Why a pilot is under investigation for saying ‘Let’s go Brandon’

It began as a chant at a NASCAR race. It became an inside joke among many Republicans that spread to T-shirts and even to the floor of Congress. And now it has entangled Southwest in the nation’s political tussles. The phrase “Let’s go Brandon,” which is understood to be code for swearing at President Biden, was uttered over the intercom by a Southwest pilot during a flight on Friday, a reporter for The AP wrote in an article about the spread of the phrase. The reporter, Colleen Long, who was on that flight, added that it prompted “audible gasps from some passengers.” As word of the remark spread on social media, many threatened to boycott the airline. Others pledged their support to Southwest because of the pilot’s remark. Southwest apologized to customers on Sunday and said that it was conducting an internal investigation. “Southwest does not condone employees sharing their personal political opinions while on the job,” the company said. The airline would not say if the pilot had been suspended for making the remark, adding that it does not comment on an employee’s status.<br/>