A Delta pilot allegedly went on his plane’s public address system to blame Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for the delays that left the flight grounded in Atlanta.
Systemwide air traffic control issues had “slowed the volume of traffic into Florida airspace,” causing delays for passengers across the US, including in Atlanta, Newsweek reported.
The Delta pilot reportedly vented to his passengers about the delay and targeted Buttigieg.
At least one passenger took issue with the flight crew member’s politically charged remarks.
“@Delta it is not okay for the pilot of flight 2274 ATL-RSW to blame a Florida ground stop on @PeteButtigieg,” Stewart Lucas said in a tweet, according to the mag.
“Completely unacceptable political dig just made twice at gate over loud speaker.”
The tweet was apparently later removed.
It was unclear what the pilot said exactly. The airline told Newsweek that it “will look into this allegation.”
The incident comes after a deadly winter storm walloped large swaths of the country during the busy holiday weekend, grounding or delaying thousands of flights.
The federal Department of Transportation and Congress have both signaled their intention to investigate Southwest Airlines, which was by far the carrier hardest hit by the winter weather.
Buttigieg has called on the airline to issue refunds for canceled tickets and reimburse its customers for expenses associated with their travel delays, including hotel stays, transit costs and meals.
“Southwest passengers have experienced unacceptable disruptions and customer service conditions,” he said on Twitter last week. “I have made clear to their executives that our department will hold Southwest accountable for making things right with their customers and employees.”
Airline employees have landed in hot water before for making political remarks, Newsweek noted.
In 2021, Southwest faced backlash after a pilot was captured on video exclaiming on the intercom, “Let’s go Brandon,” a not-so-secret code for “F–k Joe Biden” among detractors.
The airline apologized for the incident, saying it “was not reflective of the Southwest hospitality for which we are known and strive to provide each day on every flight.”
In 2017, a United pilot also reportedly ranted from the cockpit that she did not vote for either former President Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton because they are both liars.
Buttigieg is a complete disaster across the board ion both his professional and personal life. The man has no discernible skills or talent so he of course fits perfectly into the Biden Administration.
What could go wrong with putting a mentally ill homosexic in charge of all U.S. Transportation? Hitlerite Jokementia Bribery was just following the ways of his hero Hitler…
Anybody making a political comment while in uniform or representing their employer using a medium of communication that is strictly used for the performance of their job should terminated by their employer.
What is next, Flight attendants ranting during the safety presentation? Bus terminal information loud speakers making unwanted political comments?
Save the right wing or left wing rhetoric for your fans in Twitter, or Facebook or an Irish bar full of angry drunks…..I have no time for that BS.
It’s time everyone finally grabbed their balls/ovaries and spoke the TRUTH about what is going horribly wrong in our USA !!!
I’m first generation American, family IS Irish, from Limerick, and no one in our family is a “drunk”. And I do not drink at all. They do enjoy a snort every now and then, but no raving angry drunks. And ALL bars, even those around NA reservations, are always full of angry drunks.
Maybe YOU should choose your comparisons a little better.
Or are YOU poking the bear? Not good, either way.
peter B is a complete idiot who doesent know his ass from his husband toy.
they taste the same.
If what they said is/was true, then it is just that “the truth”!
Oh no, a liberal snowflake is offended by something! Shocking! It’s not like they/them were told a lie though. Libs are offended by EVERYTHING!