American Airlines chief apologizes for pilot's remarks on Christianity

[Khephra]

The chief executive of American Airlines apologized after the pilot of a recent cross-country flight got on the intercom and asked all Christians aboard to raise their hands.

The pilot, Rodger K. Findiesen of Annapolis, Md., has been grounded while the Feb. 7 incident is investigated, Gerard Arpey said.

The pilot of the Los Angeles-to-New York flight asked all Christians aboard to discuss their faith with their fellow passengers.

"Let me assure you that we take this very seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation," Arpey wrote to Abraham Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, a group that monitors anti-Semitism.

more.......

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/13/national1330EST0601.DTL

[wryter2000]

1. About durned time!

We were beginning to wonder if AA was just going to let that fly.

[Pathwalker]

2. CNN said many of the passengers thought the plane

had been overtaken by Timothy McVeigh types. It's that post 9/11 mindset. They thought the plane been HIGHJACKED by Right wing wackos! They were very frightened, apparently.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Grounded with or without pay?

The crew should file a "Violence in the Workplace" complaint. Having someone like that places any crew that flies with him in danger.

[reprobate]

4. He can apologize all he wants.

It won't help AA at all when the suits start bing filed. I sure would if I were on that flight. Mental distress, in fear for my life. That sort of thing.

[jsw_81]

5. The jerk should be fired

It would be terrifying to be flying along and then suddenly someone gets on the intercom and asks Christians to raise their hands, especially after 9/11.

[sendero]

6. "Investigation"?

Exactly how long does it take to investigate such an incident? One day or two?

[dogpatch]

7. What I want to know is...

If it's so obviously unacceptable for an airplane pilot to proselityze (sp?) on a cross-country plane trip, why should it be okay for the president of the world's most powerful country to do the same as he leads the world to rack and ruin?

[Malva Zebrina]

8. Poor guy--just another example of persecution of Christians

They do have a right to practice their religion you know. And if you do not like it, you should get out of their way or they will knock you down. You have no space that is respected at all. It is all their space in which to practice their religion and that is a right!

How dare these people prevent a Christian from practicing his religion! Persecution of Christians is becoming rampant. Something should be done about this.

Perhaps the airlines could separate by reilgion, the seats?

[donco6]

14. I'd bet anything that's what the RW stations are saying.

Poor us, we're all so, like, being persecuted and stuff.

Bleh.

[Book Lover]

15. Knock me down?

I don't want to get knocked down by anybody! Why can't they just not run into me? Or how about thinking before making an announcement that will put the fear of god into a planeload of passengers.

Incidently, the Advocate has a short interview with the pilot in question, if anyone is interested... http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/908/908_aa.asp

[mike1963]

9. Marvelous. Now how about an apology from the asshole pilot himself?

:grr:
edit: Just to mention it's hard for me to say something like that...as a professional pilot since 1963 I generally make a serious effort to defend fellow pilots...

[RedDawnRising]

10. He should he fired

now

[peterh]

11. No idea if it was actually said…but I can picture it….

Seems harmless enough to us here at FOX News, but the liberals do protest too much, we think. As crazy as it sounds, the left-leaning elitists think people "get touchy" around religious fundamentalists on airliners. (We still can't figure out where they got that idea.)

http://www.fauxnewschannel.com/

[yellowcanine]

12. Well that's great Mr. Arpey but

I for one am not going to fly on AA as long as I know there is a possibility that this guy might be preaching at me rather then paying attention to flying the plane. So I would suggest you wring a public apology out of this yahoo along with a promise never to repeat the offense or fire his ass right now.

[Bonobo]

13. I didn't see an apology in there! Where was it?

[Insider]

16. did he apologize for his ARROGANCE too?

hope so.