Virgin Skipper has a Flipper
From the Daily Telegraph :
Virgin passenger barred for ironic remark to pilot
By Paul Marston, Transport Correspondent
(Filed: 08/11/2003)
A Virgin Atlantic captain has been reported to the authorities for barring a passenger who made an ironic comment when the pilot turned up late.
Clive Warshaw was one of 300 travellers booked on a Miami to Heathrow flight that was delayed more than 13 hours after the scheduled pilot suffered an eye infection.
Michele and Clive Warshaw
The passengers were put up in hotels and told to return for an 8am take-off with a replacement captain.
By 7.20am all the passengers were assembled in the departure lounge but no flight or cabin crew had appeared.
The first of the flight attendants entered the lounge 10 minutes later - to be met by a round of mocking applause.
Another 15 minutes elapsed before the substitute pilot, Capt Simon Crook, approached the gate.
As he walked through the lounge, there was renewed clapping from about six passengers including Mr Warshaw, who said: "Well done."
Mr Warshaw, who had paid £3,500 for a business class return, said he was amazed by the captain's reaction.
"He scowled but did not say anything until he reached the gate," Mr Warshaw said. "Then he spoke to one of the ground crew, turned round and pointed toward me. The ground staff told me he would not let me board.
"I couldn't believe it. I just wanted to get home. I asked the ground manager to tell the captain I would apologise. He went into the cockpit but the captain refused to accept the apology.
"Then they had to hold up the flight further while they took my bags off."
The aircraft eventually departed - with Mr Warshaw's wife, Michele, travelling alone - at 9.30am, a total of 15 hours late.
"I wasn't the only one to make a comment," said Mr Warshaw, of Hampstead, north London. "But I think he singled me out because my suit and white hair made me easily identifiable."
He has lodged a complaint with the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Three other passengers have written to the airline, complaining about Mr Warshaw's treatment.
However, Virgin said Capt Crook "exercised his responsibilities correctly".
An official said: "The captain felt that Mr Warshaw's behaviour suggested that he could be disruptive during the flight. He felt it was more sensible to carry him on a later flight to let him calm down."
The company said an offer of some form of redress to Mr Warshaw was being prepared.
Interesting !!