The F-16 toy Bjorn Thorpe bought his son for Christmas came with an unexpected feature: Islamic prayers.
The Washington state man purchased a toy jet from Amazon.com, expecting it to blast sounds of missiles and afterburners. The toy, created by China-based WolVol, instead sounded like its pilot was headed to Mecca.
"This is a prayer you're supposed to say when you're performing Hajj," Nadeem Israr, president of the Islamic Society of Whatcom County, told Seattle's KING-TV on Monday.
All Muslims are required to make at least one pilgrimage to the holy site in Saudi Arabia before they die.
Thorpe, who lives in Whatcom County, said he put batteries in the device Christmas morning and "did not get what we expected."
The Thorpe family was not alone.
"Not as advertised. Does not play jet noises. Plays an Arabic chant that is extremely bizarre for a child's toy," wrote one Amazon reviewer Dec. 26.
"Very loud Middle Eastern chanting and music! It's weird and scary. This is a very un-American product! I was expecting jet noises. NOT this! The toy is dirty as well. I'm sending it back if I can find the box!" added reviewer Holly Drahms on Tuesday.
WolVol told the NBC affiliate that its manufacturer must have made a mistake.
Amazon did not respond to the station's request for comment.
"I do respect other religions, but it’s not the right situation to have it on a children’s toy," said Thorpe.