
Southwest Airlines captain David Legeros has filed a complaint against the airline for being fired after allowing the First Officer to fly the B737 aircraft during an engine fire emergency in August 2023.
Legeros chose to communicate with air traffic control and reassure passengers during the emergency landing, rather than taking control of the aircraft as per the airline’s standard operating procedures.
Southwest management criticised Legeros for speaking Spanish to passengers, despite the majority being Hispanic, and found him engaged in serious misconduct after the incident, leading to a ‘Last Chance Agreement.’
Legeros alleges that Southwest Airlines is looking to push him out due to his status as a person of colour, and is seeking injunctive relief to prevent a psychological evaluation and meeting with the Chief Pilot that could lead to his termination.