A Southwest Airlines pilot whose microphone was wide open when he said some choice phrases about residents of San Francisco is facing scrutiny by both the airline and the FAA.
The nameless pilot gave an obscenity-ridden tirade over his open microphone to an airplane full of patrons as he landed at Mineta San Jose airport.
WARNING: NSFW language
The unprofessional rant was heard by both passengers and air traffic controllers, whom themselves were shocked.
"It just makes me sad and angry to hear folks who are expected to be professionals in care of the general public acting in this manner," said Will Lawton, a pilot based in San Jose.
Mineta San Jose Airport reported the comments to the FAA because of the unprofessional conduct on the flight deck.
The FAA is investigating the conduct of the pilot because pilots and first officers are prohibited from speaking on open airways about "subjects unrelated to safely conducting their flight while taxiing and while flying below 10,000 feet."
Southwest condemned the incident.
"Our corporate culture is built on a tenet of treating others with concern and dignity, and the comments are inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect that we require from our employees," said a statement from the airline.
"This situation was an isolated incident involving a single employee and not representative of the nearly 60,000 hardworking, respectful People of Southwest Airlines."
The pilot's consequences at the hands of both the airline and the FAA have yet to be determined, but his comments are on the internet for all to hear.
His bigoted, harmful words will follow him throughout his career, and if Southwest doesn't act, for the rest of their time as an aviation company.
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