옷 벗고 女부기장 옆에서 포르노 시청한 기장

미국 사우스웨스트 항공사 소속이었던 전 파일럿이 비행 중 조종실에서

여성 부기장이 보고 있는 가운데, 옷을 벗은 채 포르노를 시청하는 등 음란행위를 한 혐의로

1년 집행유예에 5000달러(557만원)의 벌금을 물었다고 영국의 BBC가 30일 보도했다.

마이클 학(60)이라는 조종사는 2020 년 8 월 10 올랜도 국제공항을 이륙한 뒤 비행기가

순항고도에 접어들자 옷을 벗고 포르노 비디오를 시청했다.

 

이 같은 행위를 당시 같이 근무했던 여성 부기장이 모두 지켜봤다.

그는 재판에서 “여성 부기장이 비행기를 조종하고 있었기 때문에 승객의 안전에는

큰 지장이 없었다”고 주장했다.

그는 “여성 부기장과는 처음 만난 사이”라고 진술했다.

판사는 그의 이 같은 행위가 여성 부기장에게 큰 충격을 주고, 승객의 안전에도

큰 영향을 줄 수 있었다며 유죄를 선고했다.

그는 지난해 8월말 은퇴하기 전까지 사우스웨스트 항공에서 27년간 파일럿으로 일했다.

항공사는 "사건이 알려지자 학이 자발적으로 회사를 퇴사했다"고 밝혔으며,

"퇴직 후 받을 수 있는 모든 수당의 지급을 중단했다"고 덧붙였다.

Ex-US airline pilot admits lewd act in cockpit mid-flight

Southwest Airlines said it did not tolerate "behaviour of this nature"

A former US airline pilot has admitted committing a "lewd, indecent, or obscene act" during a flight last year.

Michael Haak, 60, exposed himself to the female first officer in the cockpit and watched pornography on a laptop, prosecutors said.

As the Southwest Airlines flight continued, Haak engaged in further "inappropriate conduct" in the cockpit.

A judge in Maryland sentenced him to one year's probation and ordered him to pay a $5,000 (£3,500) fine.

 

The incident happened during a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando International Airport on 10 August 2020, the court heard.

When the flight reached cruising altitude, Haak got out of the pilot's seat, "intentionally disrobed" and watched pornographic media on a laptop.

 

"Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit, as the first officer continued to perform her duties," federal prosecutors said in a statement.

Haak had never met the first officer prior to the flight, they added.

Assistant US Attorney Michael Cunningham said the co-pilot "had a right not to be subjected to this kind of behaviour, regardless of what may have motivated it or prompted it", the Associated Press reported.

Haak was charged in Maryland because it was the state that the plane was flying over at the time. He pleaded guilty to intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act in a public place.

In a statement via video link, Haak apologised for his behaviour, adding: "It started as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot. I never imagined it would turn into this in a thousand years."

US Magistrate Judge J Mark Coulson told Haak that his behaviour had had a traumatic effect on the first officer and could have affected the safety of passengers.

Haak, of Longwood, Florida, was a pilot with Southwest Airlines for 27 years before retiring at the end of August last year.

In a statement, the airline said it did not tolerate "behaviour of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated". A spokesman said the company had only learned of the incident after Haak had voluntarily left the airline.

It said that, as a result, it had ceased paying him any benefits he was entitled to following his retirement.