Southwest Airlines is being sued by one of its female pilots for allegedly failing to act against her ex-colleague after an indecent incident in the cockpit.
Aerotime reported that the male captain of the airline stripped inside the cockpit of the plane mid-flight, while the female pilot was present as well. According to AP News, Christine Janning alleges that after she reported Michael Haak’s behavior to the airline and the FBI, the airline grounded her, while Haak continued to work despite an alleged history of sexual misconduct, according to the airline.
Inside the cockpit, there was a lewd act
An incident occurred on a flight between Philadelphia (PHL) and Orlando (MCO) in August 2020. In Janning’s account, Haak told her it would be his last flight before retirement.
Then he stripped naked and locked the cockpit door. During this time, he took photos and videos of himself while watching pornography on his laptop. Despite this, he did not speak with Janning or do anything with him.
Inquiry by the court
Three months after the incident, Janning reported Haak to the FBI, and after an investigation, Haak pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor in May 2021. Haak’s flight wasn’t his last with the airline, however. Haak was sentenced to one year of probation and a $5,000 fine by a US court.
Response of the airline
According to Janning, when she reported the matter to the airline’s management, the investigation had been closed because the captain had retired. In response, she went to the FBI, which charged the captain.
Before returning to active duty, she was grounded for more than three months and required to take simulator training. Additionally, she alleges that Southwest Airlines Pilots Association conspired with Southwest Airlines and did nothing to support her.
