
With reinforced doors, no one would have entered without being granted access.
He must have been turned in by the other Southwest pilot in the cockpit. The flight was from Philadelphia to Orlando but the pilot is charged in Maryland federal court, applying District of Columbia law. The venue and law that seems to apply here. Two things are interesting about this awkward event. Our corporate Culture is built upon treating others with mutual respect and dignity, and the events alleged in this situation are inconsistent with the behavior that we require of our Employees. Southwest Airlines takes all matters related to workplace conduct very seriously, with a well-defined policy and reporting process for harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims. The event was recently brought to our attention and we’ve cooperated with the appropriate outside agencies as they investigate. The Pilot in question is no longer Employed by Southwest Airlines and departed the Company last year prior to us becoming aware of the matter. On or about August 10, 2020, on an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, namely Southwest Airlines Flight WN 6607, of which he was the pilot in command, the defendant, MICHAEL HAAK, intentionally committed an act of lewd, indecent and obscene exposure of his genitals in a public place…Īccording to the indictment, “he acts began, continued and were completed while the aircraft was in flight” so that’s good information to know. His departure had nothing to do with the incident for which he’s currently facing charges. The pilot is no longer employed by the airline, likely having taken a buyout during the pandemic. The Federal Aviation Administration reported in a news release that it has received nearly 2,500 reports of unruly behavior by passengers since the beginning of the year.A Southwest Airlines pilot has been charged with “committing a lewd act” during flight WN6607 from Philadelphia to Orlando on August 10, 2020. "Unfortunately, this is just one of many occurrences," Montgomery told ABC News. Mainz reported that Quinonez has been permanently restricted from "ever flying on Southwest Airlines again, and she has been advised this decision is final." This unprecedented number of incidents has reached an intolerable level, with passenger non-compliance events also becoming more aggressive in nature." Southwest workers' union president, Lyn Montgomery, addressed CEO Gary Kelly in a letter, saying: "From April 8 to May 15, there were 477 passenger misconduct incidents on Southwest Airlines aircraft. The airline had intended to resume its alcohol service in June and reported waiting until at least July, due to the uptick in aggressions it has seen on flights. Black Teenagers Kicked Off Flight Speak of 'Traumatizing' Experience. Disabled Man Kicked Off Southwest Flight Over Mask Despite Doctor's Notes. Family Denied Entry onto Flight Because Son with Autism Wouldn't Wear Mask. Senators Urge Airlines to Scrap Expiration Dates on Flight Credit. Mainz told CNN that the passenger was "repeatedly" ignoring standard in-flight procedures, such as tray tables and seatbelts, "and became verbally and physically abusive upon landing." On May 23, a Southwest flight attendant was struck in the face by a passenger, identified as Vyvianna Quinonez, on a flight from Sacramento to San Diego. The incident is not the only challenge that Southwest Airlines has faced recently. Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr.Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from The Company." Haak voluntarily separated from Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Mainz told Newsweek, "Southwest only learned of the alleged behavior after Mr. The flight was traveling from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando International Airport. He and the first officer had never met prior to the flight.
The statement from the Department of Justice added that "Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit" while the first officer continued her in-flight duties. On August 10, 2020, after the plane reached cruising altitude, Haak, of Longwood, Florida, "got out of the pilot's seat, and while still in the cockpit of the plane, intentionally disrobed and viewed pornographic media on a laptop computer," according to federal prosecutors in Maryland.
Michael Haak, 60, pleaded guilty on Friday to the charge and admitted to watching porn and exposing himself to the female first officer mid-flight. A former pilot for Southwest Airlines was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $5,000 for a federal charge of committing "lewd, indecent, or obscene" acts during a flight.