If things weren't already bad enough for United Airlines, a pilot with ExpressJet Airlines, a contractor that flies under the banner of United Express, has been arrested after performing an illegal surgery to remove the testicles of a transgender woman.
The pilot, identified as 57-year-old James Pennington, was arrested in Denver after using an Army surgical kit to perform the illegal surgery. According to ABC 7 Chicago, Pennington, who lives in Colorado but is based in Chicago, performed a 90-minute operation while the transgender woman's wife watched. About three hours after the surgery, when blood kept "pouring" from the wound, the wife called 911.
Police have arrested Pennington on suspicion of first-degree assault causing bodily harm. in a statement, they said he is not a doctor, although they did not indicate whether or not he has any medical training.
After his arrest, ABC investigators discovered that Pennington is a pilot with ExpressJet, where he has worked for 12 years. A spokesperson for the airline told ABC that Pennington has been placed on administrative leave, but would comment any further because this is now "a legal matter."
[READMORE]READ MORE: United Proves to Be Its Own Worst Enemy[/READMORE]
The transgender woman in question was transported to the Medical Center of Aurora, where doctors were unable to reattach her testicles due to the length of time between their removal and her admission to the medical facility.
Police are holding Pennington without bond.
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