Newsy: Southwest Pilot Rant

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“BY ALEX BELCHER

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

You're watching multisource U.S. news analysis from Newsy.

One Southwest pilot is suspended after ranting over an open mic… and … let’s just say it wasn’t meant to go public.
“Eleven --- over the top ---, --- homosexuals and a granny...Eleven!  I mean think of the odds of that!”
“Now I’m back in Houston, which is easily one of the ugliest bases.  I means its all the f---ing old dude and grannies and there’s maybe a handful of cute chicks.”
Air Traffic Controller: “Okay, someone’s got a stuck mic and, uh, telling us about their endeavors.  We don’t need to hear that.”
(KPRC)
The pilot continued this tirade for two and a half minutes on a flight from Houston to San Diego. He was then suspended without pay -- not fired -- but he had to attend sensitivity training. Southwest released this statement:
“What he said was offensive and inconsistent with the behavior and overall respect we require from all emoloyees.  He has firmly apologized to FAA controllers and he knows what he did cannot happen again.”
Southwest’s apology got a tepid response from flight attendants and other Southwest workers.  One tells ABC-
“It’s just upsetting that there still people we work with everyday who have these views and thoughts of flight attendants.  I feel it is very disrespectful towards us as a work group.”
A blogger for The Stir is less than impressed with the pilot saying—

“Who does this guy think he is -- the Don Draper of the airways? His brain does appear to be stuck in the Mad Men era when top dogs could actually pick and choose the women who stand nearby with coffee decanters.”
But a roundtable on RT’s The Alyona Show defends the pilot saying, pilots should be able to say what they want.
Anchor: “Obviously this guy is a jerk but it’s pretty funny, you have to admit.  It’s hilarious to hear somebody say all that.”
Other Woman: “I had never heard the word grandes before.  I thought that was pretty funny.  I don’t like when anyone is homophobic or when anyone goes off on these rants but the guy got suspended and you know what pilot’s should be able to talk about what they want.”
Southwest will not released the name of the pilot -- calling it a “personnel issue.” The pilot is back on the job in Houston.
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