United Airlines has launched an investigation into the source of leaks during GOP Senator Ted Cruz’s controversial trip to Cancun, Mexico, as his fellow Texans shivered – and died – without power amid plunging temperatures.
But the head of the flight attendants’ union has urged United to drop it.
“It is against United’s policy to share personal information about our customers and we are investigating this incident,” the airline said in a statement to Politico, who first reported the probe.
An airline executive told Politico that it is not yet certain what action the company will take if the leaker or leakers are found, but that “there is no option off the table.” Thousands of employees may have access to consumer flight information.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), defended the leak and urged United in a tweet to drop the probe. She said that Cruz is not just a ‘customer’, but an ‘official who has lied too many times’.
She added, “Hey United, #WeAreAllTheLeak.”
Cruz’s insensitive getaway to Cancun with his family and friends exploded in the media after photos surfaced Wednesday of him boarding a flight to the sun.
At first he lied that he was just a ‘good father’ and accompanied his daughters to Mexico, and then returned the next day. But Cruz initially planned to stay over the weekend, according to flight reservations revealed in the press, and apparently switched to dodging harsh attacks. He eventually admitted that he intended to stay for days and that the trip was “clearly a mistake”.
On Saturday, United was much more concerned, as a flight from Denver destined for Hawaii lost use of an engine shortly after takeoff and aircraft debris rained on the ground below. The Boeing 777-200 quickly returned safely to Denver International Airport and no one on the flight – or on the ground – was injured.
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