Airline pilot asked Christians to share their faith with other passengers

WHNT ^ | 2/8/2004 | Associated Press

[yonif]

New York-AP -- American Airlines says one of its pilots asked Christians on his flight to identify themselves and discuss their faith with non-Christian passengers.

Airline Spokesman Tim Wagner says American Flight 34 was headed from Los Angeles to New York on Friday when the pilot asked Christians on board to raise their hands.

The pilot told the airline that he then suggested that other passengers use the flight time to talk to the Christians about their faith, and added that he'd be available for discussion at the end of the flight.

While the pilot had just returned to work from a weeklong mission trip to Costa Rica, Wagner says, "It falls along the lines of a personal level of sharing that may not be appropriate."

He adds that American Airlines' personnel department is investigating the matter.

[cripplecreek]

Certainly much more comforting than if he had dropped a prayer rug and begun praising allah.

[Happygal]

Hey! Christians like to watch the in-flight movie too, ye know! *L* ;-)

[saquin]

Incredibly inappropriate. I would have complained if I was on that plane.

[EggsAckley]

True, but still the incident is beyond weird. It had to have scared a lot of passengers.

[Jacquerie]

Beware the separation of church and airlines. Where's the ACLU?

[tiamat]

This is not right, and the setting is COMPLETLY innapropriate!

[Guenevere]

I would have been glad to know I had a Christian pilot!

But I think there's more to this story....

[cripplecreek]

It was however innapropriate i agree.

[spodefly]

Related post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1073744/posts

[EggsAckley]

Slightly reminiscent of that Egyptian co-pilot who deliberatly crashed a plane saying Allah Akbar as he did so. Were I a passenger, I would be struck by, "WHY does he think we should be talking about Christianity? Is he planning something ominous?

[cripplecreek]

It doesnt worry me nearly as much as a muslim pilot doing it. After all us christians dont have a great propensity for killing ourselves in an attempt to convert those around us.

[vetvetdoug]

Christian!! OMG!!! This guy is toast in our pagan society. If he had asked for Wiccan or told everyone to praise Allah he would have been a hero.

[Freedom2specul8]

yeah, he would have been called an "alternative pilot" and loved a bunch.

[sinkspur]

Please. You know very well this is inappropriate.

What if the gay flight attendant decides to have all the gays on the plane identify themselves, and talk about being gay to you?

You cant diss these people without risking arrest, so this kind of behavior is extremely rude.

[Sam Cree]

As captain of the airliner the pilot is a representative of American while on duty. Whether he likes it or not, his behavior is a direct reflection of the company.

If religious proselytizing becomes American Airlines policy, I won't be flying with them.

[mlmr]

At least he didn't say: Say your prayers and kiss your A** goodbye.

[onedoug]

I'm only flying El Al from now on.

[vetvetdoug]

I see the flight attendants making sexual innuendos every time they demonstrate the buckling and unbuckling of the seat belts and the placing of the O2 mask. They have their little time in the limelight and its over. The Captain had his say and left it and didn't push it throughout the flight (or did he?). If he made the suggestion and didn't dwell I would not think a whim about it. Now if the whole flight was it I would be worried. I don't see the problem but those that are offended by religion are.

If gays wish to push their beliefs, it would end the same way. I would start talking religion, namely the book of Romans.

[ExSoldier]

"I would have been glad to know I had a Christian pilot!

I wonder if there was a sign reading: "In case of Rapture this plane will be without a pilot," so maybe it was a good thing? Really, this kind of thing has to be done with sensitivity. It could be regarded as rash and intrusive. I'd feel uncomfortable if the pilot was Jewish and exhorted the Jewish passengers to proselytize in this manner.

How do you think folks would feel if this pilot had said: "Gee folks, I've been in a clinical depression for a few weeks and I think it'd be a really good idea for the Christians to pray like mad during this flight....."