"The Situation On The Flight Was Tense"

Was it insensitive... or an understandable reaction, given current security jitters? There are arguments on both sides -- after a Hassidic Jew was removed from an Air Canada Jazz flight September 1, after passengers complained about the way he prayed in his seat before takeoff.

The man reportedly lurched in his seat, moving back and forth as he prayed silently -- a common practice for traditional Hassids.

A spokesman for the airline told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp several passengers complained to the flight attendant of the man's erratic behavior as the plane taxied for takeoff from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, bound for New York.

"The passenger did not speak English or French, so we really had no choice but to return to the gate to secure a translator," Jazz spokesman Manon Stewart said. "The situation on the flight was tense. More than one passenger complained about him. The crew had no choice but to be considerate to the other passengers."

The plane returned to the gate, and the man was then escorted off the plane -- a move Jewish leaders in Montreal called astounding, and insensitive.

"If it's something that you're praying in your own seat and not taking over the whole plane, I don't think it should be a problem," said Hasidic Rabbi Ronny Fine, adding he often prays on airplanes in a similar fashion -- and explains his actions to his fellow travelers.

In reaction to the incident, B'nai Brith Canada offered to give Air Canada crews sensitivity training.

One passenger said he was also taken aback by the incident.

"He was clearly a Hasidic Jew," said Yves Faguy to CBC. "He had some sort of cover over his head. He was reading from a book."

"The attendant actually recognized out loud that he wasn't a Muslim and that she was sorry for the situation but they had to ask him to leave," Faguy added.

FMI: www.flyjazz.ca, www.bnaibrith.ca