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Southwest Airlines suspends, reinstates pilot after profanity-laced rant
Southwest Airlines confirms that it suspended a pilot who was caught ranting over air traffic control channels in a profane, misogynistic and homophobic manner. The event, originally reported by CBS 2 in Houston, states that the pilot's speech on March 25 tied up frequencies for other pilots in the area.CBS 2 (see the video reporting on the incident) says the unidentified pilot "could be heard talking to his co-pilot in the cockpit, expressing frustration over the airline hiring so many flight attendants that he found to be unsuitable for dating." "A continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes," the pilot could be heard saying from the cockpit via the Houston Center air traffic control frequency.
Apparently, the pilot didn't take into account that he himself might not be date-able (he complains that he couldn't get laid because women he took to a bar just wanted to complain). He also ignored an air traffic controller who tried to interrupt the rant at several points. [Listen to the audio here]
The pilot bemoans his station in Houston, saying that the base has "just a handful of cute chicks."
CBS 2 reported that air traffic control sent the tape to the Federal Aviation Administration, who in turn forwarded the tape to Southwest Airlines for review. The FAA confirmed that the conversation did take place at a time when personal conversations were permitted in the cockpit.
Southwest issued an e-mail statement to CBS2, stating: "we've built our Company's reputation on the Golden Rule: treating others as you would like to be treated. The actions of this pilot are, without question, inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect that we require from our Employees." The pilot was suspended without pay, but has been allowed to return to duty after undergoing diversity training.
What do you think? Is Southwest that short on pilots that this one should have been allowed to return?
[USA Today also reported on this issue.]
[Flickr via Kevin Coles]
Filed under: Stories, Airlines, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
John Jun 22nd 2011 12:30PM
Obviously an idiot that didn't realize his mike was "keyed". What he says in the cockpit is a matter between he and his co-pilot, what is aired to the World is another matter. I don't think his feelings about his dating situation is relevant to his flying abilities unless he gets so horny that he decides to end it all. Let me know what his schedule is?
George V. Williams Jun 22nd 2011 12:46PM
Unfortunately, it is -- and has been -- comments, and the associated attitudes, of thinking such as yours, that encourages, and further supports, this very kind of 'White Boy' thinking, (thank you Gary, for the term). The inevitable result is that it keeps right on happening, the seeming approval of the management at Southwest, and your own non-grammatical problems notwithstanding..
Mort Carmichael Jun 23rd 2011 3:31AM
Should be "between him" but my undergrad Eng prof would say between the co-pilot and him is better
Nona Jun 22nd 2011 4:04PM
Thank you , George V. Williams, for your stinky little racist comment. Thank you for exposiing yourself and your small-minded stupidity, so that we may all ignore your posts in the future.
Judy Jun 22nd 2011 4:05PM
It is true. There are too many queer flight attendants.
Slander Jun 23rd 2011 10:43AM
Boy if you people only knew what was said and done in the cockpit. All of this has nothing to do with the skill of the pilots operating the airplane.
Haggar Jun 23rd 2011 10:51AM
The only thing he's guilty of is having a "key'd" mike. His conversation is no different from similar conversations held between a hundred thousand men each and every day. Don't women have similar conversations about their dating and how well their men stack up?
Most pilots are manly macho types and I sincerely doubt that they talk about flowers, undies and grocery shopping in what is supposed to be a private chat.
Chuck Jun 22nd 2011 12:43PM
As John says, it's a matter between him and his copilot; but he should have made sure his mike was not on. His flying ability is paramount; but his maturity level is also pertinent, and he sounds like a teenager who never grew up.
Carol Jun 22nd 2011 2:36PM
But can he fly? That's what I care about. His comments, while rude and juvenile, are not all that unusual. What disturbs me is that this idiot was not attentive to the cockpit instruments if he didn't notice that his mike was keyed. He was also endangering other people on other flights by tying up the air control frequency. Pilots are not highly educated gentlepersons, they are (hopefully) talented in a very difficult skill. For an analogy, look at the behavior of pro athletes, they may be great at their sport, but awful, rude, and obnoxious individuals.
allie Jun 22nd 2011 4:54PM
Carol- why is it exactly that you think pilots are not 'highly educated'? is a bachelors degree or higher, plus hundreds of hours of training not considered by you to be enough to be 'highly educated'? flying IS a skill yes, and it is learned through a pretty rigorous educational process. unfortunately, just as in any HIGHLY EDUCATED profession, education does not automatically mean that someone will also learn how to not be crass and rude.
