Former Southwest Pilot Fined After Exposing Himself To Female Co-Worker In Cockpit

A former pilot for Southwest Airlines has been fined and sentenced to probation for exposing himself to a female first officer and watching pornography during a flight.

On Friday, Michael Haak, 60, pleaded guilty to federal charges in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson. Haak admitted to intentionally committing “a lewd, indecent or obscene act” during the flight.

He was charged in Maryland since it was one of the states the plane traveled over during the flight. The misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail, but Haak was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $5,000.

The incident actually took place on Aug. 10, 2020, while the Southwest Airlines pilot was flying passengers from Philadelphia to Orlando. Once the flight reached cruising altitude, Haak was accused of exposing himself and watching pornography on a laptop in front of the female officer.

“It started as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot. I never imagined it would turn into this in a thousand years,” Haak claimed in a remote hearing.

However, prosecutors accused him of leaving the pilot’s seat to disrobe and proceeded to watch the pornographic content.

“As the plane continued its flight, Haak further engaged in inappropriate conduct in the cockpit, as the first officer continued to perform her duties as an assigned aircrew member,” court documents stated.

Coulson told Haak his actions had a traumatic effect on the female co-pilot. Meanwhile, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Cunningham added that the woman “unfortunately suffered some consequences” following the incident.

Cunningham claimed it wasn’t a result of her encounter with Haak but did not share further details on the matter.

“She had a right not to be subjected to this kind of behavior, regardless of what may have motivated it or prompted it,” he said.

Haak left Southwest Airlines three weeks after the incident. The last flight he piloted for the company was on Aug. 31, 2020.

As part of Haak’s plea deal, prosecutors recommended probation without ordering him to register as a sex offender.