American Airlines, Delta Air Lines suspend pilots for conduct

Many kids dream about becoming pilots. A certain generation was probably inspired by classics such as "The Little Prince" by pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery, or "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach.

There’s just something fantastic about being up in the clouds and traveling across the planet in the fastest way possible. A more modern form of inspiration comes in the form of the movie "Top Gun."

Even beyond books and movies, in the real world, for a long while and across the globe, becoming a pilot has been considered a prestigious career.

People respect and admire pilots for several reasons:

Special set of skills

Significant responsibilities

Assumed perfect health

Discipline

Adventurous spirit

“The trust and confidence placed in pilots by the public and their colleagues make the role one of high regard," according to a report by AN Aviation Services. "The professional image of a pilot in uniform, walking confidently through the airport terminal, reflects years of rigorous training, discipline, and hard work. It’s a career that commands respect, not just because of the technical skills involved, but also because of the leadership and calm demeanor required in high-pressure situations.”

Often, we forget that people with prestigious careers — such as doctors, scientists, and pilots, among others — are still people who have their own opinions and can act controversially. In other words, they are still human.

Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and American Airlines planes in a side-by-side photo illustration. lead.

Major U.S. airlines ground multiple pilots after controversial social media posts related to Charlie Kirk's assassination. TheStreet / Shutterstock

Image source: TheStreet/Shutterstock

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines pilots suspended over posts on Charlie Kirk’s death

American Airlines (AAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) have suspended pilots because they posted social media comments celebrating conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination, reported Aviation A2Z.

Over the past few days, since Kirk’s death, the social network has exploded with both his supporters and critics commenting on his untimely death. While supporters shared emotional posts mourning the loss of life, some critics couldn't put aside their differences and praised the murder.

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American Airlines condemned violence and hate, stating that these don’t align with the company’s purpose to care for people. The carrier's pilots, who were caught celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death, have been grounded and removed from service.

Government officials also publicly condemned the actions, arguing that this kind of behavior shouldn’t be tolerated from people responsible for the safety of passengers.

“This behavior is disgusting and they should be fired,” wrote U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a Saturday post on X. “Any company responsible for the safety of the traveling public cannot tolerate that behavior.”

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines decry staff behavior after controversial social media posts

Delta Air Lines released an internal memo indicating that employees who made inappropriate social media posts connected to Charlie Kirk’s murder had been suspended, pending an investigation.

“We were made aware of Delta employees whose social media content, related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk, went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in an internal memo, according to a report by CNN. “These social posts stand in stark contrast to our values and our social media policy, and these employees have been suspended pending an investigation.”

United Airlines confirmed to CNN on Sunday that it has also suspended staff.

“We’ve been clear with our customers and employees that there’s zero tolerance for politically motivated violence or any attempt to justify it," United Airlines stated.

Transportation Secretary Duffy commented on the news, thanking United Airlines for its response.

“They must be fired. There’s no room for political violence in America and anyone applauding it will face the consequences. ESPECIALLY those we count on to ensure the safety of the flying public,” Duffy wrote in another post on X.

The three major airlines did not release the pilots' names, and no major media outlet has published the controversial social media posts.

The impact of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that promotes conservative politics on high school and college campuses nationwide. He spread his ideas, which were often considered controversial, on college campuses through “Prove Me Wrong” open debates.

He was against cancel culture, the "woke" movement, and abortion, while advocating for love, family, and faith and advising women to put family over career. These views and opinions, often argued in depth during his debates, cannot easily be summarized.

Some of Kirk's views were considered extreme, for example, being against abortion even in cases of young girls being raped, and it was quite possible to agree with him on several topics, but completely reject some of his other views.

One thing is certain, however. Kirk touched people, both in a positive and negative way, and rarely made people feel indifferent, which explains the social media explosion following his murder.

Airlines are not the only companies condemning or suspending employees over controversial posts about Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting. NBC reports similar incidents at universities, in the health care sector, and at retailers such as Office Depot.