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AA Pilot Asks Passengers To Discuss Christianity  
User currently offline777ER From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 9806 posts, RR: 22
Posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 14312 times:

American Airlines says a pilot flying from Los Angeles to New York asked non-Christians passengers to talk to Christians about their faith during the flight. Airline spokesman Tim Wagner says the pilot had just made flight announcements and asked that the Christians on board raise their hands. The pilot then suggested the other passengers to use the free time to talk to the Christians. AA is invesagating the incident. Mr Wagner said that the announcement should not have happened.

http://www.news24houston.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=23561




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107 replies: All unread, showing first 25:
 
User currently offlineFlykal From Australia, joined Sep 2003, 435 posts, RR: 5
Reply 1, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13983 times:

Well, what else are you going to do anyhow if there's no PTV's!?  Smile/happy/getting dizzy


One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time
User currently offlineJfernandez From United States, joined Feb 2004, 293 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13938 times:

Might want to check out the thread entitled "AA Pilot Acts Wierd On Flight"

User currently offlineGoose From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 1833 posts, RR: 21
Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13903 times:

He might've been into the Sauce.

AA is an acronym not only for American Airlines, but for Alchoholics Anonymous.......  Big grin

And I'm just kidding....  Big grin


"Talk to me, Goose..."
User currently offlineBCAInfoSys From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13878 times:

I'd fire his ass in a second.. that is COMPLETELY inappropriate behavior. Do atheist pilots try to spread atheism? I mean seriously... I'm sick and tired of religion being forced on me by extremists. If I want religion, I'll find it. Otherwise, don't try to share your beliefs with me. Religion/spirituality is a PERSONAL matter and should stay that way, not shared with the world.

User currently offlineFunFlyer From United States, joined Aug 2003, 866 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13864 times:

Its not personal when part of what you belive is to share it with others.




Chinese Proverb:

He who knows and does not do, does not yet know




EDIT: and you just openly admitted that you were an atheist.


[Edited 2004-02-08 03:12:33]


Who cares about status?
User currently offlineUshermittwoch From Germany, joined Jan 2004, 2466 posts, RR: 24
Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13831 times:

Yeah but it's also not the pilot's job to indoctrinate the passengers with HIS beliefs.


Where have all the tri-jets gone...
User currently offlineMilesrich From United States, joined Jul 2003, 800 posts, RR: 6
Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13776 times:

I used to live next door to a holy roller Delta Captain, but he would never do anything so crass? Imagine if the guy was Jewish, and he told all the non Jewish passengers that they should give up their belief in Christ and talk to the Jewish passengers about it. GEEZ!

User currently offlineMD11LuxuryLinr From United States, joined Jul 2003, 1385 posts, RR: 25
Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13771 times:


So wait.. I flew over the Christmas holiday season and was told "Merry Christmas" by more than a couple FAs.. I'm not religious.. Should they be fired too??

The things people bitch about these days..

 Insane


Caution wake turbulence, you are following a heavy jet.
User currently offlineBR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13740 times:

Actually, I believe crew members are supposed to say Happy Holidays. I would never say Merry Christmas on board an aircraft (Unless the person I said it to, I knew was a christian), but if I got on the P/A and made announcements, I would always say "Thank you for flying _______, and happy holidays."

User currently offlinePlanemaker From Tuvalu, joined Aug 2003, 3773 posts, RR: 22
Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 13729 times:

I wonder if Neeleman will ask jetBlue pilots to "talk up" mormonism, or Emirates Islam? Heck, since it is election time just around the corner, why don't republican or democrat F/A's start making speeches over the P/A? That is just wonderful!



User currently offlineGigneil From United States, joined Nov 2002, 13883 posts, RR: 88
Reply 11, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days ago) and read 13688 times:

I would find any such action by a pilot extremely offensive, and I would file a very, very serious complaint with any AA official that would listen.

N

User currently offlineCoronado990 From United States, joined Oct 2003, 1379 posts, RR: 2
Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 4 days ago) and read 13670 times:

I'd be thrilled to know my pilot was a Christian and not an atheist flying my plane up there. But common sense would dictate that you never preach to (or even entertain) a captive audience unless you want a lot of criticism.




