‘Maliciously Taken Out Of Context’: Pilot Union Condemns Suspension Of Air Malta Pilot Due To His Online Joke
The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) has condemned the suspension of an Air Malta pilot following comments he made in a closed Facebook group five months ago. The comments were seen to be mocking the national airline – and his employer – Air Malta.
In their statement, ALPA called the suspension nothing more than an attempt to “intimidate the pilot community”, and said the pilot in question – who is also part of ALPA’s executive committee – was a “highly dedicated and professional individual”.
ALPA’s statement in full
“ALPA feels the pilot was suspended following a knee jerk reaction by the company’s management to a public outcry regarding a misleading article appearing on a political party media portal.
Five months ago, the pilot in question referred to the irony of when an aircraft ‘follows’ an ALPA directive. This was maliciously taken out of context by the person who forwarded it to an online political party portal. Additionally this was an attack on a representative of the pilot work force intended only to intimidate the pilot community.
One has to bear in mind that this comment was posted on a closed group pilot forum. The only reason why ALPA is not issuing an immediate industrial action is to not let our passengers carry the brunt of our company’s bad management decisions.
The pilot in question is a highly dedicated and professional individual who would never act irresponsibly towards his passengers, fellow colleagues and the company. The whole pilot community is united in its support for this individual.”
The pilot has been suspended as an investigation into his comments is underway.
The pilot had said he found it “amusing” to see Air Malta following an ALPA directive
His comment was made following the cancellation of an Air Malta flight some five months ago due to a technical issue: ALPA had directed its members to refuse flying on an aircraft that was found to not possess a cockpit voice recorder erase button.
Air Malta had cancelled the flight, in line with ALPA’s directive, which led to the pilot’s amused status.
The pilot had said Air Malta had “just become my favourite aircraft”, and referred to the irony of Air Malta following ALPA directives in his status. He also said “AHS doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the court order”, in reference to the plane in question.
The action was eventually suspended after Air Malta filed a warrant of prohibitory injunction against ALPA.
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