• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » United Airlines » United Pilot Removed for Odd Onboard Rant
NewsUnited Airlines

United Pilot Removed for Odd Onboard Rant

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 12, 2017November 14, 2023 10 Comments

A pilot was removed from a United Airlines flight from Austin to San Francisco on Saturday after using the plane’s PA system to vent about her recent divorce, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton.

United Pilot Removed
Sylvia N’guessan / youtube.com

The A319 captain boarded United 455 late and out of uniform — she was wearing a green cap, green sweater, blue jeans, and flip-flops. Over the PA system, she apologized for being late and then began rambling. First she asked if passengers cared that she was out of uniform. Next she mentioned she was going through a messy divorce. Then she looked at a interracial couple sitting in first class and said, “Look, I don’t care if you voted for Trump or Clinton, they’re both assholes.”

By this point many passengers began to get nervous. Sensing it, the disgruntled pilot stated, “So I’ll stop, and we’ll fly the plane. Don’t worry. I’m going to let my co-pilot fly it. He’s a man.”

That made passengers even more nervous. She then added, “OK, if you don’t feel safe get off the plane, but otherwise we can go.” One man immediately jumped up and was followed by 20 more.

Sensing something was deeply wrong, the flight was further delayed and a new crew summoned. The captain was escorted off by police. A replacement crew was brought in and the flight departed two hours late:

United Pilot Removed from flight 2

United Pilot Removed from flight 3
A passenger who had already left the flight out of fear for his safety snapped this photo / Randy Reiss / Twitter

A passenger video of the incident was posted but promptly placed in private mode on YouTube.

One Passenger’s Account

One first class passenger, Randy Reiss, witnessed the incident. Live tweeting, he added-

So, y’all. I’m shaking right now. I just left my @united flight 455 ‘cos the captain demonstrated that she was not mentally in a safe space.

She got on in street clothes and asked if we were ok with her flying like that. We all said okay. Cute, right?

So then she says “sorry, I’m going through s divorce.” Ummm uh oh

Then she identified an interracial couple in first class, I think in an effort to say “yay unity” but it was was awkward.

Then she’s like “I don’t care if you voted for Trump or Clinton. They’re both assholes.”

At that point, I was like “YOOO!!!!”

And she looks at me and is like ” Did I offend you, sir? I apologize. You don’t have to fly if you’re not comfortable.”

So I jumped up and was like “peace, out.”

Oh wait, at some juncture she said she was gong to be on Oprah

Anyway… I stormed off. It took a few, but half the flight followed my [lead]

They were going to rebook us. But now they are delaying us 1 1/2 hours till we get a new captain.

I hope she gets the help she needs. That was scary as fuck. Back to the @united lounge for relaxing cheese cubes.

So, she’s off the flight.

WE HUGGED GOOD-BYE Y’ALL

She was crying. She apologized. I wished her well & said I hope she gets the help she needs.

I kid u not, her parting words: “We should be on show together. We should write a book.” OMG.

New captain on board. Apologized. Professional. We’re off. Radio silence. RIP my Twitter mentions. Xxxo to the world!

CONCLUSION

Weiss added, “Being a pilot is a tough & stressful job. This particular pilot did not seem emotionally equipped to do that job today. I hope that she gets the help she probably needs.” He’s right.

A very sad story — the captain sounds like she is deeply troubled. I hope that she gets the help she needs and I wish her the best. I can tell you I would have also stepped off that flight. How about you?

(H/T FlyerTalk)

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: February 11, 2017
Next Article Review: London to Cairo in EgyptAir 777-300 Business Class

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • TSA Shoe Requirement

    TSA Ends Shoe Removal Requirement At Airport Checkpoints

    July 7, 2025
  • United Airlines Sting Chicago

    United Employee Caught in Predator Sting At O’Hare Airport

    July 5, 2025
  • United Airlines Mango Lassi

    United Airlines Rolls Out Aperol Spritz, Mango Lassi, And New Hawaii Menus

    July 4, 2025

10 Comments

  1. Marc Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 7:33 am

    Terminate her. Actions have consequences. No excuses. If we let this slide, why not let drunk drivers get behind the wheel.

