CHICAGO (WLS) -- United Airlines said it has fired almost 600 employees for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID, despite the mandate the company put in place. It is very it isn't the responsibility of the innocent to prove their innocence. An identity document with photo should also be used in an important case like the one described here. Admittedly alcohol might have been out of his system at that point, but we have no reason to believe that was an issue, since the test was random (and not due to any suspicion). Hard to believe this actually happened at the time they asked for David, couldnt he just say, Im Dewitt, is that the name your looking for? He was combative with other crew, passengers and airline staff and ultimately failed the drug test and was fired by the airline. That means anyone could go to the FAA online website and turn in any pilot without any repercussion for fault information. Clearly the testing company (through their employee) bears some degree of fault for reporting this as a "refusal" rather than a paperwork mix-up. Projecting a total of 560 new pilots in 2021. However, in Ingrams case, the notifier asked the flight attendant at the aircraft door for David, Mager wrote. They dont just go to a gate and hope they get the right person. Eulen America should never ask a flight attendant for a "David". What are youan incompetent consumer or something? Apparently he'll kick me off before I even make it down the jet bridge. But under the circumstances, Ingram declined to be tested. If this were reddit, it'd be an ETA from me. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Damn. He may have been wronged but I have no sympathy for his "destitute" sob story. Getting fired. This man has not been treated fairly by a company he worked for 32 years. I agree that they both screwed up. My brother had achieve his commercial pilot's license and when my father passed away, I had taken my portion of our inheritance to get both my son and I a private pilot's license. The "fix" is so easy it is hard to understand how this isn't the first time this happened. April 2021 - CommuteAir, a United Express carrier, announced it will offer a fast-track hiring process for ATP Flight School students, strengthening CommuteAirs partnership with ATP as the airline continues growing. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. The pilot repeatedly and consistently insisted that the notifier had never notified him that he was selected for a random alcohol/drug test. When huge airlines are partnering with incompetent ground service teams like Eulen AND even worse the FAAthese thighs are bound to happen. The pilot should be vindicated and WELL compensated. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. DeWitt Ingram, I stand in solidarity with you. March 22, 2021 - CNBCs Jon Fortt discusses the potential for a post-pandemic pilot shortage with Geoff Murray, partner at Oliver Wyman and former commercial airline pilot. He spent all his money doesn't mean he's guilty. Walking away flippantly is always a bad idea when dealing with the government. Cumulative raises will amount to . Do these contractors not have a box to check off if the captain isnt on the flight? I know of a pilot who worked for an airline and was selected for drug testing after an aborted take-off due to flaps not being set correctly. Nothing about this was the pilots fault. Legal fees alone would eat every penny I have saved over a lifetime given the ample pockets of the testing company and AA. Kyle Arnold. {{((ctrl.offer == 'pcgpdf' || ctrl.offer == 'acpp') && 'Get Your FREE Download') || (!ctrl.compactForm && ctrl.newlead.program.buttonText || 'Request More Info')}}, Atlas, FedEx and UPS Hired a Combined 91 Pilots in January of 2021, FedEx to No Longer Require Pilots To Have a 4-Year Degree To Apply, and Hire 70 Pilots per Month, Sun Country and Avelo Airlines Dramatically Increase First Year Pay Amid Pilot Shortage, United Parks 100 Regional Jets Due to a Pilot Shortage, Cirium: 2022 Air Passenger Capacity to Reach 2015 Levels. While there might not be free lawyers, many would accept arrangements that you pay them after the litigation, some only if you win. I would have tried to clear it up on site. It could have stopped the infamous Christopher Duntsch in Dallas, TX, amongst others operating under the influence. Living in America these days is such crap, too too much freedom. But, assuming it transpired exactly as reported by the pilot (and memory is rarely precisely correct) the pilot should have asked to see the test paperwork to ensure there wasn't a mix-up. I was a certified DOC drug and alcohol testing instructor and have done thousands of test. Look at Hostess Foods. February 28, 2021 - If you are not the person they are asking for & notified them as so, then continued on your way. Good luck, Although I agree with the testing asking for a person and it was the wrong person should have been noted somewhere in the testing company notes all the things that happened to cthis pilot was an avoidable situation Im happy he took it to court and the ones who blessed up are held liable, I wouldve thought the pilot wouldve stay there and try and find out who this David was or if it was him with a typo mistake. Delta Air Lines, Inc (NYSE: DAL) pilots approved a new deal that provides a 34% pay boost over a four-year agreement, setting a potential example as other U.S. carriers and their pilots' unions . The judge quickly struck down the FAAs case. So even if he got his job back he couldn't work without that license. This has been in court for over two years. The company has a strict vaccine mandate, requiring staff to get the shot or be terminated,. Southwest Airlines pilots perform a check in a 737 aircraft before a flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in Washington. In recent months, pilots have said that the airline was ill-equipped to put so many flights on schedules this summer, even though demand from passengers was heavy. His life finances have nothing to do with him being fired. February 26, 2021 - Come fly with us: Our First Officer application window opens March 1 to March 7. He was combative with other crew, passengers and airline staff and ultimately failed the drug test and was fired by the airline. The program will also be retroactive to include all current pilots at Envoy and new hires through 2022. Agreed. To think that I thought AAL was the pinnacle of airlines at one time. The union should also be sued for negligence! So the union's hands were tied. Him running out of money 2 years from retirement, that is bad decision making. The decision of AA and FAA is against the principle of natural justice. We are opening our application window again! Capacity in 2021 as measured in available seat kilometers is expected to return to 2006 levels, 30 percent down from 2019 levels. Hospitals are even trying to force patients to get vaccinated. Ive exhausted my 401K and sold stock and two