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Home » American Airlines » Pastor Claims American Airlines Banned Him For Preaching The Gospel
American Airlines

Pastor Claims American Airlines Banned Him For Preaching The Gospel

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 24, 2021November 14, 2023 17 Comments

a plane flying through the air

An evangelical pastor has claimed that American Airlines has banned him for preaching the Bible despite holding nearly two million miles on the carrier. But AA insists the pastor refused to comply with its onboard mask policy.

Pastor Mike Gendron Claims He Was Banned From American Airlines Due To False Report From Disgruntled Flight Attendant

Mike Gendron is an evangelical preacher who focuses on apologetics and what he views as the danger of Roman Catholicism. Gendron claims that when checking into his flight from Green Bay (GRB) to Dallas (DFW) via Chicago (ORD) he was told that he could no longer fly American Airlines.

The reason given: he had violated the mask mandate on his outbound journey on American flight 1408 from Dallas to Chicago on April 9th.

Gendron says that he wore his mask during the entire flight.

After being informed of the ban, Gendron reached out to American and “argued” with two customer service representatives, claiming “I did not even have a conversation with any flight attendant except to ask for a cup of water.”

Gendron claims to be a loyal “million miler” American flyer who holds close two million miles with AA (that’s a foolish bet).

“This is indeed a strange way to run an airline and an outrageous and disgraceful way to treat a once loyal, longtime customer.”

In fact, Gendron believes that he has been banned from American Airlines because of a disgruntled flight attendant who filed a false report against him due to his ministry.

“Many are suggesting that one of the Chicago-based flight attendants may have recognized me and my ministry to rescue Catholics from religious deception. Most think this had nothing to do with wearing a mask but more to do with who I am and the ministry I have been directing for over 30 years.”

Apparently he has been using this “warning” slide during his conferences:

a person wearing a mask
source: Reformation Charlotte // note – that’s a Delta flight attendant…

The Flight Report Suggests Otherwise

Live and Let’s Fly has reviewed the report of the flight in incident. There was not one disgruntled flight attendant: the entire crew noted that Gendron boarded the aircraft without a mask and refused to put one on, pointing to a cup of coffee he was holding.

Despite repeated attempts to get Gendron to comply, he refused. During the flight, he repeatedly removed his mask and then kept it off. Flight attendants begged him to put it back on and he would not. Instead, he “preached” about how ridiculous the mask mandate was.

Unsurprisingly, an American Airlines spokesperson declined to provide details, only noting:

American Airlines thoroughly reviewed an incident on April 9 involving one of our customers, Michael Gendron. Due to Mr. Gendron’s refusal to comply with our face covering policy and crewmember instructions, he will not be permitted to fly with us for the duration of the policy.

At American, the safety and well-being of our customers and team members is our top priority. Our face covering requirement has been and will continue to be a critical component of our comprehensive effort to protect our customers and team members throughout the pandemic.

Gendron’s flight ban on American Airlines will remain in effect until the mask mandate is relaxed.

CONCLUSION – A Personal Plea To Pastor Gendron

Hey pastor, your account of what happened does not square with the report. Are you really accusing several flight attendants of lying?

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”

-Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV)

American Airlines currently follows federal guidelines and requires all passengers two years of age and over to wear a mask. As ridiculous as you may find that, that is the rule (see Romans 13).

If you really did refuse to wear your mask and then lie about it, what kind of testimony does that convey?

Always remember Numbers 32:23b:

“Be sure your sin will find you out.”

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. anonymous Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 9:47 am

    People should keep their religion to themselves unless asked about it.

  2. Jan Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 10:14 am

    People like these ruin Christianity

  3. Christian Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 10:18 am

    Without being on the flight it’s hard to know what really happened, feel like the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. However I agree Matt. If he wants to win people for the gospel this doesn’t seem like the most effective way to do it.

    James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness

  4. Ben Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 10:29 am

    @anonymous

    Why is that?

  5. Paolo Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 10:37 am

    Bring back the vow of poverty as an enforceable requirement for religious practitioners and watch the unholy rush for the exit…

  6. Wes Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 11:09 am

    I don’t doubt that AA screwed this guy based on their unabashed love for the political left. Not saying I’d like to be preached to in the course of flying, but I don’t think it’s a “cancelable” offense.

    The huge corporations are de facto extensions of the leftist Federal government.

