Southwest fires pilots for takeoff — of their uniforms

[RAMONES!!!]

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

Southwest Airlines has fired two pilots for allegedly turning their cockpit into a clothing-optional playpen.

The pilot and co-pilot — both men — were dismissed for allegedly taking off all or most of their clothes in the cockpit of their aircraft.

"Southwest Airlines conducted a thorough investigation and terminated the two pilots involved for inappropriate conduct," says spokeswoman Ginger Hardage, who would not elaborate. Southwest "will not tolerate any inappropriate or offensive behavior."

Cockpit shenanigans seem to be on the rise, even as pilots and passengers face the stresses of air terror fears. America West fired a pair of pilots last year for being under the influence of alcohol in the cockpit after running up a $142 tab at a Miami bar the night before. And a Northwest Airlines pilot was arrested in January, after a loaded gun was found in his carry-on.

The Southwest dismissals occurred earlier this month for an incident that happened months ago. The names of the pilots involved were not disclosed.

The president of Southwest's pilots association, Capt. Ike Eichelkraut, would say only, "It's an internal matter."

The pilots involved are appealing their termination, sources say. They contend that one of them removed his uniform after coffee was spilled. A flight attendant saw them after being summoned to the cockpit to bring paper towels and soda water.

Southwest is treating the episode as a prank that went too far.

While the incident occurred on a Boeing 737 in flight, there's no implication that safety was breeched. And a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman says there's no specific prohibition against flying naked.

"I'm not aware there are any regulations on the type of clothing, so there's most likely none on (wearing) no clothing at all," spokesman Les Dorr says. There are rules against behavior that distracts crewmembers during vital phases of flight, which is just about anything below 10,000 feet, Dorr notes.

Southwest is famous for being offbeat. When the airline started flying in 1971, flight attendants wore hot pants and were chosen for sex appeal. Founder Herb Kelleher, dubbed the "high priest of Ha Ha" by Fortune magazine, unabashedly said the airline looked for "attitudes; people with a sense of humor who don't take themselves too seriously."

To this day, Southwest often makes funny in-flight announcements, sometimes even in song. Kelleher, who has publicly dressed as Elvis, once arm-wrestled the head of another company for the rights to a slogan.

He lost and was ceremoniously carried from the ring on a stretcher while sipping shots of Wild Turkey.




hmmmm i dont know what to say

[bleh]

lol. what a couple of fucktards

[The_Dude]

that's funny, to invite a hostess in there

[phoenix1002]

So that's what the pilots do when they close that front door... . Well, I guess those international flights must get pretty boring.

[sixate]

I saw this story and almosted posted it yesterday. I think it's funny as hell.

Do people not know how to act professional anymore?

[Macheath]

Holy shit, that's pretty cool.

[oane]

There are safer ways to get in the mile high club

Interviewer: So why did you quit your last job?

Pilote: I didn't quit, I was fired, sort off, I took off my clothes while flying....

[spectre]

*spec bites his tongue at the chance to make a "cockpit" joke

[tricks]

You would think with Southwest's "attitude" that it would be ok. Pilots don't really do anything other than take off and land. The autopilot really flies the plane. A pilot told me once "I get paid to sit there. I earn my money if there's an emergency."

The airline I work for, we do freight, diciplined some pilots about a month after 9/11 for being out of uniform. They were wearing red, white, and blue, flag ties instead of the prescribed ties. Their union took care of that incedent. I still see the flag ties being worn.

[Reese]

I dont see any reason for them to be fired. This kind of stuff has been going since 9/11, You think pilots didn't do stupid, or out of the ordinary things before then?

[gov135]

I'am not sure pilots have the highest level of job security these days... I'm not sure if I'd be tempted to push the envelope in any way.

[afraidofninjas]

I'm sure they were just doing it to foil terrorists or something

[GuttersnipeXL]

Personally, I don't really care what the pilots wear...they could be in a friggin tu-tu and a batman cape, just as long as my flight made it safely to it's destination. Hey, at least they weren't wasted like those other pilots.

[louiedog]

If there's no dress code in the cockpit who cares? They should be disciplined if the flight attended was offended because you need to show respect for the people you work with and their feelings but none of the passengers did so no big deal. Haven't they had 2 instances of pilots being drunk in the last year? Maybe they should worry more about hiring people that won't do things like that.

[gibber71]

Hell I think the whole damn plane should be naked...

[viejo gringo]

No cloths???-----where do they hide thier gun???