Queen of the Sky gets marching orders

Hostess with the mostest dons pink slip

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in IT Director, 3rd November 2004 11:38 GMT

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Air hostess Ellen Simonetti, who was suspended for including photos of herself in uniform on her personal blog, has been sacked by Delta Airlines. She was originally suspended without pay in early October while an investigation was carried out. She took the offending pictures down at that time - they're back up now.

Simonetti is taking legal action against the airline for unfair dismissal. In a statement quoted by the BBC, she said: "As a result of my suspension and subsequent termination without cause by Delta Airlines I am moving forward with filing a discrimination complaint with the Federal Government EEOC [US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]." She has a hired a Texas law firm to pursue Delta for "wrongful termination, defamation of character and lost future wages."

She has also hired a PR firm because of the number of interview requests she has received. The Queen of Sky blog is available here.

The airline objected because the blog, a fictionalised account of trolley dolly life, included a couple of shots of Simonetti in her Delta uniform. Delta described the pictures as inappropriate and a spokesperson for the airline told the BBC there were "very clear rules" regarding uniforms and Delta brands. ®