A female Alaska Airlines pilot has filed a lawsuit against the airlines over a work trip in 2017 during which she claims she was drugged and raped.
Betty Pina, based out of Seattle, said that during an overnight stay in Minneapolis for a work trip, she drank wine spiked by her male co-pilot.
She said she woke up in his bedroom.
“And I’m like, ‘Where am I’ and immediately I sit up and realize my bra and top is on and I’m sliding off the bed. It’s wet and I smell vomit and the blankets and sheets are gathered up at the end of the bed. And I realize my pants and underwear are off,” Pina said of the alleged attack, reported KIRO.
Pina is a former military pilot who flew combat missions in Afghanistan before joining Alaska Airlines.
Exclusive: Seattle-based @AlaskaAir co-pilot files lawsuit saying she was drugged and raped by the captain of her aircraft. Betty Pina told me, "I immediately sit up… and I realize my pants and underwear are off." Pena says the captain is still working for Alaska Airlines. pic.twitter.com/50SlPzHBrT
— Dave Wagner (@DaveKIRO7) March 14, 2018
Exclusive: Lawsuit says "predator pilot" still working for @AlaskaAir after co-pilot claims she was drugged and raped by her captain.
Betty Pina is a combat vet who flew Chinook helicopters in Afghanistan and says she never imagined the dangers of an overnight in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/7utQrejewV— Dave Wagner (@DaveKIRO7) March 14, 2018
Pina said that her attacker, a “predator,” still works for the airline, prompting her lawsuit. She wants him fired.
Alaska Airlines issued a statement to the broadcaster in the wake of the lawsuit being filed.
“This is an open and active investigation and we aren’t going to comment. What we can say is that we are taking this matter seriously,” the airline stated.
“The safety and well-being of our employees and guests is a top priority. It is our policy to withhold an employee from work during this type of investigation.”
Same thing happened to my wife on an overnight trip with a private aircraft in January. The other pilot remains uncharged. You never realize how hard it is to prove rape in a he said she said scenario until it happens to a woman you know.
— PirateTruck (@PirateTruck) March 14, 2018
Someone commenting on the story said that it may be hard for Pina to prove her case.
“Same thing happened to my wife on an overnight trip with a private aircraft in January. The other pilot remains uncharged,” a Twitter user said.
“You never realize how hard it is to prove rape in a he said she said scenario until it happens to a woman you know.”
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