A flight attendant at SkyWest Airlines, Anna Hemstalk, has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging that she faced retaliation after reporting a colleague who she suspected was under the influence of alcohol while on duty. Hemstalk claims the company took punitive measures against her, including placing her on unpaid leave, revoking her health benefits, and threatening her employment following her report.
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The civil complaint, submitted to the U.S. District Court for Northern California, outlines a series of troubling events that Hemstalk alleges took place during a flight on November 18, 2024. According to the lawsuit, Hemstalk, a relatively new member of the SkyWest team, was working on a United Express flight from San Francisco to Sacramento when she noticed significant signs of impairment in a lead flight attendant who was overseeing her and another trainee.
In her court document, Hemstalk describes how the instructor exhibited behaviour that deviated from standard operating procedures. She alleged that the instructor boarded passengers without proper coordination, failed to secure overhead bins, mishandled emergency door protocols, and neglected a disabled passenger seated in first class. Hemstalk reported that she detected a strong smell of alcohol on the instructor, alongside other concerning signs such as slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.
In a bid to address her concerns, Hemstalk approached the pilot in charge, who she claims also recognised the smell of alcohol. Despite her efforts, the instructor was permitted to continue working during the flight. Following the incident, Hemstalk took further precautionary measures by filing two Irregular Operations Reports and reaching out to Inflight Support once the flight landed in San Francisco, hoping to ensure that the employee in question would be removed from flight duties.
The situation took a turn when Hemstalk received mixed messages from SkyWest in response to her reports. While Inflight Support later confirmed that the instructor would not return to duty, Hemstalk alleges that she was informed by an employee relations manager on December 5, 2024, that the investigation had been closed and that the instructor remained employed with the airline.
The aftermath of the report left Hemstalk in a distressing state, suffering from acute stress, anxiety, and related medical issues, for which her physician prescribed medication and recommended that she refrain from work until December 22, 2024. Hemstalk argues that during this period, she encountered contradictory and coercive behaviours from company representatives regarding her job status and workers’ compensation rights. She claims that SkyWest representatives suggested she had “involved too many people” and labelled her as unreliable.
By early December, Hemstalk was officially put on unpaid leave. She maintains that her efforts to obtain clarification on her medical benefits, which were supposed to take effect on December 1, were met with the company’s refusal to extend them to her.
In her lawsuit, Hemstalk claims that the cumulative actions taken by SkyWest reflect a pattern of retaliation for her whistleblowing. The complaint alleges that after her report about the impaired instructor, SkyWest misled her regarding the instructor’s employment status, reprimanded her for following proper reporting protocols, pressured her to ignore her medical restrictions, and ultimately coerced her out of her role.
Hemstalk’s lawsuit comprises eight separate claims against the airline, alleging discrimination due to disability, retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. She is seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial and has requested a jury to hear her case.
People Magazine has reached out to both Hemstalk’s legal representatives and SkyWest Airlines for comment concerning the allegations. A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration has indicated that they do not comment on ongoing litigation, leaving the unfolding situation to remain under legal scrutiny.
The case raises important questions regarding the protection of employees who raise concerns about safety and employee conduct in the airline industry, highlighting the potential repercussions they may face when standing up against misconduct.