When listening to the video you hear the gender dysphoric pilot emphasize his actions were based on
safety and that's the key to him asserting his authority. Like it or not the legal argument ends there. He cited a "safety" concern so from there own out it was a waste of time to argue otherwise. I'd be thankful to get off the plane, as was noted earlier being piloted by someone with obvious issues some deem as unacceptable and also a possible safety concern.
According to the FAA
A pilot is the final authority on the operation of their aircraft, which includes the power to enforce the airline's contract of carriage for matters of safety and operational necessity. This authority, however, does not make them the sole or final enforcer of the contract in every circumstance.
Here is a breakdown of a pilot's authority regarding the contract of carriage:
A pilot's authority over flight operations
U.S. federal aviation regulations establish that the pilot-in-command is directly responsible for and is the final authority on the safe operation of an aircraft.
In the context of the contract of carriage, this means a pilot can override the agreement if they believe it compromises flight safety. This authority can be used to:
- Remove or deny boarding to a passenger who is a safety risk.
- Divert a flight to an alternate airport for safety reasons.
- Make decisions during emergencies that may conflict with an airline's standard operating procedures but are necessary to protect the aircraft, crew, and passengers.
Contract terms enforced by airlines and the DOT
While the pilot handles immediate, in-flight decisions related to safety, other parts of the contract of carriage are enforced by the airline's corporate departments and the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The DOT, not the pilot, is responsible for enforcing rules concerning:
- Refunds for canceled flights or services.
- Compensation for denied boarding due to overbooking.
- Lost or damaged baggage claims.
The airline's own employees, such as gate agents and customer service representatives, are responsible for handling these contractual issues on the ground, but their decisions can be reviewed by the DOT if a passenger files a complaint.
"We're going to turn this red Prius into a soup kitchen!"
