Victoria and David Beckham enjoy night out in NYC with friends after quashing feud rumours with son and daughter-in-law MAFS UK star Kwame reveals REAL reason he didn't take wife Kasia to his home and says he resisted having sex over stereotype fearsīeat The Big Squeeze! Why it's important to talk about your money worries and where you can go for help Rita Ora shows off her incredible figure in a VERY daring cut-out dress as she shares a slew of sizzling snapsĪmber Gill sparks romance rumours with Teddy Edwardes as the pair enjoy a flirty social media exchange and day out together Martine McCutcheon's brother dies aged 31: Heartbroken star reveals her sibling Laurence John has suddenly passed away without explanation Prince of Wales appears to reference the death of his mother and relationship with Harry as he records BBC Radio One programme for World Mental Health 'The embarrassment and resulting publicity of this incident has in and of itself been humbling to Michael Haak and has served as punishment in many ways,' he wrote. Salnick argued that Haak deserves a lenient sentence given his 'lifetime of hard work and kindness.'

'He is sorry and remorseful for his actions.' Haak's co-pilot has certainly grown into something Michael Haak never anticipated,' Salnick wrote. 'What began as a consensual prank at the encouragement of Mr. Haak accepts responsibility for his conduct and 'offers no excuses,' his lawyer said in a court filing. 'We are blessed that Southwest has been your home for so many years,' Kelly wrote. Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from (the airline),' Mainz said.ĭefense attorney Michael Salnick said Haak had a sterling career as a commercial pilot and received numerous accolades and supportive letters from passengers and colleagues, including one from Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly on the day of Haak's retirement. 'Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr. Southwest only learned of Haak's behavior after he voluntarily left the airline, according to Mainz. Southwest spokesperson Chris Mainz said in a statement that the airline 'does not tolerate behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated.' His last flight for the Dallas-based airline was on August 31, 2020, three weeks after the incident that led to the criminal charge. Haak, a resident of Longwood, Florida, was a Southwest Airlines pilot for 27 years until his retirement. The judge wasn't bound by that recommendation. He was charged in Maryland because it was one of the states that the aircraft passed over that day.įederal prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of probation without requiring Haak to register as a sex offender. Haak was charged in April with intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act in a public place, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail.

'She had a right not to be subjected to this kind of behavior, regardless of what may have motivated it or prompted it,' the prosecutor said.

'This is not the kind of aberrant behavior that anyone should accept,' the prosecutor added.Ĭunningham said the first officer 'unfortunately suffered some consequences' as a result of the incident that Haak 'didn't have anything to do with,' but he didn't elaborate. Haak was in the cockpit commanding a Southwest Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Orlando on August 10 when he exposed his genitals to a female first officer (file photo) Haak 'had a duty to comport himself in a much more responsible manner,' Assistant U.S. The judge told Haak that his actions had a traumatic effect on the co-pilot and could have impacted the safety of passengers and other co-workers. The first officer submitted a statement to the court but didn't speak during Friday's hearing. 'As the plane continued its flight, Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit, as the first officer continued to perform her duties as an assigned aircrew member,' the statement says. After the plane reached its cruising altitude, Haak got out of the pilot's seat, 'disrobed' and began watching pornographic material on a laptop computer in the cockpit, prosecutors said. Michael Haak pled guilty having been charged in federal court with lewd, indecent or an obscene act which was 'a prank' (file photo)įederal prosecutors said that Haak had never met the first officer before that flight bound for Orlando on August 10, 2020.

Michael haak photo