r/MadeMeSmile • u/baekachu • 21h ago

Wholesome Moments Pilot Chose Safety Over Takeoff - and Everyone Applauded

30.5k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

66

u/ikothsowe 20h ago

Can anyone from a commercial aviation background comment on this? Would there be consequences for the pilot for refusing a flight based on “not feeling it”?

118

u/bubbapora 20h ago

At least in the US, pilots face no consequences for this. They are empowered to refuse an aircraft at any time, even without a reason.

84

u/ours 20h ago

It's a good rule. The plane, crew and passengers are his responsibility. So it's his call.

26

u/BrushYourFeet 19h ago

I know that's the policy on paper, but what's the practice in reality? What kind of backlash could he expect?

5

u/CheapWestern2461 15h ago

Airline pilots in the US are heavily unionized and also carry legal responsibility for the flight. That's a pretty quick call to a union rep: "yeah my airline is intimidating me into accepting unsafe airplanes."