cars to survive. You may opt-out by. First off, his savings and how quickly he blew through it, not for me to comment. As for the drug test & everything else, my theory: First off, the contractor stated it was a refusal, so did he talk to the captain and state the name was wrong but wanted to drug test him because he was First off, the contractor stated it was a refusal, so did he talk to the captain and state the name was wrong but wanted to drug test him because he was the captain, and he said no and walked off? DeWitt Ingram, who is now 64 years old, spent 21 years flying for American Airlines. The current plan is to hire around 100 pilots this year, she said. Throughout the summer of 2021, middle management chose to advance cancel hundreds of flights, disrupting thousands of travel plans while at the same time damaging the American Airlines brand, the resolution calling for the firings said. United Airlines' CEO Scott Kirby revealed six of its pilots were fired after not getting vaccinated. Unfortunately even with a judge ruling in favor of Ingram, hell never be able to fly for an airline again. I've duked it out with their lawyers. A name like Dewitt can easily sound like David when said with certain accents. Id rather the airlines take a hard stance to eliminate ANY chance my pilots are loaded!! Due to my license being on the line anytime someone said random test I always ask am I on the list. Airline . Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. I would give my name and have them check the paperwork. Take the damn rest and then use your union to investigate. I hope that the pilot does get a good settlement though. Then againlong trip and someone is asking for someone else, you are in go-home mode. March 1, 2021 - United said it would buy 25 new 737 MAX jets and moved up the delivery of 40 of the previously-ordered planes to 2022. It is up to AA to come up w/ procedures that conform w/ labor law which ultimately requires documentation in writing by both parties to move to termination or other serious punishment. Seems like the guy giving the drug test should have double checked on the name by looking at a ID makes more sense to me. Unvaxxed American Airlines Pilots to be fired Nov 24 the union requirements for all employees to be vaccinated, Baton Rouge invites criminals to get vaxxed & possibly get records expunged, CNN says Sen Sinema wont answer Bidens phone calls. All Rights Reserved. It seems, the "corporate world" acted not only too quickly, but also vindictively by having a government entity further the egregious error. I believe he should be granted, by the judge and jury, three times what his retirement should have been. Running out of money when retirement is 2 years away, as a pilot means you made some bad decisions. Kyle Arnold is the aviation writer for The Dallas Morning News, covering airlines, air travel and the aerospace industry. 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In a prepared statement, Scott Mager, Ingrams attorney, described the sequence of events that led to the case. Ive lived in Miami long enough to have a decent guess of what actually happened here. The authoritarian Left is at it again. He just makes bad decisions. The testing contractor should have been sacked for asking for a wrong pilot It takes two years to become a qualified airline pilot, making it essential to consider the long-term career outlook. ATP students can earn $11,000 in tuition reimbursement. Well be a big hirer again, CEO Ted Christie told CNBC. I doubt a veteran pilot with all that time in went through his savings and his investments in that short a time. The airlines don't care about their employees now. May 2021 - Allegiant is hiring and plans to increase pilot workforce by 19% this summer. Heres a case where someone got fired over a drug test situation, even though they had nothing to hide. Typical American Airlines , a company badly managed, poor communication and a work force that receives no respect from its management. I got fired for "almost theft" I was going to steal something, but then I felt overwhelmed with guilt and panic . Desperate Russian Forces Are Adding 80-Year-Old Naval Guns To 70-Year-Old Armored Tractors, More Ex-British Challenger 2 Tanks Are Bound For Ukraine As London Doubles Its Pledge, United Pilots Are Not Close On Contract, But Talks Will Ramp Up. The Allied Pilots Association representing Americans pilots is already planning to start informational picketing campaigns next month at Miami International Airport, with more to come later at DFW International Airport and Charlotte. In August 2020, an American Airlines pilot was approached by a contractor to take a drug test. If that sounds like you, then youre Republic ready! The FAA took this one individual's report as being truth before even getting a second conformation to validate this accusation. DeWitt Ingram, a 21-year American pilot, wants his life back. A supply shortage might also mean higher pilot salaries. and not the employee. Simply walking past the tester was both rude and could create the appearance that, in fact, the pilot was attempting to evade or delay a test. Two American Airlines-owned regional carriers will hike pilot pay by 50% through the end of August 2024, the latest sign airlines are willing to pay up in hopes of ending a pilot shortage that has left some travelers with fewer flight options. Not sure they state the rank of the person on the testing order. CRJ-Type Rating Bonus, $7,500 for pilots with qualified CRJ-type rating. Either he is really victimizing himself or he took terrible financial decisions in his life. Very worrying to think that people don't realize the financial implications of their late years. The FAA never contacted My CFI, never did a background check or contacted the flight MD who issued my medical license. Doug Parker and Robert Isom say the right things, but the job is not getting done below them.. So the union's hands were tied. My FAA incident was long before I went there. Im very very disappointed in American Airline since thats my airline. Is it true that in the USA, pilots have only a first name and no surname. They are tasked with assuring that American Airlines operation is reliable, not only for our pilots but most importantly for our passengers, Allied Pilots Association spokesman Dennis Tajer said. At AAL the racism was advocated in the most back stabbing way by the union officials. The Chicago-based airline is the first of the large U.S. carriers to announce it will resume pilot hiring, the latest sign its preparing for a recovery. He sued the airline and during the discovery phase it came out that another pilot had reported suspicions that he was under the influence of drugs previously. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. First-year First Officer pay rate of $52.19/hr and third-year Captain pay rate of $99.40/hr, $10,000 Pilot Training Completion Bonus and more. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.