While I see the reasons for this NOT being okay, and personally don't think it is as huge of a deal as everyone is making it out to be, I just wanted to address the whole "You'd freak out if you were on that plane!!!" shenanigans.

I feel as if, if I was a passenger on the plane and the PILOT himself was "in on it" and sounded as calm and not shocked as the pilot in the recording did, I would not be like "OMG THERE IS A CHILD IN THE TOWER?!?!!@!>" I'd just be like "Haha, that's cute. That dad will get a #1 Dad mug for Fathers Day this year!"