13 United Airlines employees fired for refusing to fly on plane with potentially threatening message written on tail
The July 14 plane had 'BYE BYE' written on its tail along with a 'devilish' face. The employees filed a federal complaint to be reinstated.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 6:48 PM
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JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGESA United Airlines spokeswoman said the company would 'vigorously' defend its decision to fire the employees for refusing to fly on a plane with an ominous message, leading to the flight getting canceled.
They were afraid to fly — and it cost them their jobs.
Thirteen United Airlines flight attendants filed a federal complaint against the company for firing them last year after they refused to fly on a plane with a potentially threatening message written on it.
The complaint says the July 14 plane had the words “BYE BYE” written in oil residue on the plane’s tail, along with a drawing of a smiley face and a second face with what's described as a “devilish” expression.
The attendants asked to have the plane emptied of its more than 300 passengers and crew members and screened again by security.
When that didn’t happen, the 13 attendants refused to fly on the plane, which was supposed to travel from San Francisco to Hong Kong. The flight got canceled, and the crew members were fired for subordination.
KATZ, MARSHALL & BANKSThe complaint says the plane had 'BYE BYE' written on its tail along with drawings of two faces, one with what was described as a 'devilish' look.
The complaint asks they be reinstated with back pay and unspecified compensatory damages.
United spokeswoman Christen David told the Chicago Tribune the pilot, mechanics and security “deemed the aircraft entirely safe to fly” after an initial check. She said Chicago-based company would “vigorously” defend its decision.
