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Mysticism In The Air
"As the plane begins the takeoff roll, I whirl my finger around in a small circle faster and faster as the plane accelerates down the runway," Stinhagen, 62, of Troy, Mich., says. "My thinking is that this will help keep the engines running as we prepare to climb into the air," he says. "Fortunately, I have not had a situation where this didn't work - at least not yet." Ref. Source 7
I'd imagine that even if someone wasn't pagan they would do their own little ritual before a flight, if they were scared of flying that is. Just watch how some people fidget, take a strong drink or play with their tie or whatever, its like their own ritual.