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American Eagle pilot tries to amuse his passengers and fails
Passengers on American Eagle flight 4891 from New York's La Guardia airport en route to Cleveland were already running 2 hours late when the pilot asked the flight attendant to advise the passengers that the aircraft would be diverted to Toledo. The reason given was "an emergency has shutdown Cleveland Hopkins Airport". Once the plane landed, passengers whipped out their mobile phones, expecting the need to make plans to get to their final destination, only to discover that the pilot had played a prank on them. There was no "emergency" and the plane has actually landed exactly where it was supposed to be.
Needless to say that some of the passengers didn't share his sense of humor. American Eagle has confirmed the incident, and claims the matter is now "a personnel issue". Fingers crossed for the pilot that someone at HQ understands the need for a joke every now and then.
I've been on the receiving end of a couple of cockpit pranks before, but I can't say I've ever run into a pilot who tricked his entire plane into thinking they were going to land somewhere else.
What are your thoughts on this? Would you laugh it off, or immediately write a letter demanding one million miles?
(Image source: Flickr/Geir. W)
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 12)
747Driver Aug 26th 2008 10:38AM
Ok, we all pretty much agree he shouldn't have done it, but let's be adults now, how horrible was it? It did not rise to level of being truly unprofessional or dangerous. I would just tell the pilot knock it off and let it go at that. Case closed.
igotagoco@yahoo.com Aug 26th 2008 10:31AM
There are other ways to be amusing. This is not funny. Most people are scared to fly anyway and of course, after 9/11, people are terrified that something like that could happen again. I think the pilot showed a lapse of judgement. I can understand that people need to 'lighten up", but use common sense. That was not the time or place for a prank.
prof Aug 26th 2008 10:35AM
I'd laugh it off honestly. It really isn't that big of a deal.
Heck, at least the pilot wasn't drunk!
qsol3@aol.com Aug 26th 2008 10:35AM
America lighten up. No one has a sense of humor oh poor little babies who are stressed. Well get a new job that does not require you to Fly to work all week.. You people make me sick. Pathetic ,10cc, neanderthal, amoeba's.Eerything is about me, me, me self entitlement hypocrites. What happened to being a free country. Looks like the New World Order is coming. Grow the F^%$$#@ UP or get out of America. Laughter adds years to your life.
Kevinz2bald@aol.com Aug 26th 2008 10:39AM
I think that anyone who didn't get a big laugh out of this needs to get a sense of humor. We all need a good laugh in life once in a while even if it doe sscare the crap out of us just a little bit... If one can't laugh at things in life then what's the point in continuing your existance....
sue bond Aug 26th 2008 10:45AM
Yes, I have been on a plane where a prank was pulled. it made everyone laugh after just a little bit of confusion. We were on a business trip to Las Vegas and it was the Announcer Attendent who said Welcome to flight --- we hope you enjoy your trip to Cabos.
Pamela Rieth Aug 26th 2008 10:48AM
It depends on how the rest of the day had gone. I mean, already 2 hours late? Probably not in the mood to be pranked, thanks so much.
NickE Aug 26th 2008 10:59AM
That captain should both be fired & have his ATR suspended or revoked! He cannot be trusted to command a commercial aircraft!
Bob Aug 26th 2008 10:59AM
While it might have seemed funny to the pilot and to some people on the plane, this is not something I would think a pilot would want to joke about because it is the kind of announcement people take seriously. If a pilot starts making jokes about where a plane is to land how are people to know when it is a joke or isnt, especially in this case where people were never told it was a joke, they had to figure it out themselves after they got of the plane. It also has financial repercussions. What if some had purchased tickets or rented cars after they got off the plane thinking they were in the wrong city? Some tickets can't be refunded and some rental places charge a day's rental to cancel a reservation. this joke while well intentioned, was not well thought out.
airgrl73@aol.com Aug 26th 2008 11:01AM
I'd laugh it off and pry laugh for years later, but my husband is a pilot in the Army, I've heard of worse things then that! Although it was very unprofectional of the pilot to do that to a whole plane load of uptight airline passengers, he never indangered any of there lifes and the plane landed safely so he should keep his job and just stick to his day job!
Ambopat Aug 26th 2008 11:02AM
I love it when you get some levity during otherwise stressful situations. Good humor can definitely take you down a notch. The problem with this one is that is was decidedly NOT funny or in the least bit amusing! Some emergency shutting down an airport??? What about my loved ones waiting to pick me up??? Are they OK?? Is it another terrorist incident?? Sounds like the pilot spent a little too much time at the airport lounge proir to takeoff. Now having said all that, don't anybody go running for a lawyer to sue for all the 'emotional distress' you were caused, just suck it up. Don't go demanding he be fired either. Just sit him down & tell him to read "Joking for Dummmies" or something.
john marshall Aug 26th 2008 11:06AM
IF THEY CAN'T TAKE A LITTLE HUMOR THEY SHOULD STAY HOME
MaryE Aug 26th 2008 11:05AM
You're cruising towards Cleveland when the flight attendant
announces...
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has asked me to tell you that we will be diverting to Toledo due to an emergency situation at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. There are no details on the nature of the emergency at this time, but as information is forthcoming, we will keep you apprised of the situation. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you."
The plane lands and the captain comes on to say...
"Ladies and gentlemen, we did not divert to Toledo. We have actually landed in Cleveland. Hope you enjoyed the joke!"
Really now, how humorous does that sound to anyone with the least bit of functioning gray matter?
Intelligent people realize that there is no place in the professional working world for South Park humor.
MaryE Aug 26th 2008 11:08AM
Didn't get the part where the pilot did not tell the passengers it was a joke. Either way... not funny.
Joe Aug 26th 2008 11:14AM
I heard of a pilot cracking jokes as they were taking off, "Can someone please secure the luggage?" and while landing,"Bear with me folks, this will be my first landing." It's fine when a pilot makes a good joke but in this case he just wasn't all that funny. I'm sure he already learned from his mistake due to the embarrassment of this article and the controversy he created. So people, lighten up and let's get on with our lives!
Barbara Loden Aug 26th 2008 11:14AM
I do not approve of jokes on any job.
People are to do their job and leave their
jokes for their own home. I have known a
chronic joker and people get hurt when
jokes go too far and they will. They always do.
Especially with Rednecks!
Diz Aug 26th 2008 11:16AM
I would have laughed it off in the same manner the pilot would have laughed off a joke I could make about a bomb on the flight.
Jusbnfrank Aug 26th 2008 11:21AM
The pilot should be fired. Say, one passenger is trying to see their dying parent one last time before they pass. Another is traveling to a business meeting on a deadline. One is transporting a heart or liver for a transplant. He should be terminated! 10,000 comedians out of work and this SOB is trying to be funny for nothing. Take a little pride in your work, and be professional.
kdwildman Aug 26th 2008 3:39PM
Actually jusbnfrank: After doing some research about consumate professionals trying to be humorous on the job I found out that the pilot is an out of work comedian. Who knew! He's just being a pilot in the mean time to make ends meet. So that explains it.
don somers Aug 26th 2008 11:24AM
Having just hung up my headsets after fifty years of flying, I strongly disagree with the Captain's bogus announcement. An aircraft-particularly commercial-is NO place for jokes. The aircraft commander has the responsibility of making the passengers feel safe and confident in his/her judgement. Away from airplanes, I do have a great sense of humor and I have maintained that you should not get out of bed until you can laugh at yourself.