Бывший исполнительный директор United Airlines подал в суд, заявив, что его уволили за разоблачение коррупции.

CHICAGO— A former senior executive at United Airlines (UA) has filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired for exposing corruption and raising safety concerns at the airline.

Jeffrey Eisenberg, who served as Managing Director of Operations Strategy and Performance at United Airlines (UA), alleges his termination in 2022 was retaliation, not part of a reduction-in-force program as the carrier originally stated.

Photo: Clément Alloing

United Ex-Executive Files Lawsuit

Eisenberg joined United in 2017 and climbed the ranks until his promotion to the director level in 2022. According to court filings in the Northern District of Illinois, his dismissal was tied to his repeated reports of misconduct, including corruption in vendor contracts and operational safety violations.

One of his first findings involved a multi-million-dollar IT project with an Austrian vendor that was years behind schedule and massively over budget. Eisenberg discovered that a senior United manager overseeing the project allegedly had a personal interest in the vendor. United conducted an internal review, the vendor lost the contract, but the company concluded no wrongdoing occurred.

Despite internal tensions, Eisenberg initially received a performance-related pay increase in early 2024. Soon after, he began reporting further operational issues that escalated his conflict with leadership.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Safety and Compliance Concerns

The lawsuit details several instances where Eisenberg flagged problems with United’s safety and compliance processes:

• He questioned the decision to retire critical flight-tracking and fuel-planning software without having a replacement ready.
• He identified weaknesses in the airline’s safety risk assessment procedures.
• He reported alleged non-compliance with FAA regulations requiring the mandated number of flight attendants onboard before boarding.

Court documents state that only days after Eisenberg’s boss praised his performance, the same supervisor abruptly decided to move him into another role. According to the complaint, United assured him a suitable position would be found, but never followed through.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Retaliation Allegations and Legal Action

Eisenberg alleges his dismissal was retaliation for whistleblowing. After his termination, he filed a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but it was dismissed as untimely.

United Airlines then informed Eisenberg that he would not be permitted to work at the carrier or any of its subsidiaries in the future. The lawsuit is now Eisenberg’s last resort, seeking reinstatement, back pay, and damages.

Filed under case number 1:25-cv-10890 in the Northern District of Illinois, the case underscores rising scrutiny over internal safety practices at major U.S. airlines. United Airlines has declined to comment on ongoing litigation.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

The post United Airlines Ex-Executive Files Lawsuit as He Was Fired for Exposing Corruption appeared first on Aviation A2Z.