Concern over Royal Jordanian

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RooFlyer

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This is a bit of a worry: Airline captain keen on Palestinian martyrdom (if pay-walled, Google the headline)

Terrorism in the 20th century saw the rise of the commercial aircraft as a preferred tool in waging revolutionary war. It was only in September 2001 that commercial aircraft became missiles with human payloads. As a result, all commercial craft are fitted with security doors to prevent terrorists from accessing the cabin.

But what happens when a member of the cabin crew becomes the potential terrorist? This is a question that deserves to be asked of Royal Jordanian after one of its senior pilots professed a willingness to die in the service of a higher calling.

Captain Yousef Al-Hamlan Dajah declared he was “willing to be martyred for the sake of Palestine”. He didn’t say this in some small madrassa in the suburbs of Amman but in New York. He said he was compelled to speak out after being outraged by President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
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Some passengers were understandably alarmed. You would expect Royal Jordanian, a respected airline and a member of the Oneworld Alliance (which includes Qantas), would immediately disavow his comments and stand him down pending an investigation. You would expect Qantas to issue a “please explain”.

As far as we know, Dajah is still flying. My request for clarification, posted on the airline’s website this week, remains unanswered
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Politics... and not just any but Middle Eastern politics. Bound to be a touchy subject, but I'll bite.

On the face of it his comments, as an airline pilot, seem poorly chosen. But from that snippet it doesn't appear he said he wanted to crash a plane, nor does it suggest he wants to take innocent lives. All of that is conjecture from a Western perspective and a biased media.

I wouldn't go so far as to mirror his comments, but I support a two-state solution and I don't see the recent actions by the US as helping peace in the region one bit. That's a discussion for another time though... or not, because I'm not really fussed with politics.

Bottom line, why should Qantas have anything to do with this matter. It's not one of their pilots and not their issue. Unless there's more to the story... he didn't say he wanted to take down a plane, nor did he say he wanted to endanger his passengers. He said he would like to be a martyr. Also, I didn't realise martyr = terrorist these days? Does that mean Socrates was a terrorist? :p
 
Politics... and not just any but Middle Eastern politics. Bound to be a touchy subject, but I'll bite.

On the face of it his comments, as an airline pilot, seem poorly chosen. But from that snippet it doesn't appear he said he wanted to crash a plane, nor does it suggest he wants to take innocent lives. All of that is conjecture from a Western perspective and a biased media.

I wouldn't go so far as to mirror his comments, but I support a two-state solution and I don't see the recent actions by the US as helping peace in the region one bit. That's a discussion for another time though... or not, because I'm not really fussed with politics.

Bottom line, why should Qantas have anything to do with this matter. It's not one of their pilots and not their issue. Unless there's more to the story... he didn't say he wanted to take down a plane, nor did he say he wanted to endanger his passengers. He said he would like to be a martyr. Also, I didn't realise martyr = terrorist these days? Does that mean Socrates was a terrorist? :p

One can be both martyr and terrorist.
 
I look at it like this: If a Virgin or Qantas (name your local airline) pilot went out and made a public statement like "I like to go out and get blind rolling drunk" or "I like the occasional hit of ice" or "I have suicidal thoughts", I wouldn't expect his airline employer to ignore it. Its not that the pilot said they'd do that just prior or during a flight, but it reflects not only a propensity not only to indulge in 'risky behaviour' but also reflects a mental attitude perhaps not suitable to what pilots do. That's my problem with what the RJ pilot said - nothing at all to do with politics.

Bottom line, why should Qantas have anything to do with this matter. It's not one of their pilots and not their issue.

I wouldn't expect Qantas to do anything publically, but they do have an interest. They are potentially selling tickets for flights the pilot in question, therefore putting their brand on his back.

Maybe if ALL RJ pilots made statements that they too, had suicidal thoughts, it might make a difference to the airlines' reaction?
 
One can be both martyr and terrorist.

But they're not exclusive.

Maybe if ALL RJ pilots made statements that they too, had suicidal thoughts, it might make a difference to the airlines' reaction?

From what I can see he didn't say he wanted to commit suicide, just that he wanted to be a martyr... which you can do without killing yourself. Socrates was executed. There are some news sites that reprint the words "professed a willingness to die in the service of a higher calling", but I believe what was actually said was "willing to be martyred for the sake of Palestine". Interpretation has then run amok.

I appreciate it could be taken the wrong way, but I don't agree with all your comparisons.

I look at it like this: If a Virgin or Qantas (name your local airline) pilot went out and made a public statement like "I like to go out and get blind rolling drunk" or "I like the occasional hit of ice" or "I have suicidal thoughts", I wouldn't expect his airline employer to ignore it.

The first two make sense for Australia, they're pretty much a cultural part of Australia... a drug and alcohol problem. However, a lot of pilots probably do drink, just not to excess, at least not when they are meant to be flying. I have a logbook entry from the 19th Jan 2015 on a flight back from ADL to OOL. I had commented in my notes that I'd had a great time at an AFF event in the McLaren Vale. The Captain had commented back to me that he had enjoyed a bottle from the McLaren Vale with some friends the night before too! I wasn't worried, but I could have been I guess... what if it wasn't just the 1 glass and 1 bottle?

However, the suicidal thoughts comment is off the mark, as that's universal for all airlines as a warning sign that should not be overlooked. And besides, this pilot didn't say he had suicidal thoughts, it's a misquote floating around (though happy to be proven wrong on this if he actually did say that – in which case, he needs to be given proper support).
 
OK, I stand corrected on 'suicide' (make it "willingness to die for a cause") but I still think its inappropriate for a pilot to say something like he did where it can be quoted back in public. He's expressing a willingness to die and I think its up to the airline to follow up just how he may enact that willingness AND to let the public know that they are not ignoring the issue. That's an opinion and we can disagree.

But you somewhat miss the point of my analogies. Its not that a pilot shouldn't have a drink, or even comment to a passenger that they like one or two, but rather what should be the reaction of their employer if they publically announce that they have a drinking or a drug problem or some other sanctioned behaviour? Should the airline ignore it, or take some action? Drinking, drugs, martyrdom, take your pick.

In my view, its not even necessarily what the subject is (martyrdom, drinking etc), but that a pilot, in a highly responsible position, should state something like that in public. It WILL be un-nerving to prospective passengers and it very likely will reflect badly on the airline concerned (viz, the published article).
 
Politics again. I believe in a two State solution like most. The problem is, only one of the two States involved believes in it. The other one is Palestine.
 
No, I wouldn't want this jihad-sprouting hot-head, who says he wants to see the end of Israel, to be flying my plane, especially in US airspace!:
I don't see the problem, sounds like Socrates to me

...please don't hurt me, I'm being deliberately obtuse because I think I'm funny...
 
A good reason to avoid RJ then - jihadist nutjobs among the pilot ranks and mediocre service from cabin crew, especially if you're a white female passenger.
 
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