A federal jury has ordered Continental Airlines to pay $875,000 to a female pilot who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit over pornographic pictures stashed by male colleagues in jet cockpits. The jury agreed with Captain Tammy Blakey’s claims that the pictures of naked women created a hostile work environment, but it found the Houston-based airline had not retaliated or sexually discriminated against her in terms of pay or assignment, and would not have to pay punitive damages. The month-long trial has exposed a tradition among male airline pilots leaving dirty pictures strewn a surprises for the next crew, slipped inside flight manuals or behind equipment panels and pasted in drawers.
