Ex-pilot sues PIA

A pilot yesterday sued his former employer, the Pacific Island Aviation, Inc. and its general manager Robert F. Christian, for allegedly blocking his employment opportunities in other airlines by defaming him and tampering with his pilot record.

The case which charged PIA with defamation, among others, was filed in the US District Court by Nicolas Guy Pohl, who was joined by his wife Kathleen Pohl as a co-plaintiff.

Pohl said PIA and Christian subjected him to “embarrassment and humiliation” while he was still working at the local airline.

The lawsuit is demanding payment in damages totaling $500,000, but Kathleen said “this is not about money.”

“My husband’s only intention is to clear his name,” Kathleen said.

Pohl’s “sufferings” began when the PIA aircraft (N1256H) he was flying crash-landed into Saipan channel off Ladder Beach as a result of “catastrophic” engine failure.

The accident took place while Pohl was performing a functional check flight on Nov. 26, 1997.

He was rescued by a fishing vessel, but he suffered multiple injuries including one caused by a glass embedded in his head.

While recovering in the hospital, the complaint said, Christian “threatened” Pohl and his wife by telling them to “dummy up during the FAA/National Transportation Safety Board investigation, if you know what’s good for you, or else.”

Pohl went back to work on Dec. 14 of the same year, but was removed from flying status and given a full-time desk job as airline dispatcher two weeks later.

Pohl said Christian had labeled him as “an insurance liability and risk to the airline due to his recent aircraft accident.”

“Pohl was harassed and ridiculed on the desk job by Christian,” the complaint said.

Pohl said Christian further accused him of suffering from “brain damage due to being knocked after the crash.”

Pohl said he later “began developing mental anguish and headaches from all of the continued PIA inflicted conflict on the job.” He was eventually forced to resign.

Months later, Pohl tried to seek employment in other airlines in the mainland but was unsuccessful.

“PIA was not complying with the Pilot Record Act of 1996. It was later discovered that PIA via Christian and agents for Christian were told to just not send or sit in Pohl’s records so that Pohl would not be able to gain willful employment as a pilot,” the complaint said.

Pohl said he was later informed by PIA vice president Max Kretzgers that Christian was “messing with his pilot records and references to prospective airline employers were either not sent or when they were sent they included the ‘bogus PIA checkride.'” (MCM)