"UNCLE SAN" If you've seen one airport, you've seen one airport!
User currently offlineJahckass From United States, joined Aug 2001, 143 posts, RR: 0
Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 13520 times:

it is evident that people only agree with freedom of speech when the spoken is in agreement.

this was not an instance of "forcing" religion on anyone, it was merely a suggestion. it may have been against aa's policy but that is for them to decide.

User currently offlineLonghaulheavy From United States, joined Dec 2003, 397 posts, RR: 3
Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 13498 times:

Coronado990: I'd be thrilled to know my pilot was a Christian and not an atheist flying my plane up there.

Hmmm...interesting. I guess I'd never though about that before, but I'd have to agree, although I'd expand it to all those who believe in God. (except, perhaps, for Gamil el-Batouty).

But likewise, his personal beliefs don't belong on the PA.

User currently offlineGigneil From United States, joined Nov 2002, 13883 posts, RR: 88
Reply 15, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 13436 times:

Freedom of speech belongs in your private life.

When you're in the cockpit of an aircraft, you're a representative of the company, not a representative of your views to the Company's customers.

Imagine how uncomfortable all the non-Christians on board must have felt?

I think he should be fired.

N

[Edited 2004-02-08 05:42:16]

User currently offlineJJeff From United States, joined Nov 2003, 95 posts, RR: 0
Reply 16, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 13434 times:
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Funflyer: atheism isn't a religion.

MD11: Christmas is really more of a secular holiday than a religious one (for most Americans anyway). Happy holidays is preferable though.

Jahckass: freedom of speech arguments fly out the window when your audience has no choice as to whether or not to listen.



User currently offlinePIA777 From United States, joined Dec 2003, 1713 posts, RR: 9
Reply 17, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 13409 times:

What an idiot!!!!!! He should be fired.

PIA777


GO CUBS!!
User currently offlineThvgjp From Ukraine, joined Mar 2002, 157 posts, RR: 0
Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13371 times:

To all the "athiests" out there, first off I dont believe there is one true athiest out there. You all state you hate Christianity being forced down your throats by holy rollers. By your repulsion to Christianity it seems there might be something true about it. If there were no God why all the revulsion and offence taken. Valentines day is near I dont get annoyed about people taliking about Cupid, nor the Easter Bunny at easter time or Santa Clause at xmas. Heaven knows we hear plenty of ole Saint Nick at xmas time, why dont I get upset because I rationally know they dont exist. If someone wants to worship anyone of them so what if they try to "convert"me so what Im not buying thank you. I think it can reasonably stated that you athiests out teher really should be called humanists, as it seems to me deep down you really belive in a God but dont want to acknowlege it, or be held acountable for your actions to a higher being. Remember Lenin wanted the last Christian paraded in front of him in RED Square and he is still waiting, so much for atheism. Professionally the cpt screwed up , but who really listens to the pa announcements anyway, we can barely pay attention to the safety breifings before the flight.

Glen

User currently offlineJuanr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13353 times:

And do you still believe that you live in the land of the freedom???

Juan
SKBO

User currently offlineGigneil From United States, joined Nov 2002, 13883 posts, RR: 88
Reply 20, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13319 times:

Freedom extends only as far as you personally are willing to extend it.

When you inflict a loss of freedom on someone else, in the name of your own rights, suddenly you're no better than a dictator yourself.


When my friends discuss their religion, it doesn't bother me. When the trusted face of a company I'm doing business with publically humiliates the non-Christians, then I take a bit of umbrage.

N

User currently offlineETStar From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1964 posts, RR: 9
Reply 21, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13306 times:
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I certainly hope he gets fired... this is insulting to those who practice other religions (or don't for whatever reason). MD11LuxuryLinr, Christmas is a christian holiday, and has always been. Unfortunately in North America, people who do not practice the religion also celebrate it for the gift giving etc, and have started to give it their own meaning: ie. "it is a time to spend with family, a time to remember those who do not have the luxury we have etc." What happened to remembering the real cause for celebration, whose birthday it commemorates etc? Anyways, enough with my spill, but that AA pilot should be kicked out.

User currently offlineB747forlife From United States, joined Nov 2001, 392 posts, RR: 4
Reply 22, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13288 times:

You know maybe its because I'm Catholic, but I don't see where the problem is here. The AA pilot suggested, that if someone wanted to, they could talk to someone Christian about Christianity. That's where it, apparently, ended. He didn't say they had to, and no one forced them to. Was it out of line, maybe, because he didn't include talking to every single other faith in the world, but it did not hurt anyone's freedom of speech and I don't see how anyone could be really be offended. He wasn't shoving Christianity down anyone's throat.

