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uh-oh spaghetti-o's
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (
TheStreet) -- The inadvertent disclosure of 3,000 pilots' social security numbers marks the latest round in the conflict between
US Airways'(
LCC_) warring pilot groups.
The social security numbers were included in an
Excel document that a former chief pilot provided to Leonidas, a group that represents pilots from the former America West, in October 2009.
Initially, Leonidas asked the company for the addresses of pilots who worked for the former
US Airways, known as "the east," so that it could distribute a letter laying out its case against the U.S. Airline Pilots Association, the pilot union dominated by east pilots. An investigation began after east pilots questioned why their addresses were shared, particularly with an organization that most of them oppose.
Last month, a review by the airline discovered that the social security numbers were also embedded in the Excel document. The situation has troubled USAPA President Mike Cleary since November, when he first complained that providing addresses was improper.
Now, the airline and the union are debating the impact the inadvertent distribution of the social security numbers may have, as well as the proper response.
In a March 21 letter to pilots, Cleary said the company did not "impose meaningful consequences on those who may have been involved," nor did it act quickly to ensure the security of the information, which also included dates of birth. He said the FBI is investigating, at the union's request. "The company's credibility is in tatters," he said, adding that the union suspects "complicity" and "a cover-up" by US Airways.
In a March 23 letter to pilots, Steve Johnson, US Airways executive vice president and corporate counsel, said the company had retained
identity theft protection services through a private company for each pilot for one year. In addition, he said, three pilots, including the former management pilot who released the information, have been placed on leave pending an investigation.
Johnson said the release of social security numbers was "disturbing," but noted "the responsible persons at Leonidas have assured us that they did not know this information existed and our preliminary investigation suggests that no one at Leonidas discovered or accessed that information."
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