According to a report, a Southwest Airlines pilot reportedly told passengers, “Let’s go, Brandon” – an anti-Biden inside joke – over his plane’s public address system.
According to the Associated Press, on a flight from Houston to Albequerque on Friday, the unidentified pilot signed off with the viral phrase.
“We’re heading east at about 107 or 108 mph,” the pilot said, according to a clip of the incident caught on TikTok. “Clear visibility, mostly clear skies, about 77 degrees. Thanks for coming out, flying Southwest Airlines, welcome home, and let’s go, Brandon.”
“Let’s go, Brandon,” is the PG version of “F**k Joe Biden” and has been made viral in chart-topping songs.
It originated when an NBC television reporter claimed to mishear the NASCAR crowd, chanting the more R-rated version.
Earlier this month, Southwest canceled thousands of flights, blaming the weather. However, many speculated the problem was due to a wildcat strike by pilots resisting the approaching COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Days later, the airline’s CEO blamed President Biden and said he personally was against vaccine mandates.
A federal judge rejected the pilot union’s attempt to halt the vaccine mandate on October 27.
Colleen Long, an AP reporter aboard the Houston-Albequerque flight, tweeted she was “almost” removed from the plane after asking the crew to open the cockpit so that she could ask the pilot for comment.
“The Southwest team takes pride in providing a welcoming, comfortable, and respectful environment for the millions of customers who fly with the airline each year, and behavior from any individual that is divisive or offensive will not be tolerated,” said Southwest rep to the New York Post.
