I willingly confess that I have said many, many prayers over the years prior to embarking on cross-country flights. Only I have never left my assigned seat to do so. That’s one of the differences between me and a man who was recently ordered off a United Airlines flight.
According to news reports, an Orthodox Jewish man boarded a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday night. However, shortly before the plane was set to take off the man left his seat to pray in the back of the plane.
Witnesses say the guy, who had a full beard, a black hat and a long black coat, stood near the aircraft’s lavatories and began praying while other passengers settled into their seats on the United Airlines jet bound for San Francisco.
Shortly before take off flight attendants reportedly urged the man, who was carrying a religious book, to take his seat, but witnesses say he ignored them. A few minutes later the man’s travel companions notified flight attendants that it was against their religion to stop a prayer once it was started and the man had about two minutes left in his prayer.
According to a spokesperson for United, flight attendants were left with no choice other than to call in security and have the man removed from the plane. Reports say the man finally stopped praying just as the guard entered the plane. Witnesses say the man explained that he couldn’t interrupt his religious ritual and wasn’t trying to be rude.
His explanation fell on deaf ears, and according to United officials, the man was escorted off the the plane and rebooked on a later flight.
Officials with the airline told news reporters that a flight cannot depart until all passengers are in their seats, and waiting for the man to finish his prayers would have risked a flight delay.
Listen, I believe strongly in the power of prayer; however, I don’t see why the guy couldn’t have completed his religious ritual in his assigned seat.
Can you imagine trying to explain your delay to someone?
“I’m so sorry, but my plane couldn’t depart on time because the guy in seat 35B had to finish his prayers.”
I doubt it would fly with anyone.
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