The pilot who had a mental breakdown aboard a JetBlue flight from JFK to Las Vegas yesterday has been a pilot for most of his professional life, and flown 35 different types of aircraft. Captain Clayton Osbon, 49, is a Wisconsin native who's been flying for JetBlue since 2000. JetBlue CEO Dave Barger told the "Today" show this morning that Osbon is a "consummate professional" whom he has "personally known" for years, adding that there was nothing in his record to indicate that he would start foaming out the mouth and running around the cabin screaming about a bomb, al Qaeda, the plane going down, and the urgent need for everyone to "say the Lord's prayer." more ›

Four Long Island teens were given suspensions from Riverhead High School this week for Tebowing (the act of getting down on one knee and praying, ala Denver Broncos very religious QB Tim Tebow). The kids thought the suspensions were unfair (two were later rescinded), and yesterday, more than a dozen students protested outside the school. And now Tebow himself has commented on the situation: "I think it does show courage from the kids, standing out and doing that, and some boldness.’’ more ›

In the video below, a group of non-New Yorkers burst into singing and praying in unison while waiting for the subway to arrive in Times Square. Their effervescent shouts of "encore!" leave the New Yorkers in the foreground looking decidedly unenthusiastic. But assuming that they were praying for the N/Q/R to arrive, it seems their prayers were answered, so maybe we should pay a little more attention to this whole Flying Spagetti Monster thing. Perhaps there really is a higher power than the MTA involved in all of our comings and goings. more ›

Should flight attendants have to be fluent in religious rituals? We wonder because for the second time in a little more than a year a flight has been disturbed when Orthodox Jews praying with tefillin were confused with terrorists getting ready to terrorize. Last January a flight out of LaGuardia was diverted to Philly over the prayer ritual and then yesterday a similar confusion struck an Alaska Airlines flight from Mexico City to LA. After concerns were raised the airplane was swarmed by police, FBI and customs agents when it landed at LAX. more ›

Everyone knows IHOP (there are plenty in the boroughs) for their pancakes, but what about for their prayer? Yeah, not so much, and they will never be known for their prayer if IHOP has anything to do with it. The pancake house is serving up a hot plate of lawsuit to the International House of Prayer for trademark dilution and infringement. The restaurant has been around since 1973, while the Kansas City church has only been around since 1999... though we're pretty sure Jesus came before the Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity. more ›

Forget harsh words and gory images—the pro-life movement has a peaceful new persona. As part of the “40 days for life” campaign legions of anti-abortion protesters from around the country are holding a vigil outside a Bronx women’s clinic. Bearing rosaries and signs, that read “Abortion Stops a Beating Heart,” they arrived at Dr. Emily Women’s Health Center February 17, and have returned eight hours per day, every day since, reports the News. They’re expected to stay put until closing next Sunday. "We offer them prayer, literature, roses and chocolates," said Chris Slattery, president of Christian-based Expectant Mother Care Frontline Pregnancy Centers. He calls the Bronx “the abortion capitol of America." more ›

Reports started coming across the wire earlier this morning that a flight out of LaGuardia Airport was being diverted to Philadelphia due to a bomb scare involving a passenger "who has wires strapped to his head and fingers." Turns out, there wasn't really a bomb on board, instead the plane was diverted because "an orthodox Jewish male put on customary 'tefilin' (sic) straps for his morning prayers." more ›

Two Jewish entrepreneurs have developed software that can turn an average BlackBerry into a sacred prayer book. They've dubbed their upgrade "The JewBerry," and have sold it to over 10,000 customers for $30 a pop, according to the Post. Co-creator Jonathan Bennett explains the appeal: "Throughout the day, Jews gather in office-building stairwells and conference rooms to pray, and while sometimes you might not remember your prayer book, no one goes anywhere without their BlackBerry." more ›

An unidentified man was forcibly removed from a United Airlines at JFK before it took off last night because he wouldn’t sit down and stop praying. A San Francisco author named Ori Brafman, who was on the flight, told WNBC the Orthodox Jewish man ignored instructions from flight attendants to remain in his seat. During the minutes before take off, he walked to the back of the plane to pray, and when he continued to defy attendants' orders, they summoned airport security. more ›