Southwest Airlines Pilot Sentenced For Watching Porn & Exposing Genitals On Flight

Michael Haak, a 60-year-old Southwest Airlines pilot is apologetic after being sentenced to probation for watching porn and exposing his genitals on a flight he piloted from Philadelphia to Orlando on August 10, 2020. In April, he was charged with intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act in a public place, and he plead guilty.

On Friday (May 28), Haak shared his regrets before US Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson ordered him to serve one year of probation and pay a $5,000 fine. Haak said, “It started as a consensual prank between me and the other pilot. I never imagined it would turn into this in a thousand years.” It’s reported that when the plane hit cruising altitude, Haak, who retired shortly after the incident, got out of his seat, “disrobed” and began watching pornographic material on a laptop inside the cockpit. Federal prosecutors claim, “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.” Haak has expressed his apologies and embarrassment while a Southwest spokesperson claims the airline “does not tolerate the behavior of this nature and will take prompt action if such conduct is substantiated. Nonetheless, Southwest did investigate the matter and as a result, ceased paying Mr. Haak any benefits he was entitled to receive as a result of his separation from (the airline).”