American Airlines on CNN

[capt. megadeth]

Did anyone else see this?

It was about some chooch that apparently got "profiled" by an American crew with two other Muslim looking guys. Basically, the Portugese guy got detained for 2 hours with the other 2 guys because of suspicious actions. Well, the men didn't get to reboard and got a ticket refund.

In any case, OF COURSE (no surprise herde).....guess what happened next?











Yep.....the Portugese guy sued American. He got awarded $400K. I wish I could make $200K an hour!

Anyways, afterwards, they had a "panel" telling the news lady their opinions on profiling. Here's the kicker:

One of the dudes goes "Well, you just cannot have captains making these kinds of decisions." and "That's the problem you run into when you give crews some power....it goes to their head." Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaa. OMG, I wanted to slap that guy. Anyway, the news lady was playing devil's advocate and seemed to be on the crew's side. In any case, I thought his comments were hilarious (in the sense that the guy needs to put the crack pipe down) and I just couldn't wait to share them with y'all.

 

[mosdef]

I just watched it. Based on the story the guys were profiled for their race. Yes the captain is the final authority as to who flies on his plane but what was the captains reason for kicking then off the plane? Flying while Portugese? Not good enough in my book. You can't just kick someone off a plane, without provocation and there be no ramifications.

 

[AA717driver]

mosdef--On a 121 aircraft, the pilot-in-command is the final authority on security matters. He CAN throw off whoever the F*** he wants. He'd better be able to justify it afterward--and, from what I've read, he can in this instance.

This is a case of the lawyers getting a bunch of droolers on a jury who can't understand anything more complex than a segment on "Real World" who feel sorry for this dude. TC

 

[bravodude]

I just watched it. Based on the story the guys were profiled for their race. Yes the captain is the final authority as to who flies on his plane but what was the captains reason for kicking then off the plane? Flying while Portugese? Not good enough in my book. You can't just kick someone off a plane, without provocation and there be no ramifications.

And that is why hopefully you are not a captain. The CAPTAIN can kick anyone of an airplane if he thinks it is a safety issue. you don't know what the captain was thinking and you can't play monday morning quaterback and second guess a capt. decision.

 

[Falconjet]

And that is why hopefully you are not a captain. The CAPTAIN can kick anyone of an airplane if he thinks it is a safety issue. you don't know what the captain was thinking and you can't play monday morning quaterback and second guess a capt. decision.

Sounds like you are.

FJ

 

[bravodude]

and your point is? Wait you are actually proud to be an alpo member-you have no point.

 

[mosdef]

I understand that a captain can kick anyone off the plane he wants. My point is not captains authority. The 3 men did not fly on his flight. Captains authority remained intact. The guy sued and won. I don't know all the reasons for the captain kicking the guy off the flight but obviously it did not turn out favorably for the company the captain works for (AA). So the question is one of judgement. Did the captain exercise good judgement?

I'd hate to see captains authority eroded based on this case and I'd don't want paying customers denied the right to fly based on superficial suspicions.

If some of you that have more details (captains side) about this case I'd like to hear it.

 

[crashpad]

I'd like to hear the Captains' side. It's a big deal to kick someone off. I don't know any captain who would do it on baseless suspicion. Pasqaul must've done something.
400K for profiling? Is that the going rate? Did AA ruin his livelihood somehow?
Here's an idea...Bus only for shifty looking foreingners boarding with their worldly belongings in Hefty trashbags and in need of a bath.
This is getting ridculous....

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

I just watched it. Based on the story the guys were profiled for their race. Yes the captain is the final authority as to who flies on his plane but what was the captains reason for kicking then off the plane? Flying while Portugese? Not good enough in my book. You can't just kick someone off a plane, without provocation and there be no ramifications.

Let me make sure I understand you correctly. You think that either the TSA or some gate agent is in a better position to determine if these pax were a security threat? Let me tell you mosdef, the TSA is more interested in trying to identify pilots with alcohol on their breath and the gate agent is more worried about getting the flight off their gate so they can run outside for their next smoke break.

 

[HalinTexas]

Here's another way to do this....

You don't have to kick anyone off. Just refuse to move the airplane if certain individuals are on board. The captain or anyone else is still exercising his authority.

Just kidding.

But you will notice that only the airline got sued, thankfully.

 

[AA717driver]

This was another instance where the person in question was making "unusual and suspicious remarks" and the other pax were concerned and brought it to the attention of the crew.

It wasn't like the CA went through the cabin saying "eeny, meeny, miney, moe, you look like an A-rab so off you go".

Maybe he didn't handle it correctly but, these days, if he had let the guy ride and the other pax were anxious and disagreed, THEY would have sued and the media would be busting the CA's balls for not erring on the side of caution. TC

 

[GogglesPisano]

you don't know what the captain was thinking and you can't play monday morning quaterback and second guess a capt. decision.

I guess the NTSB is out of a job.

 

[aa73]

"eeny, meeny, miney, moe, you look like an A-rab so off you go". TC

tha's good, bro!

 

[Wesb737fo]

I'd hate to see captains authority eroded based on this case and I'd don't want paying customers denied the right to fly based on superficial suspicions.

If some of you that have more details (captains side) about this case I'd like to hear it.

I agree that no one should be denied boarding without reason, but even if the Captain just didn't like the way the guy looked , do you think he deserved $400K.....that is complete bu!!sh!t. I know there is always more to the story but unless he was verbally and physically abused, $400K for being kicked off a flight is stupid. Let's hear more facts about this story.

 

[bubbers44]

Don't worry about the 400K. AA attorneys get around that every day. I'm sure the appeal is already being drafted for the next round.

 

[bravodude]

I guess the NTSB is out of a job.

What i said was in the context of this post. The NTSB has power to investigate accidents and make recomendations. They have nothing to do with what we are talking about. Go back to momy.

 

[GogglesPisano]

What i said was in the context of this post. The NTSB has power to investigate accidents and make recomendations. They have nothing to do with what we are talking about. Go back to momy.

OK. Forget the NTSB. Captain's decisions are questioned all the time. In this case it will be questioned by his CP and at the executive level. Then the lawyers will question them. Captains are only gods for the time they are on the aircraft. Once they are off every decision can be questioned.

Have you ever even been a captain?


Who's momy?

 

[Vne]

Once they are off every decision can be questioned.

Yes and the answer is "In the interest of safety I decided..." .
Thats what they pay us for.WE are there they are NOT. jmo

 

[NEDude]

You think that either the TSA or some gate agent is in a better position to determine if these pax were a security threat? Let me tell you mosdef, the TSA is more interested in trying to identify pilots with alcohol on their breath and the gate agent is more worried about getting the flight off their gate so they can run outside for their next smoke break.

If a TSA agent or gate agent makes a wrong decision, they still get to go home to their family that night.