A federal judge has upheld a decision ordering Alaska Airlines to rehire a mechanic who was fired after testing positive for marijuana. The aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) attributed his positive drug test to a potluck party he had attended a few days prior, where he had consumed various food items that could have contained cannabis.

Alaska must rehire mechanic who tested positive for marijuana

US District Judge John H. Chun affirmed a previous decision during an arbitration case brought by union Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) ordering Alaska Airlines
to reinstate the fired mechanic’s position. Despite an arbitration board ruling in favor of reinstating the mechanic, Alaska disputed that decision and took it to federal court.

alaska airlines hangar

Photo: BUI LE MANH HUNG | Shutterstock

For some background on this case, technician Gregory Chappell was selected for a mandatory drug test in July 2022, and the results came back showing a positive result for THC, a compound present in marijuana. Chappell denied knowingly using marijuana and stated his belief that he likely ingested it unknowingly at a “potluck block part barbecue” a few days before the test.

The mechanic said that at least 20 people were present at the party, and many had brought along food. Chappell shared this information during an interview with Orville Hunt, a Director of Line Maintenance for Alaska Airlines – however, at an in-house disciplinary meeting, Hunt failed to disclose this to Alaska’s disciplinary team, which subsequently fired Chappell later that month under its “zero-tolerance” drugs policy.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 taking off

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Judge Chun stated that “by omitting a possible explanation for Chappell’s positive drug test, Hunt deprived Chappell of a full opportunity to tell his side of the story.” However, Alaska Airlines contended that its disciplinary team was aware that Chappell denied knowingly using marijuana and, therefore, “an explanation of how he might have accidentally ingested marijuana is immaterial.”The mechanics union has requested that Chappell be given back pay and benefits since the date of the initial arbitration award in October 2023, and this has now been remanded to the arbitration board.

Mechanics are “safety-sensitive” employees

In its federal suit, Alaska Airlines admitted that there was no evidence Chappell’s ability to perform his job was impaired, and that a positive THC result does not prove any kind of present impairment. It is also worth noting that recreational marijuana use has been legalized in the state of Washington where this all took place.

Alaska Airlines aircraft at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport SEA shutterstock_1574673760

Photo: VDB Photos | Shutterstock

According to HoundLabs, THC can remain detectable in urine tests up to a month after consumption – however, the “high” from the chemical is unlikely to persist beyond a few hours, and certainly not beyond a period of 24 hours.

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On Alaska’s zero-tolerance policy, Judge Chun cited an earlier case involving a different Alaska Airlines mechanic who had accidentally ingested marijuana but was able to keep his job. However, on that occasion, the individual soon became aware of his accidental ingestion (his wife accepted some cookies from a neighbor), and he self-reported it to the airline.

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