‘If my aunt had a penis she’d be my uncle’: United Airlines captain who posted slurs about gays and women on pilot forum forced to resign as union leader
Captain Neil Swindells, the newly elected president of the United Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), has resigned from his post
The resignation comes after derogatory comments he made on a ‘private pilot forum’ were revealed
Comments were directed at various ethnic and minority groups and brought to light by other pilots ahead of Swindells’ election, which he narrowly won
Despite issuing an apology, Swindells faced significant backlash and eventually decided his position had become “untenable and a negative distraction.”
In an email to United’s more than 14,000 pilots, Swindells stated that the controversy over his comments “does not reflect who I am as a person”
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The head of the United Airlines pilots’ union has resigned after being accused of anti-Semitism, racism and homophobia over comments he made at a private forum for pilots.
Captain Neil Swindells, a Chicago-based Boeing 787 captain who has been with United for nearly three decades, was recently elected chief chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association’s United Master Executive Council, which represents more than 14,000 pilots at United Airlines.
On Tuesday, he apologized after his comments were made public. Several other pilots then called for his resignation, but Swindells vowed to stay on.
On Wednesday, he turned around and released a statement announcing his resignation.
Captain Neil Swindells, the newly elected chairman of the United Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), has resigned after derogatory comments he made at a ‘private pilot forum’ were exposed
Several offensive comments directed at various minority ethnic groups were exposed by other pilots before Swindells’ election, which he narrowly won
“There has been a lot of negative response to things I posted on a pilot forum,” Swindells said in an email Wednesday to members of the 14,000-strong union.
“While many of these things have been completely taken out of context and publicly weaponized against me, I cannot ignore their existence and its detrimental effect on many of my fellow pilots. For that I am sincerely sorry and apologize unreservedly.
“It became clear that my position was untenable and a negative distraction” to ongoing contract negotiations, he wrote.
In the message to pilots, Swindells said the controversy over his messages “does not reflect who I am as a person.” … I have had a spotless record for the Association and the Company for over 27 years, but errors of judgment on a pilot forum may have damaged that reputation. I hope not.’
An aviation blog, Live and let’s fly reported how a message from Swindells in September 2022 read: ‘I continue to attract you gay man today I see. Bravo! And if my aunt had a penis, then my uncle’s!’
Swindells, a Chicago-based Boeing 787 captain who has been with United for nearly three decades, was recently elected chief chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association’s United Master Executive Council, which represents more than 14,000 pilots at United Airlines
The previous year, he seems to have responded to a post about United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby with “I see you keep putting your gay on today.”
Another message read: ‘And I’m sure Emirates has nothing to do with the Emirates male Captain being flanked by a United Female First Officer either, right??? Every single optic is designed with a nod to Emirates’ Dominance Of The Codeshare, while United got their desired DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] money shot!!!’
Other comments on Swindells’ forum saw him insult various ethnicities, including gays, Jews and women, according to CBS news.
Swindells, a longtime pilot for United Pilot, was only elected as chief chairman of the United Master Executive Council of the ALPA union on Dec. 19.
His predecessor, Mike Hamilton, also held the position for less than a year before having to step down over a family issue.
Swindells was chosen by an executive council of a pilots’ union consisting of 19 pilots.
His comments had been found by other pilots before the election, which Swindells narrowly won.
Speaking of United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, pictured, Swindells wrote ‘keep on attracting your gay man today’
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