American Airlines Passenger Alleges Girlfriend Bumped from First Class for Off-Duty Pilot

An American Airlines passenger claims that his girlfriend was removed from her first-class seat so that an off-duty pilot could take her place. The passenger alleges that the crew initially claimed the seat was broken, but then a pilot was seated in it. American Airlines has not yet responded to the complaint. Deadheading pilots, who are being paid to fly to another location for work but are not actively working, are sometimes seated among other passengers. American Airlines pilots are given first-class priority for deadheading flights due to a new union contract. This is not the first incident of a passenger being bumped from first class for a pilot this year.