The U.S. Supreme Court last month upheld a law aimed at providing immunity from civil liability to airlines and their employees when they report potential security threats in good faith.
The unanimous decision sustains the Aviation Security law enacted after 9/11. The law allows airlines and others to report in good faith instances of potential security threats without incurring liability.
In the case before the Supreme Court, William L. Hoeper vs. Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, the plaintiff, a pilot, sued the airline after it reported him as a potential security risk after allegedly exhibiting certain behaviors. The removal of these protections would have a devastating effect on employee willingness to report incidents and would detrimentally affect the security of nation’s aviation system, according to U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the law’s sponsor.
“A significant victory to protect those who act to protect us against potential threats of violence or possible terrorist acts,” Mica said in a statement.
