Pilot Alleges He Retaliated Against Her After Voicing Safety Concerns

The Senate Commerce Committee is looking into allegations in a lawsuit that alleges that Stephen Dickson, President Trump's nomination to become the next FAA Administrator, retaliated against a pilot who voiced safety concerns with him in 2016.

In the case, which has just come to light, the pilot, Karlene Petitt, met with Dickson (pictured) about unspecified FAA violations by the airline, according to a report from CNN. Dickson was a senior vice president in charge of flight operations at Delta at the time.

Dickson did not disclose the lawsuit on the nomination questionnaire he submitted to the Senate Commerce Committee.

"Since holding the nomination hearing with Mr. Dickson, new information has come to the committee's attention that merits further examination. The committee has been reviewing this information and I have asked the Department of Transportation and the White House to do the same," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, the committee's chairman.

Petitt was reportedly referred to a psychiatrist for an evaluation following the meeting, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She was grounded for more than a year. Two later examinations cleared her of the disorder, and she is again flying for Delta.

Dickson said in a deposition that he had the final authority in the decision to refer Petitt for the evaluation, calling it a "sound course of action". But Petitt's attorney, Lee Seham, told CNN that Dickson signed off on what was essentially a retaliation against Petitt.

Dickson omitted any reference to the case in the questionnaire, even though the document specifically asked about such legal actions. "I was not named party in any such actions," he said in the document. He has denied that the action was a retaliation.

A Democratic committee aide called the case "concerning". Dickson has been unavailable for comment to CNN, and the White House has not responded to requests for comments, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report