Following is a response from Ethiopian Airlines for the previous story published in Ethiopia Observer based on a testimony of Yalew Fanta, a former pilot who recounted how he was fired for expressing his political opinions in a casual conversation with a colleague.
Dear Editor,
Greetings!
The co-pilot has been trained by Ethiopian Aviation Academy with a free scholarship of USD 90,000.- with a personal commitment to serve his national flag carrier (Ethiopian Airlines). While he was on active flight duty outside the country, he entered into a dispute with his flight colleague and he was grounded in accordance with the airline’s policy. This decision was made in the interest of flight safety and security, as it was evident that he was posing a threat to flight security and safety. This means that he was being paid a full salary while his flight duty was suspended until the review committee investigated the case and made a decision. Meanwhile; he disappeared from the airline and finally the airline came to know that he left the country with a different passport.
A few weeks ago, he sent an email asking if he could return to his flight duty, and the airline told him he could come back and return to his flight duty, and the airline authorized his ticket to return but again he disappeared.
The airline is surprised that despite defaulting on his commitment to serve the airline in exchange for the free scholarship funded by taxpayers’ money, he is now complaining about the consequences of his own actions.
If he wants to justify his asylum case, we wish him all the best.
Regards,
Aniley Eshetu, Assistant Manager Corporate Communications, Ethiopian Airlines
Dear Yalewlet, I personally know deep down to our country’s complicated affairs including yours & revealing the truth is important as you did it now.
This is such an empty, self-serving response. The pilot’s story is more credible. When can you learn to be honest?!
This shows me there a long way to go for changes in Ethiopia, especially in Ethiopian Airlines.
1. They try to justify that a civil person like Captain Yohannes H/Mariam can take any employee’s passport.
2. If I was a credible safety threat why on earth did they pay me, why do they reinstate me now?
3. Why did the 3 TPLF security forces go to my home after they knew I left the country? Why did they threathen to rape my wife?
4. In March 2016 I was interrogated by 3 security people. Ato Berhane, Ethiopian security head told me ደምበኛ የጎንደሬ ስም አለህ። እናትህ ኦሮሞ ናት። ስለዚህ ግራ ገብቶሀል። ጠባብነትና ትምክህተኝነት ተዳባልቆብሀል።
It doesn’t just look like a personal dispute with employee. Does it?
5. In a short period of time I was notified I can go back to work. When I asked for official letter of reinstatement, Captain Yohannes H/Mariam insisted we will talk about it after I go back, December 2016.
6. After Dr Abiy came to power they decided to reinstate me but they want me to pay back the salary I was paid while on suspension. Weren’t they supposed to consider a back pay and compensation?
7. Where is Ethiopian Airline Pilot Association, ALPA?
The president of ALPA at the time, captain Abraham claimed he might help me if I have EPRDF membership. Shame!
8. Yes of course! I got a scholarship of 90 thousand USD which is more than 2 million birr. Because of lawlessness in the airline, I was suspended from my job. Because of lawlessness, I lost, my country lost, my family and my people lost alot.
9. Ethiopian Airlines is my pride. It’s my airline. It’s not Mr. X’s. No one can take that away. I have never for a single day doubted that. I never wanted to live abroad if I have not Been forced to.
10. This is a story of hundreds of Ethiopian airline pilots. It’s not not just my story.
I hope more people would come out and expose the hidden secrets of Ethiopian Airlines.
your response is more credible than Ethiopian Airlines.
Man, you are the man..never give up..we will replace all the top management (Wining team??? hehehe) with new and fresh young talented leaders from spheres of Ethiopia…
The response of the company is so unprofessional. It’s very disrespectful to say “if he wants to justify his asylum case, we wish him all the best”. I’m glad you’re safe now, brother. Hang in there!
May God be with you and keep your family safe!
Here is a response that is credible, pure, honest and coming from an educated professional.
Sir, I admire you and your strength. The day is coming where those who took a national pride like Ethiopian Airlines and dirtied it with such shameful acts.
Hoping to see you back at home and flying a plane to the national flag that you love.
Till then, I shall think of you in my prayers and well wishes.
Ethiopian is known to be one of the most unchecked abusers of its staff.
Dear Ethiopian Observer’s Editor,
Please give Mr. Fanta my contact info, as I may be able to give him a lead in obtaining a flight crew position in Airbus A319/A320.
1/ The Airline did not specify how or why “the co-pilot” was a security risk. This comes across as a standard accusation against the unwanted; create an environment of fear and suspicion and act with impunity.
2/ It is interesting the Airline would not use “the co-pilot’s” legal name.
3/ It is interesting the Airline made the point that “the co-pilot” wanted to justify his asylum petition in the US. In other words, the Airlines sent the “co-pilot” a return ticket in order to mess up the petition for asylum and get him to pay back $90K spent on his training or go to jail. Very sad. Very mean.
