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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 4 of 5)
kickedbackandrelaxed Jun 22nd 2011 3:33PM
I guess you could say he had a bad day...someone needs to get a prostitute for him maybe that'll cheer the fella up!
greg Jun 22nd 2011 4:04PM
"do you ever wanna get away"?
steven tramz Jun 22nd 2011 4:10PM
I think the days when pilots could treat the airplane staff as a harem are done...especially with the objections the pilot had to his "pickens." Something needs to be fixed in the communications area between the airport controllers and the planes. This is not what I or any other passenger wants to be happening in the cockpit and then the control tower.
eggy Jun 22nd 2011 4:05PM
sensitive arent wee ! wee wee wee
jabawaba Jun 22nd 2011 5:08PM
As if nobody has ever made comments that we wish they could take back. Nobody would be working if they fired everyone. Mandatory classes are enough. We send murderers and robbers to jail and give them a second chance when they get out. Are we all that thin skinned these days?
basketpam Jun 22nd 2011 4:12PM
Did it ever occur to this IDIOT that the airline is NOT there to act as his own private pimp or escort agency? Anyone who is this immature and irresponsible has NO place in the cockpit or an airline. This is a position that requires EXTREME good common sense, excellent judgement, the ability to maintain calm under ALL situations. Obviously his mind was NOT on flying the plane, it was on his unsatisfied sexlife. That provides me with NO confidence as to whom this airline may have flying a plane in the future. If this is the type of person they hire, I think I'll find another company. I also want to know why AOL is deleting perfectly respectable comments from people. Since when did we have to suffer censorship in this country for our opinions? You can still make out what these comments have written and so far, the ones I've seen that have been "deleted" have NO reason why they've been struck off. You know, every day I think this country can't get any sicker and then I read about this garbage. It scares me how messed up far too many people are in this country. Just read the comments and see how many think what this guy did was fine. Now if that ain't a sign, I don't know what is.
Jester Jun 22nd 2011 5:47PM
Shut up Basketpam!!! Listen to your self righteous rant. These are people flying these planes. They have good days and bad days like the rest of us. They are not perfect like yourself. You don't have bad days, and are perfect all the time! Cut the crap! The guy probably had a crappy day, and decided to vent. His only mistake was that he didn't realize his mic was on. He didn't crash the plane! A simple verbal reprimand would have sufficed. For all you know he may be an excellent pilot. As far as the gay comment. It was not in any way homophobic. They hire more gays, and he does not date gays. Get off your high horse, and worry about being a better person, and not passing harsh judgement on others unjustly!
Gerry314 Jun 23rd 2011 7:37AM
BasketPam, you chastise AOL for "censorship" stating peoples opinions deserve to posted, yet want to hang this pilot for inadvertenly having his opinions broadcast over an open mic. What is it? Do people have the right to express themselves? Or should some opinions be subject to penalty? Make up your mind.
Tony Jun 22nd 2011 4:14PM
If the flight attendants female service this poor pilot in flight he won't be so up set... Most female attendants are ok looking..
joeycaptjoey Jun 22nd 2011 10:55PM
amen to that
Richhard Jun 22nd 2011 4:16PM
If the flight attendants female service this poor pilot in flight he won't be so up set... Most female attendants are ok looking..
anoushkafrappe Jun 22nd 2011 4:36PM
So the pilot can't stand gays. What's so wrong with that? The man is entitled to his opinion. I wouldn't want to be a pilot flying with a bunch of gays 'manning' - I know it's quite a stretch to use that term here - my aircraft either. This whole movement to shove gays and their aberrant and abhorrent life-style down the throats of the rest of the public is absolutely disgusting. Stand your ground Fly Boy. Don't give these sashaying pansies an INCH!
john Jun 22nd 2011 5:10PM
At least he was keeping the controllers awake. Laughing, and awake.
Jim Jun 22nd 2011 5:46PM
This pilot is obviously not fit to fly because his brain is too small to be responsible for so many passengers lives. However, this guy is a lot of things but how can he be a misogynist when he complains of unattractive women at work and not about women in general or their having jobs. He simply wants to date flight attendants.
Meg Judice Jun 22nd 2011 5:48PM
Let's see: Freedom of Speech is A-okay, as long as you don't say anything that might contradict or offend anyone else. Right? I can agree that his rant was unprofessional, and certainly inappropriate, and perhaps warrants a suspension, but it certainly is not worthy of losing his job. Of course, if he's been reprimanded for this before, then this particular rant is no longer on point.
Benwa Jun 22nd 2011 6:05PM
When was the last time that you saw a good-looking, female flight attendant less than 45 years-old? I haven't one in more than 20 years. Not sure about the gay guy thing though. They seem relatively hetero to me.
Tena Jun 22nd 2011 6:52PM
I really can't believe they allowed this man to return. He sounds like an extremely unhappy individual, who doesn't even like himself much. I think he owes the viewing/listening public an apology.
Also, how can a person receive diversity training in 24 hours? I think he needs more than that.
Walt Darran Jun 22nd 2011 8:44PM
Come on, get real! The guy sounds perfectly normal, which is more than you can say about the perverts he is bemoaning.
He's right; hardly worth flying any more. Most of the stews are either old, fat, ugly, or queer. Not like the 2 that I married.
Ah for the good old days!
Jan Jun 22nd 2011 9:10PM
I am not going to comment on the pilot airing his frustrations, but am going to direct my comments to those making disparaging remarks about fat people. I invite you to visit fatdisorders.org for an education. It is not only food and lack of exercise that can make you fat. There are incredibly painful diseases that can produce fat, along with many other complications. So please don't lump all those that carry excess fat as lazy and overeaters. That may be the cause of some obesity, but certainly is not applicable to everyone who is obese.
ZO Jun 23rd 2011 1:30AM
This is a private conversation made public– the kind that makes us wonder how much discrimination lives on in subtle ways in our hyper-P.C. climate. If I was a Southwest flight attendant, I might be surprised to hear what was coming out of my pilot’s mouth, but that doesn’t mean I should listen.
To repeat one of my favorite RuPaul-ism, what other people think about us is none of our business.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/06/southwest-airline-pilot-broadcasts-rant-against-gay-flight-attendants-accidentally/