Former Southwest Airlines Pilot Pleads Guilty To Exposing Himself To Female First Officer, Watching Porn While Flying
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A former Southwest Airlines pilot pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of committing a lewd, indecent, or obscene act during a flight last year.
Sixty-year-old Michael Haak of Longwood, Florida admitted that while he was the pilot in command of a Southwest Airlines flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando International Airport on August 10, 2020, he exposed himself to the female first officer and watched pornography.
Haak had never met the female first officer before that flight. According to the plea agreement, he admitted that once the plane reached cruising altitude, he got out of the pilot's seat and took off his clothes and started watching pornography on a laptop while still in the cockpit.
While the the first officer continue perform her duties, he further engaged in inappropriate conduct.
A spokesperson from Southwest Airlines released the following statement about the incident:
"Southwest does not tolerate behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated. In this particular situation, Southwest only learned of the alleged behavior after Mr. Haak voluntarily separated from Southwest Airlines. Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr.Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from The Company. "
Haak was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.