The union did not respond to a phone call seeking comment. Michael Haak is a former Southwest Airlines pilot facing a federal charge after officials said he exposed his genitals during a flight. Southwest said it supported Janning and that it would “vigorously defend” itself against the lawsuit. Haak’s attorney, Michael Salnick, said Wednesday that his client disrobed only after Janning encouraged him to, never did anything else and that there were no previous incidents. He pleaded guilty last year to a federal misdemeanor charge of committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act and was sentenced to probation. She also alleges that the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association conspired with the airline and refused to support her. (AP) - A Southwest Airlines pilot is suing the company, her union and a former colleague who pleaded guilty last year to dead-bolting the cockpit door during a flight and stripping naked in front of her.Ĭhristine Janning alleges that Southwest retaliated by grounding her after she reported Michael Haak to the company and the FBI, that it kept him employed despite an alleged history of sexual misconduct and that managers disparaged her in memos. Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from The Company.”ĬNN’s Anna Sturla contributed to this report.FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. “Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr. Haak voluntarily separated from Southwest Airlines,” the statement read.
“In this particular situation, Southwest only learned of the alleged behavior after Mr. In a sentencing memorandum filed by Haak’s lawyers last week, they said Haak “has accepted responsibility for his conduct and offers no excuses,” but hoped the court would consider that the longtime pilot and US Air Force veteran has “led a good life, served our country, raised a family and worked hard.”Ī spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said in a statement to CNN that “Southwest does not tolerate behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated.”
Mark Coulson also ordered Haak to pay a fine of $5,000, the release said.įederal prosecutors agreed that Haak will not need to register as a sex offender for his misdemeanor offense, a court memorandum filed on Tuesday reads.ĬNN has attempted to reach out to Haak and both lawyers representing him for comment, but was not immediately successful. 31, 2020, three weeks after the incident that led to the criminal charge. His last flight for the Dallas-based airline was on Aug. Haak was prosecuted in Maryland because the plane on which the incident occurred flew over parts of the District of Maryland, a federal court jurisdiction. Haak, a resident of Longwood, Florida, was a Southwest Airlines pilot for 27 years until his retirement. Former Southwest Airlines pilot Michael Haak, 60, was sentenced to one year of probation last week after pleading guilty to committing a lewd, indecent, or obscene act during a flight he was piloting last summer, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.Īccording to the release, as part of a plea agreement, Haak, who was captain of a Southwest Airlines plane flying from Philadelphia to Orlando on August 10, 2020, admitted that once the airplane reached cruising altitude, he got out of the pilot’s seat, undressed and “viewed pornographic media on a laptop computer,” while still in the cockpit.ĭuring this time Haak also “engaged in inappropriate conduct” while a female First Officer, whom he had never met before the flight, continued her flight duties, according to the release.
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