I never imagined it would turn into this in a thousand years.” In a statement via video link, Haak apologised for his behaviour, adding: “It started as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot. He pleaded guilty to intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act in a public place. Haak was charged in Maryland because it was the state that the plane was flying over at the time. Haak had never met the first officer prior to the flight, they added.Īssistant US Attorney Michael Cunningham said the co-pilot “had a right not to be subjected to this kind of behaviour, regardless of what may have motivated it or prompted it”, the Associated Press reported. “Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit, as the first officer continued to perform her duties,” federal prosecutors said in a statement. When the flight reached cruising altitude, Haak got out of the pilot’s seat, “intentionally disrobed” and watched pornographic media on a laptop. The incident happened during a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando International Airport on 10 August 2020, the court heard.
Michael Haak, 60, exposed himself to the female first officer in the cockpit and watched pornography on a laptop, prosecutors said.Īs the Southwest Airlines flight continued, Haak engaged in further “inappropriate conduct” in the cockpit.Ī judge in Maryland sentenced him to one year’s probation and ordered him to pay a $5,000 (£3,500) fine.
Haak accepts responsibility for his conduct and “offers no excuses,” his lawyer said in a court filing.Ex-US Airline Pilot Admits Watching Porn In Cockpit Mid-flightĪ former US airline pilot has admitted committing a “lewd, indecent, or obscene act” during a flight last year. “We are blessed that Southwest has been your home for so many years,” Kelly wrote. 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. “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. “This is not the kind of aberrant behavior that anyone should accept,” the prosecutor added.Ĭunningham said the first officer “unfortunately suffered some consequences” as a result of the incident that Haak “didn’t have anything to do with,” but he didn’t elaborate. Haak “had a duty to comport himself in a much more responsible manner,” Assistant U.S. The judge told Haak that his actions had a traumatic effect on the co-pilot and could have impacted the safety of passengers and other co-workers. The first officer submitted a statement to the court but didn’t speak during Friday’s hearing. “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.
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