My opinion...whether he should have done it or not is another question, but I don't really see where anyone's rights were denied, etc.

-Nick

User currently offlineGigneil From United States, joined Nov 2002, 13883 posts, RR: 88
Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13287 times:

I dunno if its unfortunate that non-Christians use the season to spend time with family or to think of others who are less fortunate.

Christians don't have the corner on love and thoughtfulness. I carefully choose several specifically non-religious charities every year that do wonderful work, with no motivation except their kindness and good spirit.

N

User currently offlineYegbey01 From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 1320 posts, RR: 3
Reply 24, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13280 times:

Well,

I flew Xmas eve on Air Canada and the only thing FA's said was Happy Hollidays which I thought was very appropriate.

User currently offlineAtcboy73 From United States, joined Sep 2001, 1100 posts, RR: 4
Reply 25, posted (5 years 9 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 13219 times:

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. There are appropriate times to share and then not to share.

I would of been offended if I were on that plane.

I would of asked for my money back.

26 Frequentflier: What this pilot did is highly unprofessional. The job of a pilot is to fly the freaking plane, not to preach. And don't even try and say that this is
27 Aifos: Where is our country heading to?!?!??!!? What a crazy story.... This guy should be a priest in Southern Texas and NOT an airline pilot!!!!!!!! BTW, Mi
28 Mpoellot: Religion and faith are personal matters. The conduct of that AA Capt was completely inappropriate and unprofessional.
29 JJeff: And while we're at it, let's get the facts straight about Christmas. Christians who plead for non-religious folks to 'remember the real reason for th
30 EK345: I think JJeff said it the best... "freedom of speech arguments fly out the window when your audience has no choice as to whether or not to listen". We
31 Skytrain: Personally, I think that the comments were highly unusual and perhaps inappropriate coming from the pilot, keeping in mind the very professional attit
32 JpetekYXMD80: 'Now we ask you to locate the Christian nearest you. In some cases, the nearest Christian may be behind you.'
33 Richcandy: Hi The Bible tells us that we should tell others about Gods love for us. If you are a Christian you should tell non Christians about Christ, they migh
34 Post contains images Scbriml: I'd be thrilled to know my pilot was a Christian and not an atheist flying my plane up there. What difference does the pilot's religion, or lack of on
35 Ushermittwoch: I don't think that "Merry Christmas" is anything objectionable to say. Just look at a calendar. What does it say:" Christmas Eve/Day". It's like wishi
36 Solnabo: IMO religion and politics is the cause of all evil in the world today... Michael//SE www.moveon.org
37 Nudelhirsch: this medal has 2 sides... 1. cpts behavior 2. the contents of what he said I am not going to enter my second point, as this would be endless, and prob
38 VC745D: Asking the question on the ground is one thing, but to have the question asked by the unseen captain, in the air, post 9-11, is irresponsible, self-in
39 Jumbojet: It's easy to tell the pilot from the non pilot on these posts. I applaud the pilots who defend their brother, but the pilot in question is wrong. I do
40 Greg: Quite frankly, I would have demanded to get off the aircraft if it was still on the ground. Passenges would have every right to assume that the pilot
41 Capt078: B747forlife: i take issue with one of your comments, though i do appreciate you speaking up. you suggested the captain wasn't shoving religion down th
42 Jaysit: I wonder what all the dimwitted holy rollers supporting this foolish pilot's stupid statement would say if the pilot asked all the Democrats among the
43 Ushermittwoch: Hey Jaysit, what do you think would have happened (to him and on this board) if the pilot was a Muslim, who just wanted his fellow believers to talk t
44 SlamClick: "Please return your Christian to its original upright position." Amazing, the violent reactions you can get from people who were not even affected. A
45 Thvgjp: Yes the cpt was wrong in what he did is he nuts or mentally ill probably not. The world will become a scary place when anybody thinks someone with a c
46 Jeffrey1970: Gigneil, What Constitutional freedom did the pilot take away from the passengers? God bless through Jesus, Jeff
47 SlamClick: Thvgip This is one of the problems. YOU cannot separate the inappropriatness of his use of the PA system of an airliner from an attack on YOUR faith.
