OSHA Orders Pilot Reinstated
Today OSHA ordered Air Methods Corp., the largest U.S. provider of air medical transportation services, to reinstate a pilot that Air Methods terminated in retaliation for his refusal to fly a helicopter with a faulty emergency locator. OSHA also ordered Air Methods to pay $158,000 in lost pay and $8,500 in damages, and remove disciplinary information from the whistleblower’s personnel file. OSHA has issued a press release about its findings in this AIR 21 whistleblower case.
AIR-21 protects whistleblowers against retaliation for:
- Disclosing a violation of an airline safety regulation to their employer or a federal government entity;
- Commencing a proceeding related to the violation of an airline safety regulation; or
- Testifying, assisting, or participating in a proceeding related to the violation of an airline safety regulation.
Under AIR-21, a prevailing whistleblower can recover:
- Reinstatement;
- Lost wages and benefits;
- Compensatory damages for emotional distress and reputational harm; and
- Attorney fees and litigation costs.
Whistleblower Protection Lawyers
Washington DC whistleblower law firm Zuckerman Law represents whistleblowers nationwide under federal whistleblower protection laws, including the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower law, and the False Claims Act and NDAA anti-retaliation provisions.
To schedule a free preliminary consultation, click here or call us at 202-262-8959.
Testimonial from AIR21 Whistleblower
- I couldn’t ask for a better guy than Dallas Hammer to put the airlines feet to the fire. I had never heard of AIR21 until I had been retaliated against and educated my self with the help of Zuckerman Law website. Dallas correctly anticipated every move they made and we were in position to have a very strong case. Dallas negotiated a severance that is far above the norm. I am very pleased with the outcome. Now I can move on with my life with plenty of time to find a better employer.
