A retired Southwest Airlines pilot pleaded guilty to watch pornography and exposed his genitals to a female co-pilot during a flight from Philadelphia to Florida last year. He was sentenced to probation on Friday.

Michael Haak, 60, was sentenced to a one-year unsupervised probation by U.S. District Judge J. Mark Coulson and fined $5,000. Associated Press Report.

on August 10, 2020 Prosecutors said that on a flight from Philadelphia International Airport to Orlando International Airport, Huck sat down from the pilot’s seat and “takes off his clothes” after the plane reached cruising altitude and started on the laptop computer in the cockpit. Watch pornography.

The prosecutor said that Huck did not know the co-pilot before the flight. As the flight continued, Haak made further improper actions while the first officer continued her duties.

Haak repented and apologized for his behavior at the hearing.

“It started with a consensus prank between me and another pilot. I never thought it would become this way in a thousand years.” Huck said at a remote hearing.

Haak was charged in Maryland because it was the state of the plane flying over during the incident. BBC News Report. He pleaded guilty to deliberately committing obscene, indecent or obscene behavior in public places. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in prison.

The judge said that Huck’s actions had a traumatic impact on the co-pilot and may affect the safety of passengers and other colleagues.

Southwest Airlines said in a statement that the airline does not tolerate such behavior and only learned of Huck’s behavior after Huck voluntarily left the airline.

“Nevertheless, Southwest Airlines conducted an investigation into the matter, and as a result, it stopped paying Mr. Haak any benefits that he was entitled to receive as a result of the separation from the airline,” said spokesperson Chris Mainz. .

The Associated Press stated in court documents that Huck “did not provide any excuses” and assumed responsibility.

Haak is a resident of Longwood, Florida, and has served as a Southwest pilot for 27 years. His last flight to the airline was on August 31, 2020.