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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 5 of 5)
cliff Jun 23rd 2011 6:32AM
Leave the guy be, he was talking in an approved time and what he said was probably the truth so he has a right to say it! His only mistake was not checking to see if his mike was on! Good luck to this guy in finding dates and who gives a shit about what the gays say!!
Gerry Jun 23rd 2011 7:37AM
The first amendment protects speech, you don't have to like the speech but he has a right to opine about anything. He just shed a little light on his character which could affect him personally, but is of no relevance to others or South West. He cannot be punished excessively for excersizing his right under the first amendment.
Judy Jun 23rd 2011 7:53AM
I don't care what the pilot says as long as he's skilled at what he does! Too many people don't realize the pilot pool is hired from military jet jocks just out of fighter pilot duty. These guys are wild and say what they think...life is short. So what do you expect? All I care about is how well he can handle the plane if there is ever an emergency. In the news you hear about some commercial pilot hero and if you look into his background you will see he flew military for many many years prior to joining the commercial carrier.
Captain Voss Jun 23rd 2011 8:14AM
Actually, the simple reason that the pilot cannot get any action is because he is obnoxious. As far as homosexual men being Flight Attendents, they are usually great with the passengers. I am sure that the rest of the Flight Crew were thinking "loser" while he was trying to explain why he could not get any action.
Judy Jun 23rd 2011 8:26AM
Dear Southwest Airlines Pilot who said some tacky things,
Do not expect any hot coffee in the cockpit ANYtime soon!!
john Jun 23rd 2011 8:26AM
I think the pilot has every right to his own opinion and since he stated it at a time when "personal" conversation was permitted, the airline had no right to suspend him in the first place.
lambeautundra Jun 23rd 2011 8:33AM
WHAT'S UP WITH THE AIRLINES LATELY? AND THESE ARTICLES ARE JUST FROM TODAY. MORE COMING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, I'M SURE.
1. SOUTHWEST pilots complain about a lack of what they consider "acceptable" women to date -- all over an open mike.
2. US AIRWAYS allows men in women's underwear allowed to fly.
3. SPIRIT AIRLINES is introducing a $5 boarding pass fee.
4. "DELTA AIRLINES Passenger Pissed About Urine-Soaked Luggage."
igor Jun 23rd 2011 8:50AM
well, I happen to be a male gay flight attendant ( and no, not all male flight attendants are gay!) and I can honestly tell you that we complain about the same thing. most pilots are unnattractive and old. it's very rare to fly with a cute pilot and most of us dread even dealing with them. we make fun of them just as much as they make fun of us. they usually have no personalty, unnattractive and old. even the young ones are not that cute. the only thing they have going for them is their salary. that's the only reason why anyone would be interested in them. most of them don't even have college degrees. ok, I'll stop ranting now . LOL
skip Jun 23rd 2011 8:58AM
What about free speech? Stuck mikes happen all the time. He has a right to his opinion. That conversation should never have been released by the FAA. This political correctness is a bunch of crap. The airlines have degraded to buslike modes of transportation since the "wonderful" addition of deregulation. It costs a fortune to operate an airliner. It used to be people that flew had some class and cabin crews looked trim and were friendly. That's our government at work screwing up everything it touches. By the way, pilots are highly educated,trained, and are often men with combat experience. They put their ass on the line to defend America. More than the liberal weenies that criticize have ever done..
LJ Jun 23rd 2011 9:33AM
He was talking to his co-pilot, not "broadcasting" intentionally. Like it or not we still have free speech in the USA. I think he should be repremanded for tying up frequencies for other pilots,even though that was accidental but NOT for what he said. This is not the USSR. People have many opinions that others do not like. It does not mean they are not entitled to say what they think.
Ron Jun 23rd 2011 9:21AM
"He also ignored an air traffic controller who tried to interrupt the rant at several points." This statement shows a complete lack of understanding of how two-way radio communications work. If the pilot's mic was keyed, he wouldn't be able to hear any other transmissions. That's just how it works. He wasn't ignoring the air traffic controller. He couldn't hear the controller.
Dick Jun 23rd 2011 9:53AM
This man should be grounded permanently. He may be a good pilot but I want to fly with a pilot who is mature enough to handle the flight and any emergency that may arise. I doubt that this man was in total control of the plane. He was more interested in his rant about gays and not getting laid than in paying attention to the controls. Codos to the copilot who tried several times to get the pilots attention focused on flying the plane. He should have been the pilot.
TS Jun 23rd 2011 10:40AM
Idiot!!! But so typical of the "pilot" attitude!!!
joe Jun 23rd 2011 10:52AM
The question to me is why the f*** is the airline able to discriminate and hire 10 out of 11 people that are homoisexual ? and it is not one airline , it seems like its all of them.
No wonder when I applied for a job I didnt hear back from them.
Maybe its time to slap a good old law suit on the airlines.
I would imagine in this politically cowardice world, not many would even question the hiring process unless it hired to many white men !
Rob Jun 23rd 2011 11:12AM
Be tolerant, y'all.. Boys will be boys. Charmain, hey gurl, I took some flying lessons, does that give me a pass?
anom Jun 23rd 2011 11:11AM
He should be on the show "The Bachelor"................................................................ I'm sure the show can find him some other stewardess of the oppisite sex that are looking for a male partner!!! Maybe he feels a need to spend his life with a woman who shares his career interest an who likes to travel!!! His feelings could be the same of any woman that lives in a city (I won't say which one) who can't find a date so easily because most of the male population is gay- she might curse such a thing as well but loves the city as the pilot loves his job!!! I don't think it should offend anyone that he voiced his hurt feelings about how his chances of getting what he desires in his current environment is slim. If the woman are gay and others are fat then he is stating what he sees around him. I am sure the pilot knows deep down that it is not the fault of the people he ranted on about- he just wanted someone to blame- Maybe the people who personally know the pilot may think he is the ugliest man alive and even if they are straight would not go out with him...He needs to be on the bachelor or get busy with dating agencies where he may find an airline employed straight female to his liking.
GIGI Jun 23rd 2011 1:02PM
People talk, who knows what is being said in trains, busses, ect. He should have turned his mike off. He should be oncentrating on flying the plane. You can't be in there with them 24/7. As long as he is a good pilot, just disreguard what he says. Everyone gossips, and talks. It is just not good that everyone on the plane could hear him, and that he ignored, the Traffic Controller, telling him that they could hear everything. He just did not think. GIGI
Steve Spensley Jun 23rd 2011 9:12PM
Any comments of any personal being, however they are in life , ( sexual, gender, weight bearing ) should be their own personal preference..... Not one that commands a aircraft. Hopefully one day Mr Pilot won't need their assistance.... if it were me, he'd be the last to assit. But no worries, will never fly Southworst again
ExNavyWavy Jul 30th 2011 6:07PM
Yes, it is degrading to just about everyone this guy seems to have come in contact with.
What I find LOL, however, is the fact that he seems to think that he is deserving of "chicks" with hotness and that the rest of the humbled masses should consider it a privilege to be in the presence of his magic totem.
If this is not an ex-Navy fighter pilot, I will eat my hat.