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Joke empties plane
Man ticketed and sent home as passengers scurry to resume travels
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^
| Dec. 24, 2002
| GINA BARTON
Posted on 12/25/2002 9:20:54 AM PST by gitmo
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To: 1rudeboy
This is less about a rapidly-approaching police state, and more about a (potential) deep-pockets plaintiff covering its butt in our overly-litigious society.Codswallop. The pilot made the decision, and he was at no risk of being sued, even if the airline was (extremely doubtful). I'd say that the airline faces at least as much risk of litigation because contracted service was not delivered as promised for an entirely frivilous reason. The sole issue here is that the pilot was offended and thought he'd prove to everyone he was King S--t of Turd Mountain.
Even a direct accusation of inebriation would in no way have endangered the flight or interfered with the flight crew. The pilot only had to say, "no, I haven't been drinking; in fact, I've just been tested," and that would have been the end of it. In a worst case scenario (say, a drunken passenger making the accusation in a threatening manner), the problem could have been solved by removing that passenger from that flight.
To: Physicist
frivilous = frivolous
To: gitmo
The man is a fool and got what he deserved. He had no reason to believe they were drunk, and that is no time for a joke.
To: Revolting cat!
Nah, no death penalty, just pistol whipped and hauled off never to be heard from again.
Obviously I don't know everyone that works for the airlines but the pukes I know are all po'ed because they made a bad career choice.
We let 'em but I'll tell ya, I will not fly any longer. Not because I'm afraid of being hijacked, but because I'm afraid that with the power we've given these morons I'll be shacked if I jump when the security guy gets behind me and shoves his hands up my crotch without telling me and I'll turn around and bark and end up in the little room.
I'd say I was paranoid except it's happened to me (well, not the shackled part, just the little room part).
To: Physicist
The biggest hole in your theory, Doctor, is representated by the fact that the pilot (AND co-pilot . . . was he in on the power-trip also?) submitted themselves to drug and alcohol tests. That is hardly the behavior one would expect from someone who is merely trying to show someone else who's boss. Furthermore, consider the following:
. . . in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.
So even in the absence of a CYA-type policy at the airline (in my opinion unlikely), there is a procedure that exists for this sort of a situation.
So basically, some dumb-arse who hasn't flown in ten years shot his mouth off where he shouldn't have . . . a scenario that even you should admit is much more likely than a flight-crew on a Christmas Eve ego-trip. (Hey Captain! I just figured out a way to delay our own flight for four hours!)
85
posted on
12/25/2002 2:42:54 PM PST
by
1rudeboy
To: 1rudeboy
The biggest hole in your theory, Doctor, is representated by the fact that the pilot (AND co-pilot . . . was he in on the power-trip also?) submitted themselves to drug and alcohol tests.I said as much in my post. It's no hole at all; in fact it redounds to my point. The pilot could have answered the question and reassured any skittish passengers simply by presenting the results of the test.
That is hardly the behavior one would expect from someone who is merely trying to show someone else who's boss.
Of course not. I'm saying that cancelling the flight was.
. . . in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.
That refers to the mandatory alcohol test, which is entirely appropriate. How again does this justify cancelling a flight?
To: Revolting cat!
Of course, he could have explained why Osama BinLaden should be flying the plane. That would be rewarded.
87
posted on
12/25/2002 4:10:50 PM PST
by
gitmo
To: Revolting cat!
It's an unequal relationship betwen the servant, in this case the pilot, and a paying customer. You're mixed with dirt by some dirtbag and obliged to respond with a smile!
an unequal relationship between the millionaire, the pilot, and a paying customer who almost had to mortgage his house to pay the exhorbitant cost of the ticket.
88
posted on
12/25/2002 4:13:26 PM PST
by
gitmo
To: Petronski
It's the perfect time for a joke. Flying is a high-stress situation, especially during the holiday rush.
89
posted on
12/25/2002 4:16:55 PM PST
by
gitmo
To: gitmo
I hope you'll wear a nametag in the gate area before your next trip, so I can avoid taking that flight.
Comment #91 Removed by Moderator
To: gitmo
I made almost the exact same joke, year or so back. Right around the time of the 9/11 attack.
Pilot was standing out front talking to the crew and greeting people.. I said something like; "Hey, you guy's are sober, right?"
They laughed and replied: "We're worried about you!"
That was all that came of it. It's all that should have come of it.
I can remember when people had some common sense about things like this.
92
posted on
12/25/2002 5:02:34 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
I can only think of two possible reasons for something like this happening.
1) Maybe he hurt the pilots tiny, little ego? I can hear the little wuss stomping his feet and whining: "But, I am a pilot.. Respect ME! Respect me! Can't you see my hat? That's a pilots hat! I am a big man now, in charge of the whooooole airplane! Respect me dammit!"
2) One size fits all federal rules that everyone is so scared of breaking they throw common sense out the window and err on the side of caution.
It's got to be one or the other, because no one is so dense as to construe this as anything but a joke. No one smart enough to fly an airplane anyway.
93
posted on
12/25/2002 5:08:46 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
To: Pern
Yes. And you just have to be wondering if there is not some dead serious security agent reading that and thinking..."hummm".
The next time you board a plane you will remember this but for God's sakes man don't say it! Don't even smile!
To: EricOKC
This exchange started because you replied to my post to someone else. That poster engaged in some unfortunate name calling and he thought he had a right to do so. I said that "Freedom from offensive speech exists in certain cases, your post #42 being one." No mention was made of criminal prosecution and this being a private forum, certain rules do exist. As you can plainly tell from the #42 post the moderators make the rules and limit the scope of the speech to exclude offensive personal attacks.
There is absolutely NO freedom from offensive speech
You think the moderator made a mistake?
Sorry, cant have it both ways.
There is no two ways about it. Freedom from offensive speech exists in certain cases.
Comment #96 Removed by Moderator
To: Jhoffa_
Your "joke" may seem like nothing to you, but a comment questioning sobriety is about the most offensive thing that can be said to an airline pilot. The Airline industry and pilots themselves take the matter of sobriety (as with any safety related item) VERY seriously. It is equivalent to saying to a doctor, "killed anybody yet today." It may seem like no big deal, but to a pilot whose career could be destroyed on any hint of "flying while intoxicated"... it is a huge deal. About as offensive as you can get....
That said... this dumb bunnny should not have be legally prosecuted. He should be put on the "do not serve" list for the airline in question though.
To: StolarStorm
Oh come on..
First, it's not my job to pad the pilot's feelings. I didn't mean it to be offensive, I meant it in humor. If he wants to be offended then I guess it's just something he's going to have to live with.
Second, They laughed and joked back. It was a silly comment, I didn't know him from adam and didn't accuse him of drinking. He knew that and acted like a mature adult as opposed to throwing a fit over some imagined accusation.
They laughed and said something like "we're worried about you!" and that was it.
That's all it should have been and that's all it was.
98
posted on
12/25/2002 8:31:34 PM PST
by
Jhoffa_
To: RGSpincich
Freedom from offensive speech exists in certain cases, your post #42 being one. What makes you a friggin' expert on free or offensive speech?
To: EricOKC
The statement amounted to public defamation. Notice that the pilots got tested to make
sure they weren't drinking.
Stupid people really need to be forbidden to go out in public.
100
posted on
12/26/2002 5:27:44 AM PST
by
Poohbah
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