Lawsuit: Flight Attendants Refuse to Fly This Plane Out of SFO, Get Fired

More than a dozen flight attendants who refused to fly on a jet that had a scribble of two faces and the words “BYE BYE” written on it are suing United Airlines for what they’re calling a retaliation firing.

According to the law firm representing the 13 flight attendants, described as “veteran” employees with United, the disturbing message was found on July 14, 2014 on a 400-passenger Boeing 747.

The Los Angeles Times reports the crew was set to depart from San Francisco International Airport, to Hong Hong.

“... the Flight Attendants became aware that someone had written threatening words and drawn menacing images in an oil slick from the auxiliary engine in the aircraft’s tail cone,” a news release from Katz, Marshall & Banks states.

So, the firm says, the flight attendants made what they thought was a reasonable request.

“The Flight Attendants requested that the airline conduct a thorough inspection of the aircraft to ensure that no explosive devices had been planted on the plane,” the release says. “When the airline refused, the Flight Attendants refused to fly on the aircraft on the basis that doing so might endanger the lives of all of the crew and passengers on board.”

At that point, United apparently accused the attendants of being insubordinate, and they were ultimately fired.

“Our clients are entitled to legal protection for doing what was right,” Katz, Marshall & Banks partner David J. Marshall said. “United needs to be told in no uncertain terms that ordering conscientious employees, who are the eyes and ears of the public in these situations, to ignore federal law because it is more profitable for the Airline to maintain scheduled flights will not be tolerated.”

The firm filed a 26-page whisleblower complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor (DOL) on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, United says additional security measures were indeed taken following the discovery of the drawing, according to a statement released to CNN.

“There was no credible security threat,” the statement said. “All of FAA’s and United’s own safety procedures were followed, including a comprehensive safety sweep prior to boarding, and the pilots, mechanics and safety leaders deemed the aircraft entirely safe to fly.”

So, what do YOU think? Were the flight attendants in the right, or should they have continued on the flight? Tell us in the comments below.

(Image courtesy: Katz, Marshall & Banks)