United Airlines Faces Negligent Supervision Claim Over Pilot's Long-Term Revenge Porn

Lisa Denson, a United Airlines flight attendant since 2015, became entangled in a disturbing case when her former boyfriend, a United pilot named Andrew Hill, covertly recorded and posted intimate images of her online for nearly seven years. Their relationship began in 2016 and lasted until September 2021. During their time together, Hill convinced Denson to travel alongside him as a non-revenue passenger and they shared hotel rooms paid for by United during his layovers. Denson sent Hill private photos on the condition they remain confidential, but unknown to her, Hill secretly recorded sexual encounters and filmed her undressing from her uniform without her consent.

In 2017, Denson discovered that Hill had been disseminating explicit content featuring her on Reddit under the pseudonym TinkGoneWild. Upon confrontation, Hill assured her the material had been removed and that he would stop posting, but the activity persisted silently for years. The relationship also turned abusive. Denson ended it in 2021 after learning Hill was involved with multiple other United employees. He subsequently stalked her, contacting her obsessively, appearing uninvited at her home, and attended events she was at. She avoided reporting these incidents to United and started changing flights she bid for to avoid being assigned with him.

The situation escalated in January 2024 when a former United flight attendant filed a complaint in Cedar City, Utah, about extensive impersonation, fake profiles, and unauthorized distribution of intimate images by Hill spanning over a decade. Law enforcement traced numerous internet posts and fake accounts, some on platforms like AdultFriendFinder and Kik, to Hill’s IP address. Their investigation uncovered that Hill had also posted explicit material involving ten other women, including United employees. In October 2024, Hill pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, including distributing pornography, stalking, and sexual extortion, receiving a sentence that could reach up to five years.

Following the investigation, Utah authorities issued a warrant to United Airlines seeking employment and flight records related to Hill. Despite the police notifying United's Corporate Security about the findings, the airline allegedly failed to notify Denson, investigate the pilot, place him on leave, or remove him from flying duties for several months. The pilot was only removed from service around the time of his arrest after union efforts failed to protect his employment. United maintains that the detective never identified Denson during communications and that they took appropriate action once aware of the criminal charges.

Denson filed a lawsuit against United Airlines, focusing her claims on negligence. While several of her legal theories, including hostile work environment and federal claims related to intimate image distribution, were dismissed by the court, the claim that United negligently supervised and retained Hill after being warned by police remains active. She alleges that during the two to three months following the police notification, United failed to prevent further harm, forcing her to adjust her work schedule and endure emotional distress.

The case highlights challenges in employer liability related to employee misconduct occurring partly outside work but during periods connected to employment, such as layovers and use of company resources. United Airlines’ argument leans on the premise that Hill’s criminal acts were personal and outside the scope of his job, with no prior reports filed through company channels by Denson while the abuse was ongoing.

This lawsuit is a continuation of broader scrutiny over airline workplace culture and the duty of carriers to protect their employees from harassment and exploitation, especially when multiple victims and former employees are involved. United settled a somewhat similar case in 2018 involving another pilot distributing explicit images of a flight attendant with a $321,000 payment and policy reforms. The current litigation will examine whether United’s response was adequate once officially informed by law enforcement.

The outcome of this case will likely hinge on the question of whether United had a legal duty for supervision and failed in that duty by allowing Hill to continue flying without investigation or intervention after the April 2024 warning. As discovery proceeds, the parties will analyze internal communications and timing of actions taken. For airlines, the ruling may set precedents on managing employee misconduct intersecting private criminal behavior and workplace safety obligations.