© Provided by IBT Media (UK) GettyImages-167200362 An Alaska Airlines pilot is suing the company for allegedly failing to act after she came forward claiming she was drugged and raped by one of her colleagues during a stopover.
Betty Pina says the airline is liable for the actions of her co-pilot, whom she alleged assaulted her at a hotel in Minneapolis after the pair had flown there in June, reports The Seattle Times.
Pina said she was serving as co-pilot when she met up for drinks in the hotel’s concierge room set up
Betty Pina says the airline is liable for the actions of her co-pilot, whom she alleged assaulted her at a hotel in Minneapolis after the pair had flown there in June, reports The Seattle Times.
Pina said she was serving as co-pilot when she met up for drinks in the hotel’s concierge room set up
The 46-year-old said she was handed a glass of wine by her captain, whom she had never met before they were assigned together for the flight, and complained that it tasted funny. According to an interview with The Seattle Times, she began to feel funny after taking a few more sips of her drink.
“From there, I don’t remember leaving the concierge room, the elevator ride or walking down the hallway to my room,” Pina said. “When I woke up, everything was hazy. I remember seeing a figure, somebody pulling at my right ankle, and rolling over and trying to say ‘No.’ And then, I was out again.”
Pina said the next thing she remembered was waking up in her hotel room naked from the waist down, hearing the captain talk on the phone.
Pina has now filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against her employer, claiming Alaska Airlines is culpable for the captain’s actions and for its subsequent failure to act after he reported the alleged attack to officials. The captain is still employed by the company and remains on Alaska’s active seniority list for pilots.
Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan did not make any specific comments about Pina’s allegations when asked, citing the matter as “an open and active investigation.”
“What we can say is that we are taking this matter seriously,” Egan added. “The safety and well-being of our employees and guests is a top priority.”
Alleged victims of sexual assaults are not normally named, but Pina threw out her anonymity to speak out about her case.
“My hope is that by me doing this, it may protect other women,” Pina said. “How many other victims are out there? I may not be the first case, but I hope to be the last. It’s time to take responsibility. The culture needs to change. We can’t sweep this under the rug any longer.”
“From there, I don’t remember leaving the concierge room, the elevator ride or walking down the hallway to my room,” Pina said. “When I woke up, everything was hazy. I remember seeing a figure, somebody pulling at my right ankle, and rolling over and trying to say ‘No.’ And then, I was out again.”
Pina said the next thing she remembered was waking up in her hotel room naked from the waist down, hearing the captain talk on the phone.
Pina has now filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against her employer, claiming Alaska Airlines is culpable for the captain’s actions and for its subsequent failure to act after he reported the alleged attack to officials. The captain is still employed by the company and remains on Alaska’s active seniority list for pilots.
Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan did not make any specific comments about Pina’s allegations when asked, citing the matter as “an open and active investigation.”
“What we can say is that we are taking this matter seriously,” Egan added. “The safety and well-being of our employees and guests is a top priority.”
Alleged victims of sexual assaults are not normally named, but Pina threw out her anonymity to speak out about her case.
“My hope is that by me doing this, it may protect other women,” Pina said. “How many other victims are out there? I may not be the first case, but I hope to be the last. It’s time to take responsibility. The culture needs to change. We can’t sweep this under the rug any longer.”
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