Southwest Airlines Pilot’s Rant – Transcript, Here’s What He Said

Southwest Airlines has suspended the pilot who accidently broadcast a homophobic, profane, sexually laced rant over the air. The unidentified pilot tied up important air traffic airwaves back on March 25th, while apparently talking to his co-pilot with his mic, unknown to him, open and broadcasting. During the rant, an air traffic controller attempted to block or alert the pilot to the open mic by broadcasting tones and trying to warn him.

A recording of the rant was obtained by the Houston Chronicle today, and transcribed by Local 2 Investigates of Houstan.  It reads:

Air Traffic Controller – (ATC) “United 242, you (center up)”

(Stuck microphone begins) Southwest Pilot: “Well, I had Tucson to Indy all four weeks and, uh, Chicago crews…11 out of 12 …there’s 12 flight attendants, individual, never the same flight attendant twice.

“Eleven (expletive) over the top (expletive), (expletive) homosexuals and a granny.” (silence)

“Eleven. I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party-land.”

(Possible attempt to interrupt by ATC)

Southwest Pilot: “After that, it was just a continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes…” (off mic from his copilot – inaudible)

Pilot answers: “Well I don’t give a (expletive). I hate 100 percent of their (expletive).”

“So, six months, I went to the bar three times. In six months, three times.” (Another possible attempt to interrupt by ATC)

“Once with the granny and the (slur against gay people), and I wish I hadn’t gone.”

“At the very end with two girls, one of them that was part do-able, but we ended up going to the bar and then to the crew at St. Louis, and all these two women wanted to do was, one wanted to berate her sister and the other wanted to bitch about her husband.”

“Literally, for three hours, me and the F.O. (First officer). When that was done, got back to my room, I’m like why the (expletive) did I stay up?”

ATC: “OK, whoever is, uh, transmitting, better watch what you’re saying.”

(Tones beeping)

Southwest Pilot continues: “They’re still both (inaudible), you know what I mean? I still wouldn’t want anyone to know if I had banged them.”

(Tones beeping)

“So, I mean it was a complete disaster for six months.”

“Now I’m back in Houston, which is easily where the ugliest base is. I mean it’s all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies and there’s like maybe a handful of cute chicks.”

ATC: “OK, someone’s got a stuck mic and, uh, telling us all about their endeavors. We don’t need to hear that.”

– transmissions end, other pilots make jokes about the offensive transmission not coming from them —

“Uh, Houston, Skywest 6285, we’re (gives numbers for his heading) …and that was not us.”

ATC: (Chuckles) “Skywest 6285, Houston Center: Roger, Climb and maintain flight level 360.”

Skywest pilot: “360, Skywest 6285….And they wonder why airline pilots have a bad reputation.”

(ATC calls another plane with instructions.)

(Aircraft answers)

ATC: “Number 7 Hotel Bravo: (gives instructions) Final 240.”

Aircraft answers “7 Hotel Bravo…..And it wasn’t us either.” (beeping times 2)

ATC: ‘Roger, I didn’t think that was you.” (Recording ends)

—update, 6/23/11—-

Southwest Airlines has stated that the pilot was reinstated to his job after diversity training.


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