✈️ This pilot flat-out refused to take off… even though the crew had already cleared the plane for departure. He had a bad gut feeling — oil pressure on engine #2 was trending up and the fuel system filter still needed replacing. He told the passengers straight up: “They... told us the plane is good to go, but I’m not really feeling it. I’m not going to leave the ground if I’m not completely certain that we have an airworthy aircraft. So I’m refusing the aircraft. I feel a lot more comfortable making this call than flying six hours over the water and maybe having an issue.” He apologized for the delay, then had everyone deplane so maintenance could fix it properly. In a world that’s always rushing, this pilot chose safety over schedule and put every single life on that plane first ❤️ I would you rather have a pilot who listens to his gut like this than one who just sticks to the schedule no matter what... how about you?show more

Absolutely—gut over schedule any day. Safety first always ❤️✈️

Yep, I'd much rather be alive and late than the alternative.

@BWellFolks It’s a brave man to stand up and do what he believes is right…

One of the reasons I like having human pilots... ideally... with integrity. Do I like being late? No. But I'd rather that than have a problem midair.

Was on a flight about to take off. Engines came on. Turned off. On again. Off. I was ready to bolt for the door and demand to be let off, when the pilot announced pretty much what you just posted: The plane had been cleared. He would NOT fly that airplane. We all exited. A new plane was readied. All connecting flights were held. Always trust that still small voice.

As a 32-year veteran of the aviation (Naval) industry, I salute this pilot! Safety first, every time.

Yessss I'd much rather be alive and late than the other alternative.

No way anyone could be upset with the guy for that. Props to him

While I applaud this pilot for doing the absolute correct thing, every pilot with a license has this requirement for pre flight safety checks as the #1 priority - a pilot who doesn’t should not have a license to fly anything.

That pilot used his professional training, his desire to live, and critical thinking skills around aircraft soundness to decide that he could not be forced to fly. Good for him.

Pilots are personally invested in the outcome. It would be nice if most professionals acted that way, but it's not a moral superiority - it's just reality.

The pilot is the ultimate authority on the airworthiness of the aircraft. His decision is final.

@drinkonsaturday We learned this through 100 years of blood. A lot less spills today because of it.

Great pilot and the airline should be proud to have him. This instills trust to the flying public.

That’s the kind of Captain you need ✈️ 🫡

My father was a pilot, and he was very conscientious about safety in all matters.

One of our crews had a transmission chip detector light go off signaling possible metal in the trans on a Bell 214ST Helicopter, I had them flush the trans twice and recheck per mfg manual he still felt off so myself and a pilot flew out with another bird and had them take that and passengers back while we took theirs, we were getting a little vibration but made it back, chip light came on as we were landing, ended up replacing the transmission a week later and sending it in for overhaul. Always better to be safe when flying passengers.

I was just on @JetBlue. Plane kept throwing a light for open cargo door. After maintenance checked that door was secure we taxied out to runway. Light came on again. Our pilot Captain Andrew said he didn’t like it and turned us around. Forcing maintenance to fix the issue.

I had something similar happen to me on a trip and I was happy to wait in the airport for hours until they got us another plane!

If maintenace signed it off as OK (its multiple persons that signs it off), pilot should trust that. Maintenace knows the plane's guts better than the pilot. Pilot should not guess. Hope pilot gets sacked for refusal to work.

Yeah if the pilot isn't feeling safe to fly then I'd trust the pilot. Every day of the week.

Absolutely, I’d 100% take a pilot like that over someone who prioritizes the clock over people. ✈️ That gut feeling isn’t just intuition it’s experience talking. Pilots are trained to respect the aircraft and their own judgment. The moment you ignore that inner alarm, you risk turning a manageable issue into a disaster.

I'm not a pilot, but I drove truck for years. If I felt like something was wrong, the truck was put out of service. It's that simple. The man driving is responsible.

@MonBreeden I go with the pilots instincts

When your soul screams that loud, you should listen.

The pilot decides whether the aircraft is air worthy. Period, full stop, written in stone.

@Klombac My brother was a helicopter pilot for 50 years. He said you can feel it in your ass if something is wrong.

Huge RESPECT..... That is how a Professional is suppose to operate, Pilots even more so because of the responsibility of People on board, himself, his crew and his Equipment. I would as the airline give him a significant raise in pay. 🙏 🙏 🙏

Yes. If the engine temp is trending up, there’s nothing to suggest that it’s going to drop trending up (although it might slow once you’re at altitude). Going into a 6 hour flight over water with one reliable engine if you already know the other one is having problems is nuts.

That’s akin to Refusing to take a nursing handover from the acute sector in the aged care sector because a patient is not fit for discharge to low care. Same principle, patients come first. Good on ‘im

As my flight instructor said, "It's better to be down here wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you were down here." Good call!

Given all the maintenance items that are tracked on a commercial aircraft, I doubt very much that a pilot, who flys in different aircraft all the time, would have a clue as to what maintenance items were due.

@MAC_ARMY1 Rather be on the ground wishing I was up there than up there wishing I was on the ground. For there are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots. 🛫

Rushing usually doesn’t work. You end up skipping steps that often are essential. Be it in a hospital or in a cockpit. Rarely will you hear; “I took 20 seconds to check the oxygen levels, and, finding them depleted, got full tanks so my patient would survive the transport.” Often you’ll hear: ohhh shit this tank is empty! I need to do something immediately, it’s an emergency! Guess which is the better bet.

@EricaRN4USA That’s very theatrical. Commercial airline captains get paid big bucks to make those decisions on every flight. You just do it and stay off the PA. No need to act it out in public.