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Asia Pacific Airlines has been directed by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay over $2 million following the dismissal of a pilot who raised concerns about engine maintenance practices. The airline plans to appeal this decision.
A three-year investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) found that Captain Brant Swigart was wrongfully terminated after he consistently reported safety issues related to aircraft maintenance. A parallel investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supported Swigart's claims, confirming that maintenance reports were approved without proper analysis or completion. OSHA stated: "Asia Pacific Airlines has shown an unacceptable and potentially catastrophic disregard for safety and shamefully viewed pilots’ safety concerns as employee conflicts."
The airline disputes these findings, asserting that Swigart was not dismissed for whistleblowing but due to a separate incident in November 2021 at Honolulu’s Daniel K Inouye International Airport. During this event, Swigart prematurely powered up engines while ground crews were nearby, which he admitted was a lapse in concentration. He explained: "Mine was a momentary lapse of concentration, and I immediately fixed it by stamping on the brakes and stopping the aircraft." Asia Pacific Airlines maintains that this breach of protocol led to his termination.
