Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have taken swift action against employees who posted controversial comments on social media following the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Both airlines confirmed suspensions, citing violations of their social media policies. Delta CEO Ed Bastian, in an internal memo obtained by CNN, stated that the employees' posts "went well beyond healthy, respectful debate" and were inconsistent with the company's values. The memo indicated that the suspensions are pending a full investigation.
American Airlines issued a statement confirming the immediate removal of employees from service for promoting violence on social media. The actions taken by both airlines follow calls from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who publicly condemned the behavior and urged companies to dismiss those "caught celebrating the assassination." Duffy's statement on X (formerly Twitter) emphasized the unacceptable nature of such posts, particularly for companies responsible for public safety.
The incident highlights the increasingly blurred lines between employees' personal social media activity and corporate responsibility. United Airlines, while not confirming any disciplinary actions, issued a memo to its pilots reminding them of the company's social media policies, advising that anything inappropriate for workplace discussion should not be shared online if it could be linked to their employment. This incident underscores the growing pressure on businesses to address employee social media conduct, particularly in the context of heightened political polarization and the potential for such comments to damage a company's reputation.
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Originally published at: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/14/us/airlines-suspend-workers
