FAA Inspector Sues United Airlines for $12.75M, Citing Retaliation Over Cabin Photos

An off-duty Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector has launched a $12.75 million lawsuit against United Airlines, alleging unlawful retaliation. The inspector was reportedly lifetime banned by the airline after taking photographs of an aircraft cabin. While the specific circumstances are under scrutiny, the lawsuit claims the photos were related to his professional duties and that United's punitive action, including the ban, constitutes retaliation for his role as an FAA official. The case highlights potential conflicts between airline passenger conduct policies and the FAA's oversight responsibilities. United Airlines has not yet detailed its defense, but may cite passenger safety or policy violations. The outcome could establish precedents for how airlines interact with regulators traveling as passengers and set standards for handling retaliation claims, impacting aviation safety oversight and industry relations.