4/ CEO Tewolde (a Tigrayan appointed by Tigray Front) is widely known for running the Airline as a personal/ethnic fiefdom. I think he needs to be thoroughly audited for corruption and be relieved of his duty. A month or so ago someone had published names of Airline staff in key positions as evidence for the disproportionate hiring of Tigrayans, simply because they are ethnic Tigrayans and not because they are better qualified. And then the number of highly skilled mechanics, pilots, and executives who left to find their luck elsewhere.
5/ Airline security head (a Tigrayan) interviewed “the co-pilot” suggesting that he is confused and arrogant because of his mixed ethnicity. Airline Pilots’ Assoc. head is another Tigrayan strongly suggesting joing the ruling party or else. BTW, head of security, head of pilots’assoc., and head/asst of pilot training are all Tigrayans.
We shall not put fire on Ethiopian Airline which has been successfully led and considered as one of the best World Airline. Ethiopian Airline won many medals and now many airlines and some enemy countries would like Ethiopia fall. Please be careful we shall not allow our competitors use this compliant for their advantage. Think about flight risks. If your pilot is politically unhappy, there may be risk. We have seen one of our co-pilot who illegally landed in Geneva for political asylum. It was a destruction for Ethiopian airline but the airline quickly recovered form disinformation and destruction.
The most important thing is to make the airline clear from ethnic politics. All Ethiopians need to get equal opportunity as employees and staff. One ethnic domination gave a bad name and compromises the integrity of the company.
Why is this man out of hundreds behaving in this most pretensious manner ? He was trying ethnic cards to cross over to the US in search of greener pastures. Why all this funny talk of ethnic Tigreans at EAL ? Lame excuses all the time. Pretenders of the individual pilot ‘ s kind have disturbed the land and won’t spare even the skies. You need to take this pampered politician as a serious threat to every passenger. Maybe he has lost his mind like his recent predecessor pilot turned hijacker. Ethiopian has to learn from the embarassing Swiss experience of a certified psycho hailed as hero by the political opposition . Resolve pays. Good job Ethiopian.
sorry to say this Captains story echoes many other Ethiopian Airlines Employees experince. Yes Ethiopian Airlines is running successfully and may it do so for ever ! But no need to suppress the truth ! I hope this man will get justice some day . It is not a game to lose the job you loved , the country you loved and your family just because of one conversation ! With someone or a government that does not understand “ freedom of expression “
Want to see unhappy workers, just fly into Bole Airport. Some real butt heads. Do everyone a favor and stay in your cave and don’t interact with humans.
I am not a member or staff of the Airlines but as I can see from the whole thing/Story the copilot is having a problem on getting his process ( Asylum) approved ,
If we are Honest and Truthful with out siding to any body He the copilot is not telling the Truth, yes he is trying to make a story so that he get his asylum case granted.
Everybody does do such things when they go abroad thinking they will have better luck or life but when they go abroad they find themselves trapped for UBER job and they try to blem some one else.
It is not about PM Abey or Change let’s be honest to our selves. What I learned from our people in most cases is we don’t fully do our Responsibility but We like to Talk about our Rights, and for that we blem others.
you are right sir
RIP English
Blem, bla, blem, bla, bla, bla.
The government of Ethiopia needs to change the management of Ethiopian airlines. I was there and I know how they discriminate workers based on their identity. Oromos are the most descriminated.
Dear Thomas, the copilot case is not the only complaint that comes out of Ethiopian Airline abusive and unfair treatment of non Tigrians and there are hundreds of accusations against the inhuman treatment based on ethnic back groud.For a pilot like Yalwelet Fanta and history of the airline,Yalwelet is more credibility than the his former employer.
Did the pilot had a dispute with his collegie while on duty overseas ? Instead of loading allegation after allegation he should address the issue they are claimng to have transpired.
Did he apply fr another passport and leave ? If so why? Are they asking his family to pay back the tuition money? I know you need a guarantor until to finish your term with them.
It is incompetency in their part to have paid him full salary for that long while on suspension so he should not be required to pay it back.
Why the airline doesnt tell us what was the dispute about? What happen to the other person who had dispute with the copilot?
I have never worked for Ethiopian airlines but I know how the government agencies in that country operate as I was a government employee by myself at some point. I am not surprised by the story of the copilot. Unfortunately far more horrible things happen daily to ordinary citizines and government employees perpetrated by the powerful. Ethiopian airlines better clean its mess than trying to justify the unjustifiable.
First of all, shame on Ethiopian to have written such a cheap and petty response letter. This case is now a public relations issue and as such requires a mature and measured response. Has an ET lawyer even taken a look at this before it was sent? Please act like the global airline that you are and take the small-time emotional tit for tat out of your workings.