  2. Iris Wells Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 9:04 am

    Her behavior reflects much more than marital woes, and should never be able to fly, much less pilot a plane, as her behavior is not only scary, but down right dangerous! Extreme vetting should be implemented within all airlines, to assure the public’s safety (and soon) before something very
    bad happens!!!! Perhaps she would best suited for a job at UC Berkeley.

  3. Sexy_Kitten7 Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 11:53 am

    Very sad. I also feel bad for her.

    On a related note, a captain yesterday mentioned that the FO would be doing all the flying (this is before we even left SAN). It struck me as an odd thing to say. We know that they have the same qualifications and switch off regularly but the general public doesn’t. Granted, I used to think captain was just a fancy name for pilot, so maybe the distinction didn’t matter.

  4. Peter Nelson Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 3:41 pm

    ” Extreme vetting should be implemented within all airlines, to assure the public’s safety (and soon) before something very
    bad happens!!!! ”

    We have no idea what’s in her past or whether any sort of “extreme vetting” (whatever that means) would have predicted it. Pilots are human beings with the whole range of human emotional responses that our species possesses. Not everyone who’s in a bad or unstable emotional state acts out as outrageously as that pilot did. As a result we’ve all probably flown plenty of timers with pilots where were just as dangerously unstable as she was but kept it to themselves.

    Over the years there have been several incidents where a mentally unstable pilot deliberately crashed his airplane – in some cases a retrospective revealed things we might have caught, in other cases, not. There’s not much that passengers can do when we place our lives in the hands of a human being so best not to worry about it.

  5. Carl S Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    OMG! Saw the video of her ‘speech’. First thought was of the ill-fated GermanWings flight! It was a good thing she made her state of mind known BEFORE the flight took off! OMG! Hope her license is yanked for good. Frightening to even think what could have taken place in that cockpit after they got airborne! OMG!

  6. Carl S Reply
    February 12, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    P.S. Yes, Matthew, I certainly would have quickly done the odds in a nono second and opted to leave the gambling table. Would have alighted that aircraft even without my carry on. What a nightmare, but best to have gotten a heads up!

  7. Steve Reply
    February 13, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    Anyone who got off that plane because the female captain had the meltdown is a coward. YOLO!

  8. Steve Reply
    February 13, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    OK…I was kidding. Glad she was replaced and I also hope she is OK. I am terrified of flying as it is. I would have been the first one off the plane.

  9. Airline pilot Reply
    February 16, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    There is zero chance that the flight attendants and first officer would have allowed that plane to move after that PA announcement. It was a fast moving situation, but the first officer was likely talking to operations while she was on the PA.

    The Captain will never fly a passenger aircraft again. Unfortunate, but there is no room for that in the airline business.

  10. Pingback: United Captain Kicked Off Flight For INSANE Behavior - One Mile at a Time

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for July

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • a woman standing at a counter in a coffee shop
    Great Coffee In Basel, Switzerland July 8, 2025
  • TSA Shoe Requirement
    TSA Ends Shoe Removal Requirement At Airport Checkpoints July 7, 2025
  • Cowboy Bomb Alaska Airlines
    “I Have A Bomb Under My Hat!” Cowboy Pulls Stupid Stunt On Alaska Airlines Flight July 7, 2025
  • a group of people standing in a line with luggage
    Delta’s Swanky JFK Lounge Can’t Handle Summer Crowds… July 7, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • a blue passport on a black surface
    All The Patriotic Quotes In Your U.S. Passport July 4, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025
  • a row of seats in an airplane
    If You Abuse Company Travel Policy, Expect To Be Fired! June 16, 2025

Archives

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.