It was evidently much more innocent than any of the reports we've seen so far.
Here's a story by an eye witness, professional reporter, who spoke with his fellow passengers immediately after the announcement and the pilot in question right after the flight. It's in the Advocate, a gay magazine, the article was found by a little googling on the Google News Search site.
http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=11260&sd=02/10/04 The author was on the plane, a first hand witness. The author also took the pilot up on his offer to discuss the issue after the flight.
Evidently, the pilot only used the word "crazy" in regard to the enthusiasm of the Christians.
""Findiesen's identity has been shielded by American Airlines, but the pilot spoke candidly to The Advocate and Advocate.com editor in chief Bruce C. Steele, who identified himself to the captain at the end of the flight. Findiesen then confirmed to Steele his identity, the spelling of his name, and that his home base is Washington, D.C. At no time did Findiesen mention homosexuality or say anything antigay. During the three- to five-minute interview, he was positive and upbeat and interested only in explaining the importance of witnessing about his faith.
What Findiesen said, as best the stunned passengers could recall once they were able to move about the cabin and confer after Flight 34 took off, was this: "I just got back from a mission," Findiesen said after making a routine announcement about the plane being second in line for takeoff. "You know, they say about half of Americans are Christians. I'd just like the Christians on board to raise their hands."
In the suddenly hushed coach section of the airplane, a few nervous passengers raised one hand, most no higher than shoulder level, none above tops of the seats.
"I want everyone else on board to look around at how crazy these people are," the pilot continued, with an intonation suggesting he was using the word "crazy" in a positive, even admiring manner. Evidently addressing the non-Christian passengers, he concluded that they could "make good use of [the flight], or you can read your paper and watch the movie."""
The terrible thing is that far too many of the 244 "news" articles quote the woman who thought the pilot called non-Christians "crazy." According to the reporter above who was there and who spoke to other passengers and to the pilot, the pilot said no such thing. CNN, the Houston Commical and far too many others are using the wrong witnesses, in my opinion. (another moment for all of us to think about points of view and how much we trust the press on everything else we read in the "News." That's one reason I like to take a look at interesting events by reading several reports, and looking at the News Search on Google.)
As to your "what if," in order to be analogous, the pilot would have asked the Muslims to identify themselves and suggested that those who did not raise their hands use the time to talk to *them.*