Secondly, it’s no surprise that problems in Ethiopia are also manifest in ET and that this story is not at all out of place – meaning the problems of discrimination etc… and Ethiopians leaving their lives and country behind as a result of problems in governance. Much needs to be done to reverse these things and I believe there is now an opportunity for change.
Thirdly, it’s no secret that abuse of power and abuse of labor takes place in ET often characterized as slavery. That’s the source of ET’s growth too. ET has access to an inexhaustible young labor force eager for positions at ET.
Lastly, it’s best to launch a proper investigation into the matter and do the right thing before more dirt slinging takes place and we all look bad internationally as Ethiopians.
Dear editor
Politics has to be separated from business. I am sure all companies have legislation regarding staff conduct. Great companies do not do a lot of compromising given the huge risks. The former pilot seems to be playing an ethnic card and tragically for him this card has expired. I am sure his case was discussed at all levels at Ethiopian and by his asaylum.lawyers. This is a book closed. This man is good netiher for politics nor for business.
I dnt fly Ethiopian becuase the stuff is bitchy and exhibit unprofessionalism if you are not ferenji or a non Ethiopian. Turkish or Emirates treated me better .
We hear all the time that Ethiopian Airlines has become the playground for Tewolde’s hate and diktat. It could be exaggerated but not altogether false. But many that are competent are not getting hired and those hired are leaving the company in droves. You look at the top management, regional desk managers, security, training, cargo sections and they are disproportionately filled by Tigrayans. The best approach to such a high level corruption is to get to the bottom of things and 1/ relieve Tewolde for a starter, 2/ do Airline wide audit by an independent certified agency.
« Zebra will never change its stripes »
This poor hard working young man case is is textbook case of this past which is refusing to die easily.
Ethiopian Airlines response has not a single ounce of credibility. It is characterised by arrogance and denial of past practices!
I think the young man should be helped to get his message directly to the PM.
The fact in their letter the Airline mentions his asylum case is arrogance in its purest form!
Why a young man with a bright future,cream of the cream living a dre I his home country would simply exile himself to these harsh cold shores away from his family!
He must have been coerced to run away!
No only him but all wronged for their ethnicity during the TPLF era should be reinstated without conditions.
I will never forget the conversation i had with a young Oromo security guard at Bolle Airport in Addis in 2016. The fear ,the uncertainty in his eyes during our conversation about the TPLF regime, although I am Somalis from Djibouti i felt sick about the injustice he talked to me about it.
I say never again and all those wronged should receive apology and all their loss!
It is truly disappointing to read that response, coming from a “world class” airline. Its condescending and arrogant tone is a testament to the abusive culture at the airline. They don’t even have the civility to refer to Mr. Fanta by name, instead calling him “the co-pilot”. Not to mention the lousy grammar and lack of thoughtful writing. A better response could have been put together by a sixth-grader.
As for the abusive practices at Ethiopian, it’s no secret that the airline has been resorting to extreme measures like threats to fire and demote its pilots, and confiscate their passports, in order to keep its pilots in line and keep them from seeking employment elsewhere. It’s also no secret that virtually all management positions have been filled by ethnic Tigres, most of whom are not qualified for their position. And it’s certainly not a secret that ethnic politics is often used as a primary tool not only to recruit personnel for key positions, but also to intimidate and alienate those employees that cannot be whipped into submission. Cases in point are the current and former VPs of Flight Operations, Mr. Yohanes Haile Mariam, and Mr. Desta Zeru, both of whom are from the Tigre ethnic group, and both of whom have questionable educational backgrounds, and no prior management experiences to speak of. The former VP, Mr. Zeru, a notoriously corrupt and abusive individual, was forced to leave his position in the face of multiple felony indictments, including corruption, embezzlement, and abuse of power. The CEO, of course, is an ethnic Tigre, whose competence has been questioned by many.
We know about Mr. Fanta because he had the courage to speak out. There are thousands of Ethiopian Airlines pilots, technicians, stewardesses, and other professionals who have risked everything to flee Ethiopian Airlines to find a peaceful and civilized working environment where they can enjoy their respected profession with a good salary, as well as the company of civilized and respectful colleagues in an abuse-free, and politics-free work environment.
Questioning Mr. Fanta’s credibility against an airline that has scared away hundreds of other pilots just shows lack of common sense, and lack of basic research. It also shows a gross misunderstanding of the bigger problem, which is the fact that an airline that should be the pride of a continent is being manipulated by ignorant and corrupt people with a few political connections for petty personal gain.
What you’re doing is brave, Mr. Fanta. I hope others follow suit and speak out like you did. And I hope the new PM compels the board to end this destructive culture at Ethiopian Airlines and appoint qualified, civilized, educated, and intelligent people to lead a company that’s being dragged back by corruption and meaningless ethnic politics.