Workplace discrimination
A Southwest Airlines pilot is suing the airline, her union and a former co-worker who pleaded guilty over a 2020 incident in which he exposed his genitals and watched pornography during a flight.
Christine Janning alleges in the lawsuit that the airline retaliated against her after she reported the former pilot, Michael Haak, to the company and the FBI. She claims that the airline kept her grounded and that the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association conspired with Southwest Airlines and did not support her after the incident.
Janning is suing Haak on accusations of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act and was sentenced to probation and a $5,000 fine. Haak admitted at the time that after a flight from Philadelphia to Orlando, Florida, reached its cruising altitude, Haak got out of the pilot’s seat, disrobed and watched pornography on a laptop, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland.
Janning filed the lawsuit last week in Orange County, Florida. Court documents say Janning alleges that Haak said there was “something” he wanted to do on the flight before retiring, then bolted the door of the cockpit, exposed himself and watched pornography. Janning alleges Haak took several photos and videos of himself and encouraged her to also take photos, which she did “in order to create a record.”
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Haak’s attorney, Michael Salnick, told USA TODAY that Janning asked Haak if there was something he wanted to do before he retired, “and that’s how he ended up flying naked.” At his sentencing hearing last year, Haak called the incident “a consensual prank.”
Janning accused Haak of masturbating after exposing himself. Salnick denied the accusation.
Among other allegations, Janning also claimed that after reporting the incident in November 2020, she was told that because Haak had retired, Southwest’s investigation was closed. She then went to the FBI, which charged the former pilot.
Janning said she was grounded for more than three months, which cost her a portion of her salary. She said she also was required to take “unnecessary” training before working again.
She also claimed that her union, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, did not advocate on her behalf, though its leaders did write a letter to Haak’s judge that said he had a “spotless” record.
USA TODAY has reached out to the union for comment. Southwest Airlines, in a statement to USA TODAY, said that “Southwest Airlines takes all matters related to workplace conduct very seriously, with a well-defined policy and process for harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims.”
“Our corporate Culture is built upon treating others with mutual respect and dignity, and we plan to vigorously defend against allegations made in this recent complaint.”
Contributing: The Associated Press