**United Airlines Hired Investigator to Spy on Attendant, Fired Him Later**
*By Alex Mercer | Business & Labor Correspondent*
**Chicago, IL —** In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the airline industry, United Airlines has been accused of hiring a private investigator to surveil one of its own flight attendants before abruptly terminating his employment. The attendant, 42-year-old Marcus Doyle, claims he was followed, recorded, and ultimately fired after raising concerns about safety violations and labor conditions within the company.
### **The Surveillance**
According to legal documents obtained by *The Daily Chronicle*, United Airlines contracted a private investigation firm in early 2023 to monitor Doyle’s activities both on and off duty. The airline allegedly justified the surveillance by claiming Doyle was involved in “suspicious behavior” that could harm the company’s reputation.
However, Doyle insists the real reason for the scrutiny was his outspoken criticism of United’s policies. A 15-year veteran of the airline, he had recently become a vocal advocate for better working conditions, particularly after a series of fatigue-related incidents among crew members.
“I started noticing strange things—cars parked outside my house, people taking pictures of me at the airport, even someone following me into a grocery store,” Doyle recounted. “At first, I thought I was being paranoid. Then I found out United was behind it.”
### **The Whistleblower Claims**
Doyle’s troubles began in late 2022 when he reported multiple safety concerns to management, including understaffed flights, malfunctioning equipment, and pressure to work excessive hours. When his complaints were ignored, he took his concerns to the union and later to federal regulators.
Shortly after, the surveillance began.
Internal emails—leaked by an anonymous source—reveal that United’s corporate security team authorized the investigation, describing Doyle as a “potential threat to operations.” The investigator’s reports, which Doyle later obtained through legal discovery, included detailed logs of his movements, social media activity, and even conversations with colleagues.
“They were trying to dig up dirt on me,” Doyle said. “But all they found was a guy who cared about his job and his coworkers.”
### **The Sudden Termination**
In March 2023, Doyle was called into a meeting with United’s HR department and summarily fired for “violating company policy.” The termination letter cited “unprofessional conduct” and “breach of confidentiality,” but provided no specifics.
Doyle believes the real reason was retaliation.
“They couldn’t silence me, so they got rid of me,” he said.
His union, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit on his behalf, alleging that United engaged in illegal surveillance and retaliated against a whistleblower.
“This is a clear case of corporate intimidation,” said AFA spokesperson Lisa Nguyen. “If airlines can spy on and fire employees for speaking up about safety, what does that say about the industry?”
### **United’s Response**
United Airlines has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement to *The Daily Chronicle*, a spokesperson said:
“We take the safety and security of our employees and passengers extremely seriously. While we do not comment on individual personnel matters, we fully comply with all laws and regulations regarding employee conduct and privacy.”
The company has not addressed the allegations of surveillance directly but insists Doyle’s termination was “based on documented policy violations.”
### **A Growing Pattern?**
This isn’t the first time United has faced scrutiny over its treatment of employees. In 2017, the airline drew widespread condemnation after a passenger was violently dragged off an overbooked flight. More recently, pilots and attendants have accused the company of punishing those who speak out about fatigue and staffing shortages.
Labor experts say Doyle’s case could set a dangerous precedent.
“If corporations can secretly investigate employees who raise concerns, it creates a culture of fear,” said Dr. Evelyn Carter, a workplace ethics professor at Columbia University. “Workers will stay silent about serious issues, and that puts everyone at risk.”
### **What’s Next?**
Doyle’s lawsuit is expected to go to trial later this year. Meanwhile, he has become an unlikely advocate for labor rights, speaking at rallies and lobbying for stronger whistleblower protections in the aviation industry.
“I lost my job, but I’m not backing down,” he said. “If United thought they could scare me into silence, they were wrong.”
As for the investigator who tracked him? Doyle has a message for him, too:
“I hope he realizes he was working for the bad guys.”