Posted on 12/20/2005 4:08:06 PM PST by truthandlife
A dispute that involved the wife of Houston's most famous pastor, Joel Osteen, and a Continental Airlines flight attendant ended up delaying a flight for hours Monday. And now, Victoria Osteen's actions on that flight are in the spotlight. Also on ABC13.com: Send us a news tip | RSS feeds | ABC13 E-lert | Info mentioned on air Statements from Lakewood and Continental Following the incident on Continental flight 1602 Monday, both Lakewood Church and Continental Airlines released these statements. The Osteens run the largest church in the nation, so passengers on a Continental flight were shocked Monday when Mrs. Osteen was removed from that flight after a disturbance.
Taking time off from the high profile hustle and bustle of running a mega-church, Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen and his family boarded Continental flight 1602 Monday morning at Houston's big airport. They were bound for the slopes in Colorado.
Their trip was delayed and so was the entire flight by almost two hours. Fellow passengers blame the popular Osteens, specifically Joel's wife, Victoria.
According to passenger accounts, the Osteens were sitting in first class. Soon after the plane's door was closed, the FBI says Victoria Osteen was removed following what Continental would call only a disturbance. The Osteens' spokesman confirms it involved a flight attendant, but that's all. However, one passenger tells Eyewitness News she was alerted to the front of the plane when she heard a commotion.
"She violently ran towards the cockpit, scaring everyone around her," said passenger Knicky Van Slyke. "Everyone was terrified about what was going on. And a bunch of flight attendants ran up and had to restrain her. She was banging on the door."
"Of the cockpit?" we asked.
"Yes."
Passengers say Victoria was removed first. Joel and the children followed. Meantime, everyone waited.
"They unloaded all the luggage to get their luggage and deplaned her, Joel, and the kids," said passenger Dawn Dixon.
Passenger Chad Clay said, "They kept telling us they were waiting on some passengers to find their luggage underneath in the plane, and it was going to be delayed for looking for that luggage."
According to the Transportation Security Administration, federal air marshals were never involved. Local authorities also know nothing of this event. Continental would not discuss details.
The Osteens' spokesman denies a physical altercation, denies Victoria ever banged on the cockpit door, and says she left on her own.
"The account of the event which has come to our attention is inaccurate and overblown. The misunderstanding was minor and was resolved when Victoria voluntarily removed herself from the situation," read the statement.
The FBI says it was not voluntary. Though agents are not investigating, they will review the incident as the Osteens enjoy their Colorado vacation.
The Osteens' spokesman says they took another flight to Colorado Monday.
Nobody has been charged. As for the FBI's involvement, we're told it's standard procedure for them to review all passenger removal incidents. According to Continental, this one is a closed case.
Pastor Joel Osteen preaches to an average of 40,000 people a week at Lakewood Church services. Lakewood opened in the former home of the Rockets, Compaq Center, back in July. It took $90 million and a year and a half of renovations. Osteen's ministry is taped and aired around the world.
2 other eyewitness said Mrs Osteen acted properly.
Quotes from the article in #15.
"Mr. Osteen was very calm, very professional," passenger Barbara Griffith said. "It's sad."
Another passenger, who didn't want to give her name, agreed with Griffith's account.
If there was anything here that the media could sink their teeth into, I think we would have heard. Detail by detail.
Larry, there a so many jealous assholes pretending to be Christians. It has always been this way. Joel has too many church members and it burns the butts of the dead and dull churches and their members. I like 'em all. The more Christians, the better.
How about sin and the need to repent?
Yep, we should all mind our own business and be glad for all the churches.
I agree. I saw a former church leader that we knew personally on TV last week.
He and his wife gave of their own personal goods and time tirelessly.
But had enough money to need a treasurer (judas) and fed 5,000 plus people and had women financing his ministry. READ THE BIBLE.....
Multiple services.
I don't trust this guy. I have a hard time listening to preachers that care that much about their hair and their looks, and who court that many churchgoers. I don't like a big time preacher flying first class to Vail on money that was given by people with far, far less with the expectation that that money was to be used to spread the Good News. I guess that's what Christmas is all about, Vail; eh, preacher?
Gimme an old wooden church on a dirt road with an old raspy preacher behind an old wooden pulpit any day of the week. That's what you call that Old Time Religion, it was good for the Prophet Daniel and it's good enough for me.
http://lonestartimes.com/2005/12/20/victoria-osteen-tossed-from-flight-at-iah/
People attend his church because it is a "feel good" church...I heard him say after a service that all you had to do to be saved is repeat a simple prayer....of course that is wrong..you have to have faith that Jesus is the Savior to be saved (John 3:16)..
Hey, first class isn't living like royalty. A personally-owned private jet is "living like royalty".
Success can bring it's own curses and demons - nobody should be surprised at something such as this. It does not make the Osteens evil people, it only makes them human.
Besides, I plan on flying first class some day - and I'm a mere peasant.
I especially like the little matching wristlets. :o)
So, a drink was spilled. I'd like to know the rest of the story. Why does it take two hours to either clean up the spill or to put off two adults and two children?
Maybe...but the image of a wealthy preacher skiing in Vail and traveling first-class is in stark contrast to the life that Christ led. God uses many messengers, I hope the right message is being brought forth by the Osteens.
As for me, give me the loving companionship of my fellow believers in FreeRepublic. Our church has no walls and no tithes, yet the love, support and work done here is amazing.
40,000 isn't a church, it's a mob. What kind of candy is he promising? A get-out-of-hell-free card for every visitor brought in?
ROFL! Love that biting wit of yours.
He's leading a whole lot of people away from Heaven.
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