Misconduct in Aviation
Harassed During Flight Training or Your Aviation Career? We're Here to Help.
Aviation should be a place where every pilot, student, mechanic, flight attendant, and aviation professional can learn and work without fear of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or abuse.
Unfortunately, that isn't always the reality.
Many women and people of color experience harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation in flight training and throughout the aviation industry. Because aviation often involves close instructor-student relationships and significant power imbalances, many people feel they have no choice but to tolerate misconduct to protect their training, certifications, or careers.
You are not alone, and what happened to you matters.
Whether the misconduct occurred at a flight school, airline, corporate flight department, airport, or another aviation organization, you may have legal options. At Hurley McKenna & Mertz, we help individuals understand their rights, preserve important evidence, and pursue accountability when they've experienced harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
Taking the first step can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone. We're here to help you understand your options and protect your future.
What Are Common Types of Misconduct in Aviation?
Aviation misconduct includes harassment, discrimination, retaliation, abuse of authority, and other inappropriate behavior that creates an unsafe, hostile, or intimidating training or work environment. Misconduct can occur at flight schools, airlines, corporate flight departments, airports, maintenance facilities, fixed-base operators (FBOs), collegiate aviation programs, and other aviation organizations.
Examples of aviation misconduct include:
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Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances
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Unwanted touching or other forms of sexual misconduct
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Racial harassment or discrimination
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Sex-based discrimination
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Bullying, intimidation, or hazing
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Threats involving endorsements, sign-offs, checkrides, or employment opportunities
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Retaliation for reporting harassment, discrimination, or safety concerns
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Creating a hostile learning or work environment through repeated offensive conduct
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Ignoring or failing to investigate complaints of misconduct
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Allowing repeated misconduct to continue despite prior complaints
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Pressuring students or employees to remain silent about inappropriate behavior
Not every inappropriate interaction gives rise to a legal claim, but no one should have to tolerate harassment or discrimination to pursue a career in aviation. If you believe you've experienced misconduct during flight training or while working in the aviation industry, an experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and legal options.
What Should You Do If You Experience Misconduct in Aviation?
If you've experienced harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other misconduct during flight training or while working in aviation, taking the right steps early can help protect both your safety and your legal rights.
When possible, consider:
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Prioritizing your immediate safety. If you feel unsafe during a flight or training event, remove yourself from the situation if you can.
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Documenting what happened, including dates, times, locations, aircraft tail numbers, and the names of anyone involved or who witnessed the incident.
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Saving text messages, emails, social media messages, photographs, logbook entries, scheduling records, and any other communications related to the misconduct.
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Reporting the conduct through the appropriate channels, which may include your flight school, employer, airport management, or another organization responsible for addressing complaints. If the misconduct also raises aviation safety concerns, you may have options to report those issues to the FAA.
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Keeping copies of any complaints you submit and any responses you receive.
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Speaking with an experienced attorney before signing agreements, accepting settlements, or making decisions that could affect your legal rights.
Every situation is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. An attorney can help you understand your options, preserve important evidence, and determine the best course of action based on your circumstances.
How We Can Help
Experiencing harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other misconduct in aviation can leave lasting personal, emotional, and professional consequences. Whether the misconduct occurred during flight training or throughout your aviation career, our firm can help by:
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Investigating the facts and identifying all potentially responsible individuals and organizations
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Preserving important evidence, including communications, training records, witness statements, and other documentation
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Explaining your legal rights and options in clear, compassionate language
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Pursuing compensation for emotional distress, lost wages, lost career opportunities, financial losses, and other damages where appropriate
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Holding flight schools, aviation employers, or other organizations accountable when they fail to prevent or address misconduct
Most importantly, we provide a safe, confidential environment where you can share your experience. While you focus on moving forward, we'll focus on protecting your rights and pursuing the accountability you deserve.
Our Practice Areas
We represent clients in a range of misconduct in aviation cases, including:
Sexual Harassment
Sexual
Abuse
Workplace Discrimination
Retaliation & Whistleblower
Personal
Injury
Partner with Hurley McKenna & Mertz to Get Justice for Your Family
Experiencing harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in aviation can leave you feeling isolated, discouraged, and uncertain about your future. You shouldn't have to navigate it alone. Our compassionate team has experience helping individuals hold organizations accountable for misconduct, and we would be honored to help you understand your rights. If you'd like to learn more about your legal options, contact our team for a free consultation.