Airlines
United Airlines to Pay $305,000 Buddhist pilot to Settle EEOC Religious Discrimination Lawsuit
Airline Agrees to Accommodate Buddhist Pilot’s Religious Beliefs
NEW YORK – United Airlines will pay $305,000 to a Buddhist pilot and will provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
American Airlines to pay $7.5M in class action settlement over bag fees(Opens in a new browser tab)
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the pilot was diagnosed with alcohol dependency and lost the medical certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). One of the requirements of United’s HIMS program for its pilots with substance abuse problems who want to obtain new medical certificates from the FAA is that pilots regularly attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The pilot, who is Buddhist, objected to the religious content of AA and sought to substitute regular attendance at a Buddhism-based peer support group. United refused to accommodate his religious objection and, as a result, the pilot was unable to obtain a new FAA medical certificate permitting him to fly again, the agency charged.
This alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on religion. Under Title VII, employers must make a reasonable accommodation for an employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs, so long as doing so does not impose an undue hardship on the employer’s business. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (EEOC v. United Airlines Inc., Civil Action No. 20-cv-9110) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The case was litigated by EEOC Trial Attorney Sebastian Riccardi, supervised by Supervisory Trial Attorney Sara Smolik.
Under the consent decree that resolves the lawsuit, United will pay the pilot $305,000 in back pay and damages and will reinstate him into its HIMS Program while allowing him to attend a non-12-step peer recovery program. The company will also accept religious accommodation requests in its HIMS Program going forward, institute a new policy on religious accommodations, and train its employees.
“Employers have the affirmative obligation to modify their policies to accommodate employee’s religious beliefs,” said EEOC New York Regional Attorney Jeffrey Burstein. “If they require their employees to attend AA as part of a rehabilitation program, they must make sure that they allow for alternatives for their employees who have religious objections to AA.”
Acting EEOC New York District Director Timothy Riera added, “We are pleased that United will now accommodate its pilots who have religion-based objections to mandatory AA attendance.”
The EEOC’s New York District Office is responsible for processing discrimination charges and the conduct of agency litigation in New York, northern New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Airlines
Woman slams Air India for downgrading her mother’s business class ticket to economy,
Air India finds itself embroiled in controversy yet again following a recent incident where a passenger was downgraded from Business Class to Economy Class on a flight from Delhi to Washington DC.
The incident has sparked a debate surrounding customer service standards and the airline’s adherence to established protocols. when a user, Ms. Vitasta, took to social media to share her mother’s troubling experience. According to her account, her mother, who held a Business Class ticket for the Delhi to Washington DC flight, was confronted with a series of bewildering situations.
Initially, airline staff informed her that her seat couldn’t recline, followed by the explanation that it was reserved for the crew. However, to her dismay, she later discovered another passenger occupying her rightful seat while she was unceremoniously shifted to Economy Class. Ms. Vitasta expressed her frustration in a tweet, condemning Air India for its actions and highlighting the discomfort and inconvenience her mother endured.
In response, Air India reached out to Ms. Vitasta, assuring her that they were investigating the matter with priority alongside the airport team. However, their subsequent offer of compensation, which included 75% of the fare and an upgrade voucher, was met with skepticism and further criticism. Ms. Vitasta updated her followers, expressing dissatisfaction with the compensatory measures and denouncing the rude behavior of the ground staff in Delhi.
Following the incident, Air India purportedly offered to compensate 75% of the fare and provided an upgrade voucher to Ms. Vitasta’s mother. However, many online users deemed this response inadequate and urged her to file a formal complaint against the airline for the deficiency of service experienced. “Don’t accept the 75%; she paid for a service and didn’t receive it; she should get 100% minimum,” said a second person. “@airindia’s reckless, arrogant culture would never change regardless of who owns it,” commented a third.
Airlines
Somalil and ATC Prevents Collision Between Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines
Somalil and’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) played a pivotal role in preventing a potential catastrophe as an Ethiopian Airlines plane narrowly dodged another near-collision incident with an Emirates aircraft over Somalia’s airspace.
The harrowing event unfolded last Sunday, involving flight ethiopian airlines ETH 690 and emirates UAE 722, both cruising at 37,000 feet. According to an incident report released by the Somaliland Civil Aviation and Airports Authority on Tuesday, the two planes were on a collision course after receiving conflicting instructions from Mogadishu Control, placing them on a collision trajectory.
