Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Southwest Captain's Cockpit Misconduct Sparks Union Legal Fee Fight
A woman who flies airplanes for a living saw her captain do something very wrong while they were flying together.
He took off his clothes and watched videos he should not have watched, and she took pictures to show what happened.
When she told the airline, instead of thanking her, they stopped letting her fly for more than three months.
Other pilots and managers started saying mean things about her, like that she was dangerous or unstable.
The captain said it was just a joke and that she agreed to it, but she says he threatened to crash the plane if she did not go along.
A judge punished the captain, giving him one year of probation and a $5,000 fine.
Now the pilots' union wants the woman to pay money for the court fight, which she thinks is unfair.
She is asking a court to protect her and to hold the airline and the union responsible for how they treated her.
Many people think it is wrong to punish someone for telling the truth about bad behavior.
First Officer Christine Janning reported Captain Michael Haak for stripping, watching porn and masturbating in the cockpit of Southwest flight 6607 in 2020.
Haak allegedly locked the cockpit door, continued the behavior for 30 minutes, and threatened to crash the aircraft when Janning did not comply.
Janning was grounded for 105 days and claims Southwest Airlines and the SWAPA pilot union retaliated against her for reporting the incident.
Haak pleaded guilty to committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act and received one year of probation and a $5,000 fine.
SWAPA filed a motion asking the court to sanction Janning and her attorneys and to pay the union's legal fees.
- Who
- First Officer Christine Janning, Captain Michael Haak, Southwest Airlines, and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA)
- What
- Janning reported Haak for indecent conduct in the cockpit and alleges she was retaliated against; SWAPA now seeks to make her pay its legal fees.
- When
- The incident occurred in 2020; Janning filed a lawsuit in 2022; SWAPA filed its motion in August 2026.
- Where
- Southwest flight 6607 from Philadelphia to Orlando; the lawsuit was filed in Orange County Circuit Court.
- Why
- Janning reported Haak's alleged misconduct and claims the airline and union punished her for doing so.
Janning's account
Haak and SWAPA's account
Cockpit incident
Janning's account
Janning says Haak stripped, watched porn and masturbated for 30 minutes, blocked her exit and threatened to crash the plane.
Haak and SWAPA's account
Haak's lawyers say it was a 'consensual prank,' that Janning encouraged him to fly naked, and that he did not masturbate.
Grounding and retaliation
Janning's account
Janning says she was grounded for 105 days and defamed as 'mentally unstable' and 'promiscuous' in retaliation for reporting.
Haak and SWAPA's account
Southwest said she was removed under Section 2.C of the pilot contract to participate in an ongoing FBI investigation.
Legal fees
Janning's account
Janning says management and union officials agreed to punish her and should not be able to make her pay their legal fees.
Haak and SWAPA's account
SWAPA filed a motion asking the court to sanction Janning and her attorneys and to pay the union's legal fees.
- Flight
- Southwest 6607
- Route
- Philadelphia to Orlando
- Incident year
- 2020
- Captain
- Michael Haak
- First Officer
- Christine Janning
- Haak's sentence
- One year probation and $5,000 fine
- Days Janning was grounded
- 105
- Court
- Orange County Circuit Court