Frontier Airlines is investigating one of its pilots after a passenger took to social media to complain about his red Donald Trump hat being worn onboard.

“Wearing any type of hat other than one that is part of the approved pilot uniform is a violation of company policy and subject to disciplinary measures,” a Frontier Airlines spokesperson told Newsweek on Wednesday.

Why It Matters

Pilots tend to remain politically neutral clothing- and apparel-wise on flights across all airlines. No broad national rules exist for what pilots or other employees do during boarded flights should not wear.

There have been instances in the past of airline employees injecting politics into either their wardrobe or through vocal statements made to passengers, according to airline travel expert Gary Leff, who runs the website View From the Wing.

Leff noted one instance in 2021 that included a Southwest Airlines pilot telling passengers on a Friday morning flight from Houston to Albuquerque, “Let’s Go Brandon,” a pejorative phrase aimed to criticize former President Joe Biden, at the end of his welcome announcement. Some passengers reportedly reacted with “audible gasps.” Southwest later issued a statement condoning the behavior.

In August 2024, United Airlines defended one of its flight attendants who was denigrated on social media after someone took a photo of her wearing a pro-Palestinian flag pin on a flight from Chicago to Newark.

What To Know

Brian Wahlstrom, a passenger on a Frontier flight on Monday traveling from Los Angeles to Dallas-Fort Wayne, has received over 22,000 “likes” on Threads after posting a picture of the pilot wearing the red Trump hat.

“I don’t care which side of the aisle you’re on, wearing political merch while captaining a commercial airliner is unprofessional,” Wahlstrom wrote in the post. “I used to work for an airline, and this is absolutely unacceptable. Saw this on my flight from LAX to DFW yesterday. Passengers deserve a neutral, professional space.”

One day later, Wahlstrom posted that he successfully reached Brian Grant, whose LinkedIn page describes him as a regional chief pilot at Frontier Airlines. Grant told Wahlstrom in a direct message that the matter is being taken seriously.

“I appreciate the professional reply and trust the airline is handling it appropriately,” Wahlstrom wrote in an update. “This was never about canceling anyone or calling for a boycott. It was about maintaining trust, neutrality, and professionalism in public-facing roles. I hope this serves as a reminder across the industry.”

Newsweek reached out to Wahlstrom via social media for comment.

A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) referred Newsweek to the airline, adding that the administration focuses on safety and that attire does not fall under their regulatory purview.

What People Are Saying

A Threads user responding to Wahlstrom: “The best and safest pilots exercise sound judgement. Regardless of political leaning this isn’t sound judgement from a captain. Politics don’t belong on an airliner flight deck.”

Another Threads user: “I bet if he was wearing a Kamala or Biden hat, you wouldn’t have even batted an eye. Let’s be honest, you wanted to get this guy cancelled.”

What Happens Next

Frontier Airlines will make a determination on the pilot once its investigation concludes.