Originally Posted by
jimrpa
There are basic inconsistencies in the stories here.
Doesn't quite make sense. How many pilots are paying attention to which passenger is sitting back in Coach ?
And why would he push back only to return to the gate shortly thereafeter ?
Originally Posted by
LegalTender
Someone who says he was on board claims the pilot told him that the feds DID order him back to the gate in Memphis.
Now this certainly makes more sense!
Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Technically, that is false. The pilots are flying for a common carrier subject to federal government regulation and using federal government resources to do so.
This is a basic misunderstanding about the power of PIC's (and cops too).
The Pilot can order anybody off the plane (and a cop can detain anybody).
Anybody who should resist would be in violation of FAA rules (just the same as resisting the arrest is not allowed either).
This doesn't mean the "victim" has no recourse AFTER the fact and that the PIC (or the cop) cannot be found guilty of abusing his power.
So, in a way, the Pilot does have absolute authority, as far as the aircraft operation is concerned, for the time being. For instance, not even Obama could force the pilot to accept a passenger, the same as the NFL Commissioner wouldn't have the authority to force a Referee to reverse even an obviously wrong call.
The PIC authority is not limitless, though. He couldn't ask a passenger to get undressed, for instance. Yet, he would be within his authority to retaliate and force that pax off the plane. Of course, at a later time, he would likely be found guilty of sexual harassment, abusing authority, etc.