Very good point ChrisVJ.
'Based on facts' is an interesting moniker to preceed a speech full of such innacuracies.
For your enlightenment the Captain does not need 'flight operations permission' to land anywhere.
Not even an 'angry customs agent' has this authority.
As was stated earlier this situation was allowed to escalate needlessly, probably because the Captain felt backed into a corner. If the flight attendant in question had backed down and swallowed his pride it could have been avoided. (See ChrisVJ's comment)
If this incident had happened outside the US there would have been a different outcome.
Unfortunately this incident will only encourage the not inconsiderable number of senior 'dinosaur' flight attendants to be even more difficult, recalcitrant and unprofessional when dealing with the flight deck (for many of you that is hard to imagine) and our vital passengers.
For those Flight Attendants I offer you this, your 'it's all about me' attitude is our overseas competitors best ally.
There is a very good reason why passengers avoid US Airlines and flock to Cathay, Singapore, British Airways etc..
And one of the main reasons why US Airlines are in financial tatters.
Worth pondering on one of your extended 'breaks' down the back while hiding from the passengers.