Fortunately, swift action by Somaliland’s ATC, in collaboration with the ethiopianairline
crew, averted disaster. The pilots of the et airline 737 MAX promptly ascended to 39,000 feet, creating a safe distance between the two airliners.
This incident underscores the critical importance of proficient air traffic control in ensuring the safety of airspace, particularly in the Horn of Africa region, which has witnessed similar close calls in recent times. The repeated errors by Mogadishu’s air traffic controllers highlight the pressing need for enhanced oversight and training within the aviation sector.
The Somalil and Civil Aviation and Airports Authority has issued a cautionary statement, warning that such mistakes pose a significant threat to the safety of international flights. They emphasized that the “stubbornness and lack of knowledge” displayed by Mogadishu Tower personnel present a clear danger to air safety.
The government of Somalia has yet to respond to the incident or address concerns raised by Somaliland authorities.
Airlines
Emirates A380 superjumbo was damaged by a ground vehicle in Moscow
In a startling incident at Moscow Domodedovo Airport, an Emirates Airbus A380, one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, encountered significant damage as it prepared for departure.
The mishap unfolded on a Wednesday afternoon when a pushback tug found itself wedged beneath the colossal double-deck aircraft.
Photographs circulated on social media platforms depicted the vivid yellow pushback truck ensnared under the belly of the A380, indicating the severity of the situation. The unfortunate incident, as per RadarBox data, unfolded mere hours prior, during the preparation for flight EK133 from Dubai to Moscow, operated by the aircraft with registration A6-EDM.
Thankfully, the aircraft had not yet welcomed passengers on board, as it awaited departure scheduled for 16:35 local time.emirates flights However, the faced postponement and eventual cancellation due to the damage sustained. The underbody of the airbus a380 emirates
bore notable harm, necessitating extensive repairs before it could resume service.
Emirates promptly responded to the incident, ensuring the safety and convenience of its passengers. A spokesperson for the airline conveyed, “ek flight EK134 has been cancelled due to a ground services vehicle making contact with the aircraft prior to passengers boarding.” Additionally, affected passengers were swiftly rebooked on alternative Emirates flights, assuring minimal disruption to their travel plans.
The statement issued by emirates air line underscored their commitment to passenger and crew safety, reiterating that the well-being of all involved remains paramount. While the setback in Moscow may cause inconvenience, Emirates assures passengers that steps are being taken to rectify the situation and resume normal operations swiftly.
Aerospace
China is secretly testing its next-generation medium combat helicopter Z21
China consistently keeps aviation enthusiasts surprised with its advancements in fighter jets and other aircraft. Leading the pack in Asia, China continuously pushes boundaries in developing domestically-built aircraft.
Recently, images circulating on the internet reveal China’s latest creation, the Z-21 helicopter. Resembling its predecessor, the Z-10, this helicopter boasts enhanced fighter capabilities. The emergence of these images sparks questions regarding the fate of plans to acquire Russian-made Ka-52K attack helicopters, particularly the naval version.
Observing the helicopter in flight, it shares design elements with the Harbin Z-10, notably in the front fuselage and cockpit canopy. The wing stubs for weapon mounts exhibit similar shapes, though with less pronounced angular features. With a tandem seating arrangement, the Z-21 also draws comparisons to the Mil Mi-28, featuring an elongated body with five rotor blades and weapon bays on its sides.
The unveiling of the Z-21 has triggered speculation about its potential role in future military operations. Analysts suggest that beyond its firepower, its introduction could signal significant technological advancements. There’s particular interest in whether China will incorporate a ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ system akin to later Apache models, enabling the Z-21 to control armed drones for reconnaissance and attacks, reducing risks to the helicopter itself.
The emergence of the Z-21 underscores China’s increasing military prowess and its commitment to developing cutting-edge weaponry. Its deployment and capabilities will be closely monitored, especially concerning regional security dynamics.
The helicopter presents a significant challenge to American-built Apache and other medium helicopters, boasting superior capacity for flying at higher altitudes and more powerful speed and combat capabilities, thus enhancing its effectiveness on the battlefield. On the other hand, amidst ongoing Indian border tensions, this aircraft is poised to play a crucial role in surveillance along the sensitive China border and beyond.
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