BA Pilot talks about bombing White House on open mike

[William A Bong]

I hear a strong rumour that a BA flight was caught joking about bombing the White House whilst flying in the Washington area on Wednesday. Only problem was that they didn't realise they were transmitting on the RT frequency not intercom.

Suprisingly BA are not too happy about this.

[RoyHudd]

BA hypocrisy

Flight probably busy with despised US passengers, some paying premium fares helping to subsidise the overpaid British Airways crew. Makes me sick. Characteristic of leftie Brits and Europeans, sad to say.

[PAXboy]

Or crew more tired and fed up than they should be?

If true, then it ranks in the same category as President Ronald Reagen saying on an open mic, "We start the bombing in 10 minutes."

Guess who will be criticised the greatest?

[Hand Solo]

Assuming its true. Who rattled Roy Hudds cage? Would it have been better if an American had said it?

[Eff Oh]

This is a load of rubbish. Who cares what was said? They didn't actually do it! It was OBVIOUSLY said in jest, not ment to be heard by others, so as not to cause offence. Roy Hudd no need to be so abrasive! Slow news day today?

[serf]

And if pax boarding the Flight had talked in this manner....................................whats' good for the goose..

[Farrell]

It was unintentional albeit embarrassing. However, there's no need to stick it up here to further add to a situation I'm sure the guy would rather forget!

[noullet]

Originally Posted by Farrell

It was unintentional albeit embarrassing. However, there's no need to stick it up here to further add to a situation I'm sure the guy would rather forget!

Which gets back to the old saying: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't open your mouth".....

Regards,
jack

[Norman Stanley Fletcher]

Roy Hudd has got it about right - BA are 100% dependent on US routes where transatlantic passengers pay serious money for 'premium service' travel. If you bite the hand that feeds you, the day will come when the zoo visitors find more friendly animals to throw titbits at.

Anti-American sentiment is increasingly fashionable in the UK among trendy-lefty dorks who actually believe all they hear on the BBC. Unfashionable as it may be, I personally believe America to be the greatest ally the UK has ever had. Knowing American sensitivities over this type of thing I am frankly embarrassed. To actually joke in the cockpit about bombing the White House, and worse still to do so whilst in US airspace, is crass buffoonery of the worst order.

Incidentally, people do care what was said in jest - it matters in a big way to Americans and they are the people keeping BA afloat. Foolish words over such a sensitive issue could be disastrous for BA - and their employees will only have themselves to blame if it is.

[jondc9]

I too think that the UK and the US are incredible allies...



it would seem someone needs training in the use of the audio panel


though we all could use that at times.

j

[Lon More]

It's only a rumour folks; four days ago; if it had been true wouldn't the loonies of the American right have pounced on it by now?

[L337]

This is the rumour network.

So before you all shoot BA down in flames because of one employee. Trash the trendy dorks of the left. The BBC. And get all embarrassed. How about waiting for the truth? What ever that may be.

l337

[surely not]

Why does it have to be a loony leftie crew? Are normal people not allowed to have thoughts which doubt the direction of the current US administrations policies. Freedom of Speech? Only if you agree with Norman Stanley and his like it seems

I think BA also carries a very large number of other nationalities as well as the US citizens. Seems to me the US Citizens are normally found on the US Carriers, thereby propping up carriers that would be bankrupt and out of business if operating in Europe and without the bolt hole of Chapter 11!

At least the flight crew were only joking about it; unlike those in power in Washington who are fecking up large parts of the world by actually dropping bombs!

That said it must be very embarrassing for the crew

[arem]

Well that will teach the silly sods not to use intercom to somebody whose sat 3 feet away in a not particularly noisy flightdeck - and yes I hated using it in my last few years at BA but the FEW and the biggles brigade were running the roost by then!!!!!!!!!!

[overstress]

Hi arem - I'm one of the overpaid silly sods, ex-biggles brigade and former FEW. We use intercom because it is SOP. Hope this helps. Looking forward to your next posting - not.

[jondc9]

actually threatening the president of the USA is a federal crime...a 14 year old girl was recently questioned for putting on her BLOG words to the effect of doing harm to p. bush.

so, BA uses an intercom between pilots on the same flight deck...that's fine


of course, how many BA planes are fitted with bomb racks these days...probably none


we all know it was a joke

[misd-agin]

Originally Posted by overstress

Hi arem - I'm one of the overpaid silly sods, ex-biggles brigade and former FEW. We use intercom because it is SOP. Hope this helps. Looking forward to your next posting - not.

You use intercom to talk to a guy 3 feet from you in a modern airline cockpit?

As ex-military folks like to say...YGBSM.

[Carnage Matey!]

I'm not ex-mil and I use intercom, but then I never thought there was anything macho about not using one ear of your ANR headset and slowly going deaf.

[Roadtrip]

I think the embarassement alone is enough punishment. Nothing like being a twit, then advertising to the world.

[alibaba]

erm Norm.

The BAaaaa is not 100% based on US PAX figures. Don't know where you got your figures from? Important maybe, but not everything.

US tourists on European city breaks don't particularly use them anymore anyway, unlike other European cabs.

It has nothing to do with the hand that feeds you as you put it. But everything to do with any criticism not appreciated. Especially associated with this country and its policies as and when foreign critics are at hand. If you are a domestic critic it generally leads to a communist slant and a witch hunt. I think the have been a few books about that though. Is it the 60s or the 21st Century?

Somebody please point NSF to the calendar.

It's called democracy, (Not sure if you are used to that?). It means free speech. It isn't always what you might want though..... That’s life I suppose.

If you would like to watch the drivel out of FOX, I am sure a satellite dish can be put up for you whatever the location?

I don't think the flight deck in question meant to broadcast this. They probably were chit chatting idly and innocently IN PRIVATE. Except not that privately! oopps.

I would hate to think that any person or company could use CVR's in anyway they wanted as I think we would all be up to our waist in sh... or sectioned possibly? Some companies actually want to use this data though.

Might not be Birdseed that is guilty? Could be one of many different operators flying in that airspace at that time that might have been responsible? Possibly a VP or even an Ascot? I have to agree though, tasteful it is not. I suppose it is like a few crew meals, but not everybody gets them now do they……..