Washington DC, [USA] Nov 04 (ANI): A former Alaska Airlines pilot filed a lawsuit against a female co-pilot, as he claimed the latter got him fired on the basis of her alleged drugging and rape charges against him.

The female co-pilot, First Officer Betty Pina, sued the airline and alleged that captain Paul Engelien had drugged and raped her during a work trip to Minnesota back in June 2017, reported Fox News.

The male pilot claimed that he was wrongly terminated after a 22-year-long aviation career and also called her allegations' as "false #MeToo claims".

Engelien was grounded by Alaska Airlines immediately after Pina field her lawsuit in March 2018.

In his lawsuit, Engelien said that Pina falsely accused him of sexual assault in order to avoid the 'workplace discipline' as she was a probationary employee at that time.

The lawsuit further stated that Pina's false claims "defamed Engelien" decimated "his life and career" and caused him "severe distress".

Both Engelien and Pina, ex-military pilot, were even subjected to an internal alcohol-consumption violation investigation by Alaska Airlines. The officials said that the duo might have possibly violated the airline's ten-hour alcohol rule during the work trip.

The lawsuit even stated that the airlines' human resources advisor carried out a "negligent, flawed and pre-textual [internal] investigation".

Currently, Pina is said to have moved on to a new job in a carrier based out of Hawaii. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)