Metro Aviation responds to claims the company forced a pilot to resign

A federal whistleblower investigation has found Metro Aviation ‘retaliated’ against a pilot in Utah who refused to fly twice in 2021 amid concerns about limited visibility.

OSHA examined the pilot’s complaint after the employer forced them to resign, retire or be involuntarily separated from the company.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a separate investigation and found no substantiated violation by Metro Aviation of any FAA regulation or standard.

The FAA investigation included reviewing Metro’s policies and procedures along with pilot interviews and found that we are operating safely in compliance with all applicable FAA regulations and standards.

In a statement, Metro Aviation said: “Though we cannot speak at this time about this particular former employee's pending complaint, we respectfully disagree with OSHA's administrative determination and intend to seek a hearing before an administrative law judge who will consider all relevant evidence, including the FAA's determination that a violation of an FAA regulation or standard by Metro Aviation had not been substantiated.

“We can also speak to our commitment to safety since our inception 40 years ago. Metro Aviation prides itself on being an industry leader, staying focused on operating as safely as we possibly can, as anyone who is familiar with us knows very well.  We will stay focused on what we do best: operating and maintaining aircraft safely with the best employees in the industry, for the best customers in the industry.”