Thu, Feb 12, 2004
Religious Leaders Caution Carrier on Pilot Discipline
You may recall ANN's
report on Monday about the American Airlines captain who is facing
disciplinary action after recently asking Christians on his flight
to identify themselves and suggested the non-Christians discuss the
faith with them. Well, now the church is getting involved in this
holy mess.
On Wednesday, the National Clergy Council released the following
statement:
"The National Clergy Council, representing Catholic,
Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant church leaders, will today
caution American Airlines executives to carefully approach its
investigation of a pilot who urged his passengers to talk to
Christians on board about faith."
"This was not a threatening incident," said National Clergy
Council President Rev. Rob Schenck. "At worse it was misplaced
exuberance. At best, he may have helped someone with their
spiritual needs."
While the pilot may
eventually answer to a higher authority, the case was handed over
to the airline's personnel department for an investigation,
American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said Sunday. "It falls along
the lines of a personal level of sharing that may not be
appropriate for one of our employees to do while on the job," he
said earlier.
The pilot, whose name was not released, told the airline that he
suggested the other passengers use the flight time to talk to the
Christians about their faith, Wagner said. The pilot also told
passengers he would be available for discussion at the end of the
flight. Wagner said the pilot had just returned to work from a week
long mission trip to Costa Rica.
Stay tuned to ANN to see if either group throws the book (holy
or regulatory) at the pilot.
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