United Airlines reinstates 13 cabin crew sacked for not flying on Hong Kong-bound plane with ‘threatening message’ drawn on engine
Settlement reached after flight attendants lodge complaint with US Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Thirteen flight attendants will fly again after United Airlines reinstated their jobs, ending a 20-month saga after the group was sacked for refusing to fly on a Hong Kong-bound plane with a “threatening” message graffitied on its auxiliary engine.
Both parties announced a resolution after the cabin crew lodged a complaint with the United States government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
In July 2014, the words “Bye Bye” and two faces, one smiling and the other described as “devilish”, were found finger-drawn in oil grime under the auxiliary engine of a Boeing 747 at San Francisco International Airport.
READ MORE: ‘Threatening’ message drawn on Hong Kong-bound plane ‘led to illegal sackings’
The flight attendants, all with 18 or more years of experience, said the airline refused to deplane the passengers and conduct a security inspection. The group said they disobeyed orders to work, believing the lives of more than 300 passengers and crew on the jumbo jet could be endangered.
After a delay, the flight was eventually cancelled. United accused the flight attendants of insubordination and fired them all, according to the complaint.
We respect the right of our employees to raise concerns in good faith about the safety or security of our operations, and encourage them to do so.
As a result of the settlement, announced on Tuesday, the flight attendants’ jobs have been reinstated, and they have withdrawn the OSHA filing.