A former United Airlines flight attendant has filed a lawsuit against the carrier. She alleges the airline failed to protect her from sexual harassment and revenge porn. The lawsuit names a United pilot, her ex-boyfriend, as the perpetrator. This case highlights concerns about workplace safety and corporate responsibility within the airline industry.
Key Takeaways
- Former United flight attendant sues airline for negligence and hostile work environment.
- Lawsuit centers on a United pilot, Andrew Hill, who pleaded guilty to felony charges for distributing intimate images.
- Plaintiff claims United did not act promptly despite being informed of Hill's conduct.
- Case raises questions about airline accountability for employee misconduct, even off-duty.
- Allegations include inadequate sexual harassment training within the airline.
Lawsuit Details Allegations Against United Airlines Pilot
The lawsuit, filed in a Colorado district court, centers on a years-long ordeal involving Andrew Hill. Hill, a 37-year-old United Airlines pilot, faced criminal charges in 2024. These charges included distributing intimate images, harassment, stalking, and online impersonation.
Investigators found that Hill secretly recorded and shared explicit videos and photos of his ex-girlfriend. She was also a United flight attendant. He also targeted at least ten other women, some of whom were airline employees.
Key Criminal Charges
- Distributing intimate images
- Harassment
- Stalking
- Online impersonation
The victim, who joined United in 2015, began a relationship with Hill in 2016. They met on a flight. The relationship soon turned abusive, according to the lawsuit. Hill allegedly pressured her to send explicit material. He also recorded their encounters without consent during layovers.
He later distributed these images online. When she confronted him in 2017, Hill promised to delete the material. However, the harassment reportedly escalated after their breakup in 2021. The victim reported that Hill stalked her and sent harassing messages. He also continued uploading explicit content to multiple websites.
A Utah police investigation confirmed her claims. It also uncovered that several other women had been targeted by Hill. This led to his guilty plea on multiple felony counts.
Allegations of Negligence by United Airlines
The civil complaint asserts that United Airlines failed to act. This alleged inaction occurred even after the company was alerted to Hill’s conduct. The lawsuit claims United did not suspend Hill until July, after his arrest. This was despite a search warrant for his employment records being served in April 2024.
The plaintiff argues the company’s inaction allowed Hill to continue harassing employees. She states that United’s leadership “created and maintained a hostile work environment.”
"United's leadership created and maintained a hostile work environment," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit also points to a prior incident. In 2011, another United pilot faced accusations of posting revenge porn. The complaint claims the airline failed to learn from past mistakes. This suggests a pattern of inadequate response to such serious issues.
Workplace Harassment History
This is not the first time United Airlines has faced allegations regarding workplace conduct. The lawsuit references a similar incident in 2011 involving another pilot and revenge porn. This history suggests a need for stronger protective protocols within the company.
The complaint alleges that United has long lacked adequate sexual harassment prevention training for flight crews. Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants, publicly stated in 2019 that no such training had been provided. This reinforces the plaintiff's claims about a lack of protective measures.
Impact and Broader Implications for the Airline Industry
The case, filed under Colorado District Court case number 1:25-cv-03403, could significantly impact how airlines are held responsible for workplace harassment. This includes behavior that occurs off-duty but affects employees.
The plaintiff’s legal team argues that United’s corporate culture and lack of protective protocols left employees vulnerable. They claim this allowed misconduct by pilots, who are in positions of authority, to continue unchecked.
Airlines operate in a unique environment. Employees often work and stay together in various locations globally. This can create complex situations regarding personal and professional boundaries. This case will test the extent of an employer's duty to protect employees from harassment by colleagues, even outside of direct work hours.
Key Legal Questions
- How far does an airline's responsibility extend for off-duty employee conduct?
- Are current sexual harassment training programs sufficient in the aviation sector?
- What constitutes a hostile work environment in a highly mobile industry?
This lawsuit comes at a time when workplace conduct and accountability are under increased scrutiny across many industries. The outcome could set a precedent for how airlines manage sensitive issues like sexual harassment and revenge porn, especially when involving employees in positions of power.
It also highlights the importance of timely and decisive action by employers when allegations of serious misconduct arise. The delay in Hill's suspension, despite a search warrant, will be a central point of contention in court.
Ongoing Legal Challenges for United Airlines
This lawsuit is one of several legal challenges United Airlines currently faces. In a separate case, a federal judge recently ruled that a disability discrimination lawsuit against United can proceed to trial.
This separate lawsuit involves a long-serving United Airlines flight attendant. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2010. She managed her health using Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provisions for over a decade. However, after returning to work in 2022, she no longer met the eligibility hours for FMLA leave.
Her intermittent absences due to her condition were recorded as attendance “points” under United’s internal performance system. She was terminated in June 2022, after her doctor missed a submission deadline for medical documentation. United cited dependability as an essential requirement for flight attendants.
The federal judge rejected United's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. This allows a jury to assess whether United acted lawfully under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The outcome of these cases could influence future labor policies across the U.S. airline industry.