Charmaine Jun 22nd 2011 1:06PM
And this is a surprise WHY???? In the early '90s, you had to pay more for a Southwest flight if you were larger than the average bear. I wouldn't fly with that airline if my life depended on it - and that's no joke. The idea of forcing me to buy two seats because I might be in someone's space, or be penalized because of others' fears of big people is ridiculous - so this is no surprise. People pretend to be fair and that they do not judge otheres - well wake up, world. Those of us who are different know that's a bunch of bullsh**.
Alex Jun 22nd 2011 1:03PM
How is it fair to the person sitting next to you if they have to be uncomfortable sitting in a partial seat for an entire flight because you can't fit into yours?
The Infadel Jun 22nd 2011 1:15PM
Why should anyone be forced to set next to someone that is spilling over into their seat and space that they paid for? If you can't fit in the seat your assigned then you should be charged for 2 seats. I used to fly quite often and would make a big stink to the stewardess until either I was moved or the fatty was moved.
junior Jun 22nd 2011 1:17PM
Why should I share my seat that I paid for, with you? So if you can't fit into one, do yourself a favor and learn how to eat right and exercise.
Caryn Jun 22nd 2011 1:32PM
What people do not realize because they are too busy being offended at somebody pointing out the obvious, is that the COS (Customer of Size) policy exsists not only for the comfort of all passengers, but also for safety reasons. Each passenger is assigned an average weight so that a safe flying weight for the aircraft can be figured. If you obviously weigh double the average, I for one want you to be counted as 2 people so the aircraft does not go out overweight. This is also the reason Southwest will refund your second ticket if the plane goes out with even one empty seat (other than the 2 you occupy). As for the pilot, I think being responsible for the lives of hundreds of people daily calls for outstanding character, which he clearly did not display. I would feel safer if he was not reinstated.
canwebesure Jun 22nd 2011 1:49PM
What are you trying to say please. One ticket pays for one seat. If a person is so fat, a 300 pound plus slob, with gobs of flowing fat spilling over into other seats, hundred pound arms so fat that they have no nerve fibers and can't feel that they are ouzing onto a person next to them, that with the arm rest or divider down they can't get into the seat even with a shoe horn and need to be buttered in order to slide into their one seat----then they are taking up more than the one seat they have paid for. Just like excess baggage these gross individuels should be paying for two seats and in many cases three seats.
SALLY Jun 22nd 2011 2:11PM
Southwest is the very best airline out there. I speak with some knowledge as my husband worked for an airline and we have traveled extensively on different lines. SW's personell are always very attentive and congeniel. The seats are roomier than most airlines. The piolet made a really dumb mistake but I feel the punishment fit the crime.
Ruth Jun 22nd 2011 5:56PM
Fear of fat people. You don't know how ignorant and prejudiced you sound. I'm sure someone could take all of that venom you just spewed and turn it against you. You're not perfect, something about you annoys someone somewhere, I'd like to be around to hear what they have to say to you. The airlines charge more because they can get away with it. Just like they now charge for carry-on luggage.
What does fear of fat people have to do with an idiot who can't find anyone "to do" at a bar? I don't care how much experience he has, how skilled he is or how educated he is, he's a moron. He left his mike on and spilled his personal business all over the airwaves. Didn't even stop when traffic control tried to give him a heads up. What else doesn't he pay attention to?
charmaine Jun 22nd 2011 1:32PM
Oh, and one more thing.....why does it matter if his mike was keyed or not? That is not the issue - the issue is that human beings can degrade themselves in such a manner and can be so hurtful. It is a sad commentary. I feel sorry for this pilot...he must be in a lot of emotional pain, albeit he thinks it is physical pain because he can't get laid - love to see this guy.
joeycaptjoey Jun 22nd 2011 1:03PM
where did thay ever come up with homophobic? phobic means fear of. just because a person says something negitive about gays they are homophobic, i dont believe the people who make negitive statments are afraid of gays. what to be afraid of?