'Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr. He retired at the end of August last year.Ī spokesperson for Southwest Airlines told USA Today that the airline 'does not tolerate behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated.' Haak, who is originally from Florida, was a pilot with Southwest Airlines for 27 years. 'I never imagined it would turn into this in a thousand years,' he added. Haak apologized for his actions and said they had 'started as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot,' the BBC reported. Coulson said the ex- pilot's actions had traumatized the first officer. Judge J Mark Coulson sentenced Haak to one year of unsupervised probation and a $5,000 fine. Read more: Can you work remotely? These 14 cities and towns will pay you up to $20,000 just to move there. Haak had never met the female first officer before the flight. 'Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit, as the first officer continued to perform her duties,' prosecutors said in a statement, according to the BBC. Prosecutors alleged that Michael Haak, 66, waited until the flight reached cruising altitude before he got up from the pilot's seat and 'intentionally disrobed' while watching porn on a laptop, USA Today reported. See more stories on Insider's business page.Ī retired Southwest Airlines pilot was sentenced to probation on Friday after pleading guilty to showing his genitals to a female first officer and watching pornography during a flight from Philadelphia to Florida last year. Haak expressed remorse for his actions before being sentenced to one year's probation. Michael Haak exposed his genitals to a first officer and watched porn in the cockpit, prosecutors said. In a statement to the court reported by BBC News, Haak apologized for his actions and said it started “as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot.” Although Haak retired from Southwest prior to the incident being reported, the airline said in a statement they revoked the former aviator’s retirement benefits.A retired Southwest Airlines pilot admitted to performing lewd acts during a flight last year. Acts Intended “As a Prank,” Costs Pilot Retirement Benefits Federal authorities accused Michael Haak. Conditions of his probation were not announced. A former Southwest Airlines pilot has been charged with indecent exposure after he allegedly exposed his genitals during a flight in August of last year. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General and Southwest were all involved in the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Haak “further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit.” The press release did not elaborate on what exactly he was doing. While still in the cockpit, he began viewing pornographic material on the computer.Įven though the first officer remained in the cockpit working her assigned duty.

Once the aircraft reached cruising altitude, Haak admitted that he got out of the captain’s chair, “intentionally disrobed,” and pulled out his laptop. 10 flight from Philadelphia International. According to the one-page filing, Haak was the pilot in command on an Aug. His first officer was a female aviator with whom he had never worked before. The pilot was identified as Michael Haak in court documents filed April 2. Pilot “Disrobed” and Viewed Pornography Next to Female First OfficerĪccording to a plea agreement, Haak was the assigned captain and pilot-in-command of a Southwest flight departing Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on August 10, 2020. Michael Haak, 60, apologized and expressed remorse for his actions before U.S. District Attorney for the District of Maryland announced 60-year-old Michael Haak was convicted after entering into a plea agreement. A retired Southwest Airlines pilot was sentenced to probation Friday after pleading guilty to exposing his genitals to a female first officer and watching pornography on a laptop during a flight from Philadelphia to Florida last year. In a plea agreement, 60-year-old Michael Haak disrobed and viewed pornographic material with a female co-pilot still in the compartment.Ī former Southwest Airlines pilot based in Florida will be on probation for one year and be forced to pay a fine of $5,000, after pleading guilty to committing a lewd act on an aircraft he was in command of. A former Southwest Airlines pilot will be on probation for one year and face a $5,000 fine, after pleading guilty to federal charges related to a lewd act in the cockpit.

Michael haak southwest