Hey, I’ve read Left Behind and a number of the sequels. I’d be getting pretty concerned myself.
Were you responding to me? Because I was saying that what was “misunderstood” was whether the pilot intended to do something crazy like crashing the plane, not whether he was being an asshole. I’m sure I was clear about that. Some of the passengers were afraid he might do something crazy. But don’t you think that if the guy intended to crash the plane, he would have done so?
Well it’s very easy to conclude that now, after the plane is safely on the ground.
Very poor judgement on the pilot’s part. Maybe he was, as has been suggested just “high on Jesus” following a deeply spiritual experience. But I think the preference these days is for airline pilots to not be high on anything at all.
What does that mean? Are you of the opinion that the pilot intended to crash the plane? I’m just not seeing it. I’m as much against what he said as the next guy, but that’s no reason to make wild assumptions. I’d need a little more evidence before I accuse someone of attempted murder.:rolleyes:
I wonder what the pilot thought when nobody raised a hand.
The notoriously sensationalistic “news” on IMDb.com is reporting that one of the passengers on the flight was actor Jason Biggs, of the American Pie flicks. I wish he’d have had the forethought to raise his hand and say “I may not be a Christian, but I love pie. Who else loves pie?” 
Oh, and on behalf of sane Christians nationwide, I apologize for the dimwitted pilot. We aren’t all like that, folks. Really.
With 20/20 hindsight, it’s pretty clear that he had no intention to crash the plane. To those on the plane immediately after the announcement was made, it wasn’t all that clear. Some of those passengers may well have been terrified.
Haj
If I’d been on board, my thoughts would have immediately turned to Egyptair 990 and pilot Gamel el-Batouti repeatedly chanting “I rely on God” as he dove it into the ocean. Christian religious fanatics can be just as deadly as any other kind.
The pilot did an brief interview with, of all places, The Advocate. The editor happened to be on the flight.
Well, that does it for me. He was getting signs from God. He’s not just an over-enthusiastic evangelical proselytizer; he’s crazy. I don’t want to fly with him. He should be fired.
I thought this was a masterful piece of writing. Calm, controlled, and with undertones to suggest that somewhere at the airline headquarters a pilot was getting a dressing down so extreme his earlobes would melt.
“A minor problem with the plane’s braking system had developed during final checks before takeoff, he said, a problem that might have grounded the aircraft, on which every seat was taken, in part because another American flight from Los Angeles to New York had been canceled that morning. But after a simple maneuver involving a power source, the braking problem inexplicably “disappeared,” Findiesen said, and the plane was cleared for departure, and that’s when he knew he had to use the P.A. system to talk about his Christian faith.”
How big a step is it to “Captain, we’re getting a warning light about the landing gear not being fully extended.” “Don’t worry. My faith tells me the gear will hold.”
Well, probably a pretty big step. But I don’t want to fly with him either.
This just struck me as funny, very clever, too.
that were founded on the bible!
LOL
I know some christians are discussing this, saying whats wrong with that?
However, if one had said “Any Jews? Want to tell the rest of the passengers why Jesus wasn’t the messiah?” they would be UP IN ARMS.
I found gobear’s comment about the pilot being raptured funny too.
Imagine if he had been.
I dunno, I tend to have an issue with a pilot who thinks it’s his place, in his profession which has nothing inherently related to religion of any sort, to openly ask who on the plane shares that faith, and to further proclaim that all who do not are crazy. Even if that is his sincere personal belief, it’s not something appropriate for a workplace environment.
My best guess, as you noted above, is that the way to explain the issue of this with them is to replace “Christian” with something they see nothing wrong with not being. For example, your friends probably see no issue with people who are not in the general practice of raping puppies or killing virgins on their wedding night.
killing a virgin on their wedding night?
Gosh, how big would the guy have to be???
I guess asking John Holmes is out, eh?
This guy sounds like the kind of person who hits every green light on the way home from work and thinks it’s a “sign” from God.
Heh,
Fire the ass as soon as he lands.
He has a job to do.
He does not know how to do his job. Bingo, bango. Goodby.
Fire the guy on the spot.
I disagree. Although his actions were clearly wrong, I believe everyone should be given opportunity to improve themselves. If the Captain had a history of this kind of thing, then sure, fire him. If this is a first offence, then I’d be continuing his employment on the provision that he is professionally assessed as to his mental suitability to hold a Class 1 Aviation Medical, and that he is councelled and made to understand exactly why it was not the right thing to do (I suspect he realises his mistake).
Yeah, isn’t that what I said? Did I say I thought the passengers knew at the time, or that they shouldn’t have been concerned? 'Cuz I sure don’t remember saying that.
Yeah, wasn’t that point made about 30 or 40 posts ago? I think you’re looking for an argument where none exists.