Pakistani-Born Pilot Sues JetBlue

Newsday.com ^ | August 9, 2006, 7:19 AM EDT | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

EW YORK -- A Pakistani-born pilot is suing JetBlue Airways Corp. for discrimination, claiming the airline rescinded a job offer and told him it was because of his background.

Faisal Baig, a U.S. citizen who was raised in Yonkers, claims in the suit that an airline manager told him in March that he was a "security risk."

According to the suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Baig asked, "Are you saying that you are not hiring me because of my name or my religion? ... Are you saying you are not hiring me because of where I'm from?"

The manager answered, "Yes, and JetBlue considers you a security risk," according to the suit.

[SkyPilot]

Plot to blow up planes foiled

[thoughtomator]

Based on my understanding of Islam, being Muslim should not only be disqualifying for any position that could easily be used to cause a mass casualty incident, but it also raises the unavoidable question of loyalty.

[gridlock]

I think the Pakistani guys is going to have a rough day today, considering the news.

His timing is as bad as Algore's, who scheduled a Global Warming conference in New York on the coldest day in the last 50 years.

That said, Jet Blue (and hopefully all airlines) do background checks. Those checks turn up all kinds of things. If this guy has acquaintances who are radical or goes to a radical mosque, they are not going to hire him. Nor should they.

If anybody told him he was not hired because of his race or surname, that person should be fired. That's just stupid. He was not hired because he did not pass his background check. No additional information should be offered. Heck, not even that much information should be offered.

But I would bet you dollars to donuts Jet Blue said nothing of the sort. They probably just declined to hire him, and the "quote" that it was because of his race is pure fantasy.

[Jim Noble]

With the news coming in from London, I would think that any Pakistani in in the deep sh*t right now.

Send them back now.

All of them.

[Beckwith]

This is an American citizen. If what he says is true, he should prevail in his lawsuit. There is no reason why an American citizen whould be denied a job regardless of national origin or religion.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ho, ho ho, ho, ho ho, ho, ho ho, ho, ho ho, ho, ho ho, ho, ho ho, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, gag, guffaw!

[HiTech RedNeck]

If the shift to citizenship was sufficiently long ago, yes an oath was required.

[DustyMoment]

Let's face it. Most of us would be reluctant to hire someone from Yonkers.

ROFL!!! Good one, mate!!

[AmericaUnite]

he is continuing to look for work as a pilot.

Good luck./Not

[Harrius Magnus]

Please get back to us about your time travels. I remember little of the weather in 2001? Was it another year of relentless march towards global warming? Where... or should I say when are you going next? 1968? to verify the moon landing? You need to call Art Bell. /s

[PBRSTREETGANG]

JetBlue was just concerned about the cost of modifying his cockpit doors...so that they locked from the outside.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

thats a good one. like the tagline.[This is almighty over}

[AGreatPer]

"Did these people take loyalty oaths to the US? No, those are not required anymore."

Must admit you shocked me with that comment. Most of us are not aware of this.

[dennisw]

But I would bet you dollars to donuts Jet Blue said nothing of the sort. They probably just declined to hire him, and the "quote" that it was because of his race is pure fantasy.

 But of course. If Jet Blue doesn't want him they aren't going to give him ammunition for a lawsuit

[Theo]

There is no reason why an American citizen whould be denied a job regardless of national origin or religion.

"No reason"?

Why are you so eager to flirt with disaster?

[ThanhPhero]

He is a bona fide security risk. No known Moslem or Arab should be allowed anywhere near the controls of an aircraft.

[gridlock]

Baig, whose suit seeks an unspecified amount of money, is now living in Raleigh, N.C., where he is continuing to look for work as a pilot.

Doesn't that just give you the warm n' fuzzies.

Frankly, any airline would have to be insane to hire him at this point. For one thing, he already was rejected in one background check, and those facts aren't going to change. For another thing, he has demonstrated that he is a petulant little victim-in-waiting, who will happily drag his prospective (or current) employer through the mud in the media. Finally, people who sue, sue. It is only a matter of time before he finds some grievance with any new employer that will allow him to sue again.

[attiladhun2]

Please read post #17. I concur with his/her sentiments. As one who has had to deal with Pakistanis often, I can say I never met one that I could entirely trust. Members of the ROP as my pilot! No thanks.

[GOP_1900AD]

Any Pakistani who cannot prove he is not an ISI embed or AQ op better be thinking hard about his or her situation.

[tbeatty]

As there have already several cases of Muslim pilots taking their planes into a free fall landing [one confirmed several suspected] I would rather not be on a plane piloted by a member of that particular fraternity known as the Religion of Peace.

Were they Americans? Were they employed by U.S. airlines? This is the bigotry that the right needs to fight. It's already our enemy when the left fights Christianity

The terrorists are overwhelmingly Muslims but Muslims are not overwhelmingly terrorists. Even less so when they are American citizens. America is the Melting Pot. We can abosrb Muslim culture and they can take American values. Denying them the basic trust you would afford any other American is a shame.

If he failed a background check so be it. If it was only because he was Muslim, for shame. Think about that as the Left wingers try to outlaw Christianity as they trust Christians as much as you trust Muslims.

[tbeatty]

This is an American citizen. That statement used to mean something. Then the Bill of Rights is dead. I was born here. I never took a loyalty oath.

And I defy you to name one Christian that would place his country above his religion.

Honor, God, Country, Family is said in that order for a reason. Being a Muslim is not a crime. If the right doesn't fight for free religion, you can bet the Left will plan on outlawing it. The left hates Chrisianity. Never forget that the freedom to practice Christianity is only as tentative as the freedom to practice Islam.