Delta Beats Pilots’ Military Service Bias Claims at 11th Circuit

Two former pilots for Delta Air Lines Inc. failed to revive claims that the company forced them out because of their military service, as a federal appeals court found Delta had legitimate reasons to fire them.

Delta investigated James Doyle and Adam McLean for allegedly abusing the airline’s sick leave and military leave policies, after which each pilot resigned to avoid likely termination, according to the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

A three-judge panel on Wednesday agreed with the lower court that those investigations gave Delta sufficient, non-discriminatory reasons to terminate the pilots, defeating their claims of ...