Southwest Airlines pilots' union seeks sanctions against whistleblower

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) is seeking to sanction Captain Christine Janning and her legal team, requesting they pay the union’s legal fees. This development occurs four years into a lawsuit filed by Janning regarding an incident on August 10, 2020, during Southwest flight 6607 from Philadelphia to Orlando.

During the flight, Captain Michael Haak allegedly disrobed and watched pornography on a laptop in the cockpit while Janning, serving as first officer, continued to operate the aircraft. Haak pleaded guilty to a federal crime involving lewd and indecent acts, receiving one year of probation and a $5,000 fine.

Janning’s lawsuit alleges that the incident involved further misconduct and that the pilots' union retaliated against her for reporting the behavior. SWAPA had initially attempted to keep its motion for sanctions confidential, but the request was rejected by the Orange County, Florida clerk.