48 VC745D: Jeff-- With all due respect--the pilot is free to preach all he wants (just as you do subtly here with the "God Bless through Jesus" close to your pos
49 SlamClick: VC745D I agree with you. I actually appreciate it that born-again Christians are concerned for my everlasting soul (whether or not I have one) But the
50 Elwood64151: I'd fire his ass in a second.. that is COMPLETELY inappropriate behavior. Do atheist pilots try to spread atheism? I mean seriously... I'm sick and ti
51 C17Glbm: I am religious but I absolutely hate and depise the marketing of religion. Religion is not a product you have to sell folks. I think that the PA annou
52 Jeffrey1970: VC745D, I can't really comment on what happened other then to say that maybe the pilot felt that he was showing concern about others by talking about
53 FSPilot747: Um...definitely not grounds for firing him, that's a bit overkill. He just needs a slap on the wrists and an explanation of why what he did wasn't pro
54 Jumbojet: that kind of conduct is innapropriate while traveling 550 mph 35,000 feet agl in a soda can without any of those passengers or FA's having the option
55 Post contains images BCAInfoSys: If nothing else, I think this pilot is severely lacking some common sense. I mean, look at how many pilots are out of work and the dire straights the
56 Post contains images Usnseallt82: Elwood64151, finally, someone with a conscience. Regardless of whether or not it was an appropriate action by someone who was representing the airline
57 VC745D: Jeff--That's my point--the pilot "felt"--he didn't think about the feelings of others at that particular moment. Un-Christian. Uninspiring.
58 Ushermittwoch: Just funny to see how irrational our fanatic Christian friends here are. If he solicits his religion to the PAYING passengers, that would rather get a
59 B2707SST: American Airlines does not have the legal right to restrict its pilots from doing so, in the same way that it could not deny someone employment becaus
60 SlamClick: Jeff Taped announcement.? Most of us regard PA work a pain, and would like that. But the library of possible announcements would have to be the bigges
61 EZYcrew: Passengers did not PAY AA (and thus this pilot) to be given a sermon. I find what happened very upsetting. I am a f/a, and if I took the intercom to m
62 Capt078: Elwood64151: it is religious zealotry like your previous comment that give religion a bad name. read a little history: just about every major war, act
63 Cadmus: The religious aspect of this doesn't bother me one way or the other, but if I was aboard a plane and someone came over the PA and asked, for example,
64 Csavel: Apart from the fact that most people really hate to be nagged about their souls or anything else - how often have you been tempted to inhale a dozen d
65 Logos: Religion/spirituality is a PERSONAL matter and should stay that way, not shared with the world. Seems you just shared your religious perspective with
66 Ctbarnes: From a ministerial standpoint (I'm an airport chaplain), I cannot condone what the captain did. I don't think it is appropriate to use an airplane fli
67 Sturdy: Boy, this topic sure has raised temperatures,and in all fairness the atheist and irreligious contributors WAY outstrip the religious ones in righteous
68 SlamClick: There are a couple of issues here. It is important for us to be able to make the distinction This is me the individual, the private citizen. This is m
69 Leon8828: Gee whiz, I say chill out, what's the big deal? This may be the only opportunity that some have to learn about Jesus.
70 Post contains links and images Usnseallt82: It appears as though this incident has spread more quickly than most may have imagined. CNN just released an article about the flight and the actions
71 Paddy: I'm a Christian and I for one find the pilot's actions to be incredibly inappropriate and unprofessional. I believe there are proper avenues for sprea
72 Jeffrey1970: Let me say while it can be argued wether or not the PA system was the appropriate venue for what the pilot said, I highly doubt he will be fired for
73 MCOtoATL: As a conservative, evangelical Christian and minister of a fast-growing church, I admit that while I admire the pilot for the strength of his belief,
74 Gamarocchi: Solnabo, you said that religion and politics are the cause of all evils in the world!!!!I don't know what kind of history books you use in Sweden, but
75 Capt078: CTBARNES: i think your remarks are incredibly honorable and appropriate thank you for aticulating tthe issues in such a professional, lucid, and just
76 Post contains images Usnseallt82: Capt078, I apologize for my previous post. I think it may have been misunderstood by you and several others. When I said the term 'filth,' I was not t
