Haak Left Southwest Airlines in 2020 But It’s Unclear Whether He Was Fired 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.ģ. 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 statement did not mention Haak by name:
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In a prepared statement to NBC Washington, Southwest suggested Haak had violated the corporation’s policy about how to act in the workplace. Southwest Airlines spokesperson Brandy King confirmed to Heavy via email that no flight attendants or passengers witnessed the interaction. A Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press that “pilots were the only people aboard aware of the incident.” Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from (the airline)," Mainz said.ĭefense attorney Michael Salnick said Haak had a sterling career as a commercial pilot and received numerous accolades and supportive letters from passengers and colleagues, including one from Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly on the day of Haak's retirement.The exposure incident most likely occurred at the front of the plane or in the cockpit. "Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr.
Southwest spokesperson Chris Mainz said in a statement that the airline "does not tolerate behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated." Southwest only learned of Haak's behavior after he voluntarily left the airline, according to Mainz. 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, a resident of Longwood, Florida, was a Southwest Airlines pilot for 27 years until his retirement. The judge wasn't bound by that recommendation. He was charged in Maryland because it was one of the states that the aircraft passed over that day.įederal prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of probation without requiring Haak to register as a sex offender.
Haak was charged in April with intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act in a public place, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail. "She had a right not to be subjected to this kind of behavior, regardless of what may have motivated it or prompted it," the prosecutor said. "As the plane continued its flight, Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit, as the first officer continued to perform her duties as an assigned aircrew member," the statement says. After the plane reached its cruising altitude, Haak got out of the pilot's seat, "disrobed" and began watching pornographic material on a laptop computer in the cockpit, prosecutors said. I never imagined it would turn into this in a thousand years," Haak said during a remote hearing.įederal prosecutors said in a news release that Haak had never met the first officer before that flight bound for Orlando on Aug.
"It started as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot. Mark Coulson sentenced him to one year of unsupervised probation and a $5,000 fine. Michael Haak, 60, apologized and expressed remorse for his actions before U.S. (AP) - A retired Southwest Airlines pilot was sentenced to probation Friday after pleading guilty to exposing his genitals to a female first officer and watching pornography on a laptop during a flight from Philadelphia to Florida last year.
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