![]() She went to the FBI, who charged the captain. Janning claimed that she was told by management that because the captain had retired, the airline’s investigation was closed. She said the reason she had waited was because her boss had disparaged her to a male colleague previously. Meanwhile, Janning didn’t report the incident to a Southwest employee relations investigator until three months later. However, it was later revealed that it was not Haak’s final flight with the airline and, AP News reported, and he continued to fly for a further three weeks. Haak at the time said the incident was a “consensual prank” that had got out of hand. Mark Coulson sentenced Haak to one year of unsupervised probation and a $5,000 fine. She also said that he began to watch pornography on his laptop, before committing a lewd act for 30 minutes while taking photos and video of himself.Īccording to AP News, Haak pleaded guilty in May 2021 to a federal misdemeanor charge of committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act. She said he locked the door so no one could enter and put the plane on autopilot before stripping naked. ![]() Lewd actĪccording to Janning, when they reached cruising altitude, Haak allegedly told her it was his final flight and there was something he wanted to do before retirement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.The incident took place in August 2020, during a passenger flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Florida (MCO). Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from The Company.” “Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr. Haak voluntarily separated from Southwest Airlines,” the statement read. “In this particular situation, Southwest only learned of the alleged behavior after Mr. ![]() In a sentencing memorandum filed by Haak’s lawyers last week, they said Haak “has accepted responsibility for his conduct and offers no excuses,” but hoped the court would consider that the longtime pilot and US Air Force veteran has “led a good life, served our country, raised a family and worked hard.”Ī spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said in a statement to CNN that “Southwest does not tolerate behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated.” Mark Coulson also ordered Haak to pay a fine of $5,000, the release said.įederal prosecutors agreed that Haak will not need to register as a sex offender for his misdemeanor offense, a court memorandum filed on Tuesday reads.ĬNN has attempted to reach out to Haak and both lawyers representing him for comment, but was not immediately successful. Haak was prosecuted in Maryland because the plane on which the incident occurred flew over parts of the District of Maryland, a federal court jurisdiction. (CNN) - Former Southwest Airlines pilot Michael Haak, 60, was sentenced to one year of probation last week after pleading guilty to committing a lewd, indecent, or obscene act during a flight he was piloting last summer, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.Īccording to the release, as part of a plea agreement, Haak, who was captain of a Southwest Airlines plane flying from Philadelphia to Orlando on August 10, 2020, admitted that once the airplane reached cruising altitude, he got out of the pilot’s seat, undressed and “viewed pornographic media on a laptop computer,” while still in the cockpit.ĭuring this time Haak also “engaged in inappropriate conduct” while a female First Officer, whom he had never met before the flight, continued her flight duties, according to the release.
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