  7. Steve Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    Evangelical preacher!? And??
    I don’t need to hear anything further.
    He and his ilk should keep their nutty views to themselves!
    Take Greyhound going forward.
    Better yet, walk! WWJD?

  8. ValTN Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    I am not sure I would use and apply your choice of scriptures in this particular example and context but I would not entirely disagree either. There is a bigger evil of “celebrity culture,” hiding in plain sight; and we all may be a party to it, directly or implicitly. See the tweet today by @K_A_Ellis. If you allow link, here is the tweet

    https://twitter.com/K_A_Ellis/status/1385981061012856838?s=20

  9. Christian Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    @Jan +1

    The guy obviously has no problem with blatantly lying. That tells me all I need to know about his supposed following the teachings of Jesus. Hypocritical lying hate mongers like him give any religion a bad name. Perhaps he should read the 10 Commandments, IIRC God said something on the subject of bearing false witness.

  10. Jackson Waterson Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    Air travel is a federally regulated industry. Flight attendants nor government agents should be able to ban anyone without due process and a judicial process in which a person can defend him or herself and challenge a ban. Freedom of movement for citizens and legitimate tourists is a human right within a country. The false case of the ban (not wearing mask for a small portion of the flight allegedly) is unconstitutional. It is cruel and unusual to ban someone from air travel because he or she did not wear piece of fabric over the mouth and nose for few minutes. As I have said, air travel is federally regulated and there is no freedom for people to create airline without government approval and without going through a rigorous licensing process. That means an airline or airline employees should not be able to ban people unilaterally. It’s one thing to kick someone off a plane or for the airline to ban a person after multiple documentable incidents over multiple flights (problem passengers like habitual violent alcoholics or etc). It’s another thing to ban for someone not wearing a mask for few minutes.

    Whites and Christians and men endure an open season as it is now in vogue to persecute whites despite whites creating and developing nearly every technological innovation and every modern comfort. Whites are now attacked because they look pretty on average, have higher IQs than some other groups on average, and commit a low amount of violent crime compared to some other groups. I wouldn’t put it past American Airlines to take the side of evil over respecting religious freedom and christians.

  11. Bill n DC Reply
    April 24, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    Great Bible quotes Hypocrisy is a long christian tradition ;-(

  12. Dale Reply
    April 25, 2021 at 3:53 am

    I agree 100%. That said, if his story is not truthful then he has another problem. Telling a false story…lying…is NOT OK.

  13. Bob M Reply
    April 25, 2021 at 6:48 am

    A lying man of God? I don’t believe that could be possible. Next thing you’ll be telling me is that some priests rape children.

  14. Andy K Reply
    April 25, 2021 at 9:07 pm

    Those are some great “gotcha” verses, Matthew, but have you ever considered how a real Christian would respond?

    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10.

  15. Frank Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 11:30 am

    Private companies do not and never will require due process, Jackson. If you don’t like what someone is doing with their private property, don’t give them your business. Jackson, you are a hypocrite. You want to be able to do whatever you want with your property but AA is not allowed to do whatever they want with theirs? And seriously, the racist crap at the end? WTF? Are you a moron? You realize white males commit the majority of crimes in the US? Do the world a favor and log off! Lean out over the plate and take one for the team.

  16. Bob M Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    @Jackson Waterson. If anybody attacks whites it is not because they are “pretty, smarter & less violent”. Obviously, you are not smart to make such an illogical, unsubstantiated statement.
    People attack whites, especially male ones, because in spite of all the privileges you enjoy, you insist you are under attack when all others want is to share your privileges – not remove them. And the prospect of a level playing field scares you.
    And why should AA respect Christians? Good passengers will earn respect. Mask deniers, anti-vaccine nuts, orthodox believers who won’t sit next to the opposite sex, genital mutilators, etc, etc, don’t get to set the rules just because you are pious and gullible. You get to fly thanks to science, not the Bible. Wake up!

  17. susie beaird Reply
    May 1, 2021 at 2:05 pm

    This was a plot to discredit him. He did not lie and was witnessed by passengers around him. This is a sad state of our Nation but never fear God will turn this for good. Please pray for the AA people who have done this that they would desire to step up with the truth of the matter and make their hearts right. Our HIStory shows what happens when people step up against God. You might want to do a little research AA.

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