Katie (Couric) Pulls Strings In Cockpit

[Mark E. Smith]

NY Post (Page Six) July 29, 2006

Katie Couric had fellow passengers aboard a New York-bound jet on the warpath this week when, as their plane was about to taxi to the runway, she got out of her seat and begged the pilot to allow one of her late-arriving producers to board.

"It was like, 'Who the hell does she think she is?'" fumed one passenger who observed Couric's diva-like antics. "If you or I attempted something like this, we'd be cooling our heels in Guantanamo."

The witness told Page Six that attendants on Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. Delta Shuttle flight out of Washington D.C. had already closed the door and passengers were buckled in, when the soon-to-be CBS News anchor raced up the aisle with a cellphone to her ear and told an attendant she had to speak to the pilot right away. Couric was then allowed into the cockpit and convinced the pilot to delay the flight and reopen the door for her producer, Nicola Hewitt.

"One flight attendant rolled her eyes and told me, "This is only the second time I've seen this happen - the other time was a sick passenger," the witness said.

(Later ...)

Still, our witness - a high-powered public-relations executive who rides the shuttle regularly - said he and fellow passengers were not impressed at the behavior of TV's top news personality, who got a whopping $60 million contract to jump from NBC's "Today" show to CBS.

"Using your celebrity in the post-9/11 age to stop a flight is diabolical," he raged.

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm

[Ezlivin]

1. Are there any Americans who can say NO to celebrity power?

They cut lines, don't make reservations and expect special treatment at every turn. Yet people seem to fall all over themselves bending the rules for them while making ordinary folks suffer the consequences.

If I were the pilot I would have ignored her pleas and reminded her of the other hundred or so paying passengers. They, too, have deadlines and commitments.

[zann725]

2. That's what makes cute little Kkkkattie...Kkkattie. :puke:

n/t

[onehandle]

3. I believe the pilot is the final word on decisions like that.

She, however, likely broke a law if she got up after being ordered to buckle in.

Jail and fine her ass.

[Sherman A1]

12. Agreed

At the very least, it calls for an investigation. Rules apply to everyone.

[tanyev]

4. Some animals are more equal than others.

[goclark]

5. Especially when they treated Monique like dirt on United Airlines

And her assistant was only trying to put a hair dryer in the over head compartment.

[Milspec]

6. $60 million contract

What can anyone do thats worth $60 million

[LuckyLib]

7. My SO, a commercial pilot laughed, shook his head, and

and said that if the cockpit door was still open, the jetway was still there, and they had not pushed back it might be one thing. But if anything other than those circumstances occurred, little Katie would have had a sad face had she been on his airplane. The flight attendant should have said, "Ma-am, I'll have to ask you to take your sheet or you'll be in violation of FAA regulations." What a dink.

[Radio_Lady]

18. LOL. You typed "sheet" instead of "seat." Maybe Katie wants a

new career as the Grand Dragoness of the Ku Klux Klan?

(This is a weird reaction. I'm having sangria with an early lunch today in honor of Mel Gibson. But I'm not driving!)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. she did have a sick passenger. Couric, in her illness,

believes that little people rules don't apply to her wholly-ness

[Gormy Cuss]

9. No, Couric was just sick because she was on a commercial jet.

Shouldn't she be flying on her own jet rather than being forced to mingle with the riff raff in first class?

[revolve]

10. Oh my God they had to wait an extra -10 minutes

If you read the article the plane arrived at its destination ten minutes ahead of schedule.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Stardom has its perogatives -- for rock 'n' rollers, sports celebs, and

many other people people who think their sh** doesn't stink. Read: almost everybody in government or entertainment.

I could tell stories that would boil your blood. But I won't. It's too nice a day to get mired in this.

Page Six needed a story to fill their column. They got it.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Radio_Lady]

16. Who are you YELLING AT? Me? I got your idea and was

just responding to the OP.

Personally, I don't hate celebrity, but I have been exposed to it liberally in my day and it isn't all it's cracked up to be.

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[bluedeminredstate]

13. Page Six thrives on shit like this

"Using your celebrity in the post-9/11 age to stop a flight is diabolical," he raged.

Diabolical? Maybe too caught up in her importance, but I don't see evil or malice in using one's celebrity to be a pain in the ass.
I see why people were pissed, but "diabolical" goes a little far.

[qazplm]

14. oh good grief...

she got up and REQUESTED that they wait. They didnt have to. They could have said, take your seat. And odds are, she would have.

She had a late arriving producer and so she asked for a favor. I dont see how that makes her some horrible person.

[Radio_Lady]

17. Does anybody here remember Louella Parsons -- or read stuff

by Cindy Adams? It's just gossip. I wasn't there. You weren't there.

I agree with DUer qazplm. The pilot should have asked her to take her seat.

But I'm not getting upset over it, are you? This belongs (belonged) in the Lounge.

[TheWatcher]

20. That in itself probably doesn't make her a horrible person

The fact that she is a Ass Kissing Bush Apologist is another matter.

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. This thread is just Begging to be copycatted

But I've already been bad twice today. :blush:

[Catchawave]

21. Aren't cell phones supposed to be turned off

when the doors close?

DC-NY shuttles should have had air marshalls on board too.....she could have been "dropped" with a well trained tackle before she got to the attendant.

[valerief]

22. She's Today Show vomit. Something to throw sand on. n/t