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.
You don't know what you are talking about.
When Joel is quoting scripture, just what book is he reading from? Stop listening to jealous preachers who cant draw an audience.
There is nothing wrong with a POSITIVE message, or maybe you just don't know your bible?
No. They capped him because he was running around like a lunatic shouting that he had a bomb and he reached into his bag.
But so far, special anti-terror units in America and England have killed two people that I'm aware of, both of whom brought it on themselves, and both of whom were Hispanic. Many Hispanics, unfortunately for those who act the fool on an airplane, can be easily confused with Middle Easterners based solely on appearance. Middle Easterners, likewise, can be easily confused with terrorists (at least those that are not, for those who are terrorists, there's no confusion).
Ipso facto, if Osteen's wife was Hispanic, they could have shot her.
My thoughts exactly.
I don't think followers of Jesus should live like royalty.
I haven't heard of anyone being thrown off an airliner for no reason.
According to his brochure:
SEATING CAPACITY
The Sanctuary can accommodate 16,000 people.
Gimme a break.
Since you claim to know them, please get us the skinny on it.
That's because it is one. The former Compaq Center, old home of the Houston Rockets.
BTTT
Maybe you'd flog the children too? Get a clue, genius.
Please call Joel and Victoria and get from them what happened and post it here so we will know the facts. Thanks for making the call.
Not just the media. An eyewitness.
The behavior described by the eyewitness is unacceptable.
I always suspected she was medicated to the hilt.
Pftttttt
>>>The capacity for some of you to go off half-cocked is growing by the day.<<<
There is a growing contingent here that will go off 1/3 cocked, or quarter-cocked and less.
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