Horizon Air Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Assaults by Pilots

Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, is facing a lawsuit from a flight attendant who claims she was sexually assaulted by two pilots. The flight attendant, identified as J.B., alleges that the incidents occurred repeatedly during her initial months on the job.

The flight attendant first reported harassment concerns in December and raised them again months later. The lawsuit alleges that Horizon Air "took no action" to protect her.

Incidents Spanning Five Months

The Oregonian reported last week that J.B. filed the suit on Monday, July 8th, seeking unspecified non-economic and punitive damages. The lawsuit claims that the pilots "repeatedly and severely" harassed her from September 2023 through February 2024. One pilot allegedly sent inappropriate, sexually explicit messages while on flights. Another pilot reportedly lured J.B. into his hotel room in Portland in February, where he kissed and touched her without consent before she managed to escape. J.B. reported these incidents to Horizon's human resources in December and again in February.

Unsafe Working Conditions

The lawsuit accuses Horizon Air of suggesting that J.B. encouraged the pilots' behavior and failing to change her work assignments to avoid them. In March, J.B. took a leave of absence and reported her concerns to the Portland Police Bureau. She also petitioned for a sexual abuse protective order (SAPO) against one of the pilots. The SAPO is designed to protect victims of sexual harassment or abuse from individuals who are not family or household members.

Despite the allegations, no criminal charges have been filed against the pilots, who remain employed by Horizon. J.B.'s lawyer, Michael Fuller, stated that she remains on unpaid leave and is considering other employment options. "In light of Horizon Air’s mishandling of her reports of sexual assault, she doesn’t feel safe working there anymore," Fuller said.

Operational Details

Horizon Air operates a fleet of Embraer E175 regional jets, accommodating 76 passengers with a crew of two pilots and two flight attendants per flight. The airline primarily services short routes on the West Coast but also operates longer flights, such as the route between Portland International Airport (PDX) and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), which takes nearly four hours.

Simple Flying reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment, but a representative was not immediately available.