Under Pressure After Derogatory Posts, United Pilot Leader Steps Down After Just 48 Hours

After just two days, the controversial former leader of United Airlines pilots was forced to resign late Wednesday. He had been dislodged from a series derogatory texts that he had written about minorities and women. Just after 11 p.m. ET, the United master executive council posted a letter from Neil Swindells, who offered his resignation as chairman of the United chapter of The Air Line Pilots Association. He was dislodged by a series derogatory texts he had written about women and minorities. ET Wednesday, Neil Swindells, chairman of United's Air Line Pilots Association chapter, resigned. A United pilot, who requested anonymity, said that he was under pressure. "There was overwhelming feedback from pilots to their representatives and he quit under pressure." A letter-writing campaign was also part of the negative feedback. Wendy Morse (chairperson of Chicago United ALPA Chapter), was also under pressure. She had nominated Swindells as chairman, pilots claimed. Morse will be taking office next month as the national vice president for ALPA. Another pilot, who requested anonymity, said that even (Swindells) supporters had flipped on Morse. Mike Harrison, United ALPA's vice chairman, will serve as interim chairman. He is a Dulles-based Boeing 747 international captain and was considered for the position of chairman prior to Monday's 17-member master executive committee election. Unnamed third pilot also spoke out, saying that Swindells' departure was not due to a single event. Instead, it was due to a series of events over 48 hours. Swindells decided to resign, the pilot stated. The problem was that the chairman for the United ALPA chapter automatically becomes an official member of the United Airlines board. However, United will take a few days to officially recognize a new member of its board. Swindells had to step down prior to that. United, like the principal U.S. airlines has tried in many ways to show its commitment to diversity over the past decade. It is not clear if United intervened in the dispute regarding the union chairmanship. Swindells stated in his letter that he would immediately step down as MEC chairman as well as as a member the airline's board of directors. Swindells stated that he had a perfect record of service to the company and the association for more than 27 years. However, he acknowledged that he made mistakes on a forum for pilots which could have damaged his reputation. He stated that there had been a substantial negative reaction to the things he posted on a forum for pilots. Although many of these statements have been taken out of context and made public against me, it is something I can't ignore and has had a detrimental effect on many of my fellow pilots. He said, "When I was asked to stand up, representing United Airlines pilot group was both the highest honor and pinnacle in my long and staunch union career." Swindells frequently posted on a pilot forum UAL Pilotsforum.org. He often used vitriol to disparage pilot leaders with which he disagreed. Discussion of a joint United Airlines-Emirates Airlines event. It was noted that 'I'm certain Emirates had nothing to do Emirates having a Emirates male captain flanked by a United first officer, right? - Each optic was created to reflect Emirates' dominance in the codeshare and give United their desired (DEI), money shot. --A comment directed at Kirby (Not necessarily United Chief Executive Scott Kirby)., 'Continuing my gay man on today'.