Candace Owens Is 'Terrified' of Women Pilots

Conservative commentator Candace Owens said she is "terrified" of women pilots while criticizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices on her podcast on Friday.

As companies try to incorporate DEI policies into the hiring process to make a more diverse and inclusive workplace and industry, conservatives have criticized the policies as giving jobs to people based on race or gender and not on their credentials. It is illegal to make hiring decisions solely based on these identities, however