CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) has reached a legal settlement with a long-serving flight attendant after a wrongful dismissal lawsuit backed financially by Elon Musk’s X platform. The case focused on employee speech, social media oversight, and internal disciplinary standards.
X, headquartered in Austin, Texas, confirmed its role in facilitating the settlement, which permanently closes the dispute without public disclosure of financial terms, according to PYOK.
United Airlines Flight Attendant Fired
Ruben Sanchez, an openly gay Roman Catholic flight attendant with more than 28 years of service at United Airlines, was terminated in January 2024.
His dismissal followed an internal investigation triggered by a reported onboard conversation and a subsequent review of his personal social media activity on X.
X’s Global Affairs team confirmed it helped broker an amicable settlement involving United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants, the certified union representing United crew members.
Legal filings show the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it is permanently closed and cannot be reopened. Each party agreed to bear its own legal fees and costs.
Events Leading to the Termination
The incident that initiated the investigation occurred in May 2023 during a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).
Sanchez held a private, hushed conversation with a coworker discussing Catholic theology, marriage, and sexuality in the context of Pride Month, a campaign actively supported by United Airlines.
Sanchez stated his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman and that a person cannot change biological sex.
The conversation was allegedly conducted out of passenger’s earshot. Despite this, an anonymous passenger complaint was filed, prompting United to open a formal inquiry.
While allegations of transphobia related to the conversation were ultimately dismissed as meritless, United expanded its investigation to Sanchez’s social media presence.
The airline reviewed approximately 140,000 posts, likes, comments, and shares linked to his X account.
United identified 35 posts it claimed demonstrated a lack of professionalism, dignity, and respect.
These posts represented roughly 0.02 percent of Sanchez’s total activity on the platform. Sanchez did not identify himself as a United employee on X and rarely created original posts, instead engaging primarily through likes, comments, and reposts.
After his termination, Sanchez did not immediately file a lawsuit. More than a year passed as he attempted to raise funds through a GoFundMe campaign to cover attorney fees.
Once filed, the lawsuit named both United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants as defendants, alleging wrongful dismissal and failure of fair representation.
Union Representation Dispute
The Association of Flight Attendants initially supported Sanchez at the local level but reversed its position when the case reached its national master executive council.
Sanchez alleged the union refused to represent him despite supporting other flight attendants involved in social media-related disciplinary cases.
The union sought dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing that Sanchez failed to provide sufficient evidence of discrimination based on age and religious beliefs.
In late June, the US District Court for the Central District of California denied the union’s motion, allowing the case to proceed until the settlement was finalized.
United Airlines maintains that it does not routinely monitor employee social media accounts. Its internal policy allows review and investigation when content is brought to the company’s attention and may conflict with conduct standards or harm corporate reputation.
The policy states that action may range from requesting the removal of content to termination in cases of significant misjudgment.
Factors considered include the type of post, audience reach, brand impact, and any prior coaching or counseling.
Broader Industry Implications
The settlement underscores ongoing challenges airlines face in balancing corporate values with employee expression on personal digital platforms.
It also highlights the expanding role of technology companies in legal disputes involving speech and employment.
X reiterated its commitment to defending free expression on its platform. Details of the settlement remain confidential, and Sanchez has not issued a public statement on the outcome.
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