Home » Did a reporter really “storm the cockpit” over a Let’s Go Brandon statement from a pilot?
The "Let's go Brandon" phrase has gone viral and is triggering reactions from both sides of the aisle. Recently, a Southwest Airlines pilot used the phrase as he concluded his welcome aboard speech and one news organization is claiming that an Associated Press reporter "stormed the cockpit" in protest. Did this really happen? We investigate.

Did a reporter really “storm the cockpit” over a Let’s Go Brandon statement from a pilot?

by Jeremy B

The “Let’s go Brandon” phrase has gone viral and is triggering reactions from both sides of the aisle. Recently, a Southwest Airlines pilot used the phrase as he concluded his welcome aboard speech and one news organization is claiming that an Associated Press reporter “stormed the cockpit” in protest. Did this really happen? We investigate.


The pilot in question was alleged to have used the now-infamous phrase – a veiled remark against President Biden – as he wrapped his welcome aboard speech on a Houston to Albuquerque flight last week. Southwest Airlines recently issued a statement indicating they were conducting an investigation into the incident.

However, in the hubbub surrounding the many reactions that have poured in over the incident was a tidbit of information regarding an Associated Press reporter who happened to be on the flight. Colleen Long, an AP reporter, tweeted about the incident noting, “TFW you’re trying to go on vacation and then the pilot says the very thing you’re working on over the loud speaker and you have to try to get him comment but then almost get removed from plane.”

However, Fox News characterized it a little differently. In a piece written by Fox News reporter Brian Flood and entitled “Let’s Go Brandon Causes Media Freakout” Long’s account was stated differently:

“An Associated Press reporter even admitted to nearly getting kicked off a plane for storming the cockpit when a pilot on a Southwest flight from Houston to Albuquerque allegedly signed off his announcement for passengers by saying, “Let’s go Brandon.””

FoxNews

According to Flood, Ms. Long “stormed” the cockpit whereas she herself indicated she attempted to get a comment from the pilot – something a reporter would very likely do. After all, she’s a reporter. And they get comments. Kinda their job.

So what really happened?

One thing both accounts are consistent on is that Ms. Long was almost removed from the flight. That would seem to indicate the conversation was more than casual. Was it storming? Or was it just a reporter doing reporter stuff…like pressing for a comment?

CNN, which has published at least three stories on the event, noted this in its coverage with no mention of Ms. Long’s attempts to get a comment:

“The Associated Press, which had a reporter on board the flight, first reported that a pilot of a Friday flight from Houston to Albuquerque ended his typical greeting to passengers with the phrase “Let’s go Brandon,” which has become right-wing code for “F**k Joe Biden.” The AP report said passengers responded with audible gasps”

CNN

Ms. Long herself published an AP piece describing a portion of the incident:

“On Friday morning on a Southwest flight from Houston to Albuquerque, the pilot signed off his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, to audible gasps from some passengers. Southwest said in a statement that the airline “takes pride in providing a welcoming, comfortable, and respectful environment” and that “behavior from any individual that is divisive or offensive is not condoned.”

AP

But, it’s probably her own tweet that tells the best story. As Ms. Long explained on Twitter, it’s likely that because she was asking them to open a locked door they felt more concerned than usual and considered removing her.

Doesn’t sound like storming to us, but definitely the kind of thing that might rattle a flight crew that is already rattled every day on their job given the current political unrest and abuse they take.

We rate FoxNews’ “storming” comment as inflammatory, but with a kernel of truth…buried deep.


Cover image credit: Canva stock photo and not Ms. Long.

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7 comments

Al November 1, 2021 - 7:56 pm

Seriously? FOX is being inflammatory? lol. Not exactly “buried deep” was her own tweeted admission that she probably appeared to be “insane” to those in charge! Pretty sure being insane is at least as equally, and I’d say more, inflammatory than “storming”. lol.
This is why anti-FOX people should stop pretending they are “objective” in these kinds of judgements. It’s obviously not possible to not show your partisan bent.
But the real funny thing is there has been no verification of this story at all! We only have the word of an obvious lefty media member who just coincidentally happened to be doing a story on the “Let’s go Brandon” meme and SHAZAM! A pilot literally said the very meme. How convenient. Since most of these lefty anti-conservative media stories turn out to be fake news, I’ll wait for some verification before joining the dumbness.

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James November 1, 2021 - 8:21 pm

So liberals support Colin Kaepernick free speech rights when he protested on the job in front of thousands but get upset when a southwest pilot says a silly phrase to less than 200 people. The far right is Justin’s taking there’d cues from the liberals.

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Al C November 1, 2021 - 10:10 pm

I never watch or read Fox News, but really? The whole point of your article was to show that the AP reporter didn’t really “storm” into the cockpit like Fox reported? You do realize words can be used figuratively. She created enough of a fuss that she almost got kicked off the plane. That’s about as much “storming” as a reporter does. Your article is exactly what our highly polarized culture does not need more of. Please do better.

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DaninMCI November 2, 2021 - 3:23 am

The real question is why you would believe anything the AP or media, in general, tells us. Just her work alone is highly biased. https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/author/colleen-long-the-associated-press/

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David Hillhouse November 2, 2021 - 9:40 am

The real question is why would you believe anything Fox ‘News’ spews?

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AG November 8, 2021 - 6:59 am

The better question is how you can leave that comment while knowing the Fox article is accurate and that the only thing in question is the term being used.

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Anonymous November 8, 2021 - 3:24 pm

^ Have you ever considered that they might be right?

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