The woman called the airline incident “spiritual warfare”
Credit: Whitney Lynn/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- An Evangelist claims she was kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight for preaching to her fellow passengers during a delay
- Whitney Lynn called the airline incident “spiritual warfare”
- She claims she has since been banned from flying with Alaska Airlines and its airline affiliates
An Evangelist claims she was kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight for preaching to her fellow passengers during a delay.
The incident occurred before takeoff on Alaska Airlines Flight 708, which was bound for San Diego from Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida on Thursday, July 30, according to the airline.
“Our flight crew became increasingly concerned about a guest’s behavior on board the aircraft, which was also affecting other guests,” a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said in a statement to PEOPLE.
“The passenger was asked to deplane the aircraft for safety reasons,” the spokesperson continued, adding that the traveler will not be permitted to travel on Alaska Airlines flights for “the foreseeable future.”
View this post on Instagram
The woman, Whitney Lynn, later shared a series of videos on Instagram on July 31 about the aircraft incident.
In one, titled “Kicked Off The Plane Part 1!!!” Lynn, 40, can be seen standing in the aisle of the plane while preaching to her fellow passengers.
“I know we’re all waiting. It’s kind of frustrating, this wait … But I wanna tell you that God’s timing is perfect and God knows everything, and maybe he’s sparing her from danger today,” she says.
In a follow-up video, Lynn can be seen being told she must gather her things and follow a man, who appears to be an airline employee.
When Lynn inquires why she is being asked to exit the plane, the man tells her that the crew does not “feel safe” with her onboard.
“I didn’t know the message of Jesus Christ was unsafe,” Lynn responds while gathering her things.
View this post on Instagram
An additional video shows Lynn —who has since described the incident as “spiritual warfare” — exiting the plane and re-entering the airport, where she is met by what appears to be two members of airport security.
Lynn later shared a photo of herself smiling with the security guards, who she said she “got to share Jesus with.” She added that she was able to “pray over them.”
The Orlando Police Department (OPD) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, Aug. 1. MCO, meanwhile, directed PEOPLE to Alaska Airlines and the OPD for comment.
Lynn also shared a message that she claimed was sent to her from Alaska Airlines, in which the company said she was temporarily banned from the airline and its affiliates.
“I am writing to inform you that we have placed a hold on your ability to travel on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air flights,” a representative from Alaska Airlines Corporate Security wrote in the letter allegedly from the airline.
“This decision was made based on reports we received regarding your recent travels with us,” the letter continued.
It added that a final decision regarding whether Lynn can resume flying with the listed airlines again is pending an investigation into the incident.
Credit: Whitney Lynn/Instagram
Lynn said in one post that she successfully converted an airport shuttle driver who took her back to her hotel that day, and she also prayed with a man she later met at the front desk.
“Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand in it all. What seemed like a setback became an opportunity for people to hear the gospel and give their lives to Christ,” she wrote in the post’s caption.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Previously speaking with The Washington Post for a profile on Evangelists who use flight time to preach the word of Jesus, Lynn said she preaches on most flights.
She added that she likes preaching to fellow travelers because they have nowhere else to go. “They have no choice but to hear the truth,” she told the outlet.
“When I have a gift, and I have a life raft, if you’re drowning, I want to give you that life raft so you can be saved,” Lynn added.
Lynn did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Aug. 1.
Read the full article here
