When the media & DGCA feed the public a daily diet of "bad pilot news" this results in passengers and public viewing ALL uniformed crew as villains and thugs, to be treated without respect.
Be it news of delayed flights, labour strikes or technical faults, its ALWAYS the pilot who is perceived to be the cause. Added to this list is the "fudged marksheet " scam where because of a few, so many are coloured with the same tainted brush.
This in turn reduces the credibility of pilots in the public's eye and hence talk as they want. Am glad the Capt put the guy in his place.
Aeronotix.