you are a
Christian, raise your hand.' He said, 'If you are not, you're crazy'".
Austin said no passengers raised their hands.
The pilot also asked passengers to look around at each other and use
their flying time wisely.
American Airlines said the pilot, whose name was not revealed, had
recently returned from a mission trip to Costa Rica.
The airline said his comments amounted to a "personal level of sharing
that may not be appropriate for one of our employees to do while on
the job".
Passengers said the remarks had made them deeply uneasy and that many
on board had reached for their mobile phones, fearing the pilot might
take some sort of drastic action.
"Just given the history of what's happened on planes in this country,
anything can happen at this point," Austin said.
"There was definitely implication there that we felt that something
was going to happen."
Complaints were relayed by flight attendants to the cockpit, and 45
minutes into the flight the pilot issued an apology, but one that was
directed at his crew for having had to deflect the passenger
criticism.
privacy © The Australian
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.536 / Virus Database: 339 - Release Date: 11/27/2003