77 MD-90: Quite frankly, I would have demanded to get off the aircraft if it was still on the ground. Passenges would have every right to assume that the pilot
78 MD-90: One more thing. The CNN article says that the pilot had just returned from a mission trip in Costa Rica. If you've never been on a mission trip before
79 N754pr: NOW I KNOW TO KEEP CLEAR OF ANY US CARRIER!! Whats up with these guys, giving the finger in Brazil and now asking passengers to push the bible!!!
80 Airways6max: That pilot can show that he is a Christian by flying his passengers to their destinations safely and quickly and keep his mouth shut.
81 ZK-NBT: I am a Christian, and when the opportunity arises to share my faith I will share it, if the person doesn't want to hear it I will pull away, if they d
82 AC320: The issue is that the pilot singled out the non-Christians on the flight. A very inappropriate thing to do and opened them up to possible embarrassmen
83 Jeffrey1970: Capt078, Thank you very much for you comments. That means a lot to me. I hope people are not offended by my mentioning of Jesus, as I am just trying t
84 AZO: If you believe god is talking to you, you are crazy. I cannot understand what drives people to act like that, why they "feel the need" to "share" with
85 Santosdumont: Leon 8828 wrote: Gee whiz, I say chill out, what's the big deal? The big deal, in my view, is that proselytizing is only effective if you're talking t
86 ZK-NBT: AZO what has this thread got to do with Mohammad? I don't understand what you are trying to say. I don't disrespect other peoples belief's at all, I b
87 Jeffrey1970: "Trust me, Y'shua isn't going to place all his bets on one mentally unstable captain. He's way cooler than that." How does anyone know if the pilot is
88 TYSGoVols: Mentally competent adults huh? History is full of competent adults that believed in Christ as the Son of God and the Way the Truth and the Life. AZO I
89 ZK-NBT: Mentally competent adults huh? History is full of competent adults that believed in Christ as the Son of God and the Way the Truth and the Life. AZO I
90 Post contains images Marco: Had the pilot been Muslim or Jewish, no one would have complained, because that would have been politically incorrect
91 Post contains images Usnseallt82: TYSGoVols, nice job! Its respectable comments like that which our faith needs more of. Nothing intrusive or demoralizing for those who chose not to be
92 Post contains images Thrust: Good call, Goose AA might want to be aware of Alcoholics Anonymous As long as he wasn't disturbing the peace, it was perfectly fine to talk about reli
93 OPNLguy: The desire of Christians to spread the Gospel is quite understandable, but one has to pick the proper venues. It's seems rather obvious the Captain in
94 Thrust: I will definitely agree he should not have been discussing religion in public, OPNLguy. It was improper, definently unusual, and inconsiderate.
95 Ushermittwoch: I like how you Christians can just go ahead and bother everybody with your distorted view of the world. I will give most of you credit that you just w
96 Jumbojet: Does anyone know, did any christians on board raise their hands?
97 TYSGoVols: Actually we are told in the Bible that good works are not what are our salvation but our faith in Christ. We share the gospel because we are saved not
98 Ushermittwoch: So according to you, people in the South Pacific or Africa all had to go to eternal torment in purgatory and hell because no Christian told them about
99 Marco: So according to you, people in the South Pacific or Africa all had to go to eternal torment in purgatory and hell because no Christian told them about
100 TYSGoVols: No that is in no way my belief. I believe if you are confronted with the gospel and deny it that is what happens yes. I do not however believe if you
101 Post contains images Superfly: Marco: Had the pilot been Muslim or Jewish, no one would have complained, because that would have been politically incorrect Wrong! Had he the pilot
102 MD-90: Ushermittwoch, that's a question that a lot of people have struggled with. Nah, Supe, just more reason to go Delta.
103 Azmi: Superfly Bravo.You made an excellent remark.
104 JGPH1A: Anybody who thinks religion is not a profoundly scary concept obviously never read the history of the first 1500 years of the Catholic church, where e
105 TBCITDG: WOW!!!!!!!!!! This is like a Air Bus vs Boeing or AA vs UA thread !!! jejejejejej jejejejejej Keep it up guys!! You sure do keep me entertained!! jeje
106 Shenzhen: I can only say that if I were on the flight, and the Capt came over the PA and made this type of statement, I would wonder about his state of mind and
107 FunFlyer: "Funflyer: atheism isn't a religion." Well Jeff it mught not be, but it is a belif.
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