It's not funny

Apparently it is not okay for pilots to have a sense of humor. Why, you ask? Well we get sued if we have one. Don’t believe me, well I wish it were not true myself, but two passengers on a recent flight from Denver to the east coast are suing the captain of the flight and the airline itself for “an unspecified amount” for “emotional stress” . Now I have been on flights were people were scared senseless because of turbulence, but this was nothing like that. This is because the Captain tried to have fun.

So what did this apparently horrible Captain do that caused mental harm to the passengers? This captain reportedly “an average of once a week” likes to dress up a little. Actually, it is more like he adds to his uniform. He waits until the plane is boarded, then comes out of the lavatory in the rear of the aircraft, dressed in his full uniform, plus dark sunglasses….oh and a cane that blind people use. He then sweeps his cane through the aisle to the flight deck, and hops in his seat. Now, most people realize that it is a joke, and actually find it pretty funny. He reportedly gets many comments at the end of the flight from a lot of passengers in a good mood.

This one flight was different though. When he came walking up the aisle, two women became visibly upset at the sight of a seeing-impaired pilot. As soon as he realized that these two women were uncomfortable with the joke, he immediately took off his glasses and spoke to the women telling them both it was nothing but a prank and that he really can see just fine. That did not smooth anything over though. The two women would not even stay on the flight. They demanded to get off, speak to all sorts of supervisors, and be granted a refund for their tickets. The trouble did not end there though. The pilot and the company are now both being sued by the two women.

The airline will not comment on pending litigation, but the Captain spoke a few comments saying that he regrets his actions and was never his intent to cause anyone undue stress. The Captain has many people on his side though. He has received over 150 letters from fellow employees and passengers that have learned of the law suit stating that the joke was just that. Passengers have written emails and letters offering support and asking him not to change his ways because of these two women.

To the captain: good luck. I hope nothing becomes of the law suit and that the judge will dismiss it based on the fact that it is pure stupidity.

To the two women: grow up. Flying is a serious business, but there is no need for two grown women to sue a pilot for trying to make a crowded, generally unpleasant group of people smile. If you cannot accept that, then it is time for you both to find a nice place on an island inhabited by no one or nothing. You don’t deserve to be in the general population, as that takes common sense and courtesy. It is time for you both to stop ruining this man’s life and go screw your own life up instead.