AMMAN, JORDAN (Catholic Online) - The Air France plane was scheduled to land in Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday, but was forced to divert to Amman, Jordan, after dangerous protests near that airport made landing unsafe. The plane carrying 174 passengers was diverted to Larnaca in Cyprus. When that destination proved to be too far, the captain was granted emergency permission to land in Damascus.

Unfortunately, despite a safe landing, sanctions prevented the airport from using the company credit card to obtain fuel. That's when the captain decided to see if he could raise cash from passengers to buy gas.

Passengers in first class, mostly French and Lebanese, were the first to be asked if they could give anything.

Passengers had a strong incentive to hand over what they could, since many were fearful after being warned to keep their windows blinded and not to take any pictures. Eventually, the captain managed to raise the equivalent of $17,000 before being informed that Air France officials had contacted the airport and resolved the situation.

In the end, the captain took no money from the passengers.

During refueling, passengers were advised to unbuckle their seat belts in the event the plane caught fire during refueling, to facilitate evacuation, a warning that made the situation only more uncomfortable.

At least one passenger who did peek through his window reported seeing the aircrew haggling with airport officials.

Air France later said the captain's efforts to raise cash were only precautionary.

After two hours, the plane flew to Cyprus as planned, and twenty hours later, made it to Beirut, Lebanon. 

French officials say they are upset with Air France for landing their plane in Damascus, given the animosity between the French government and the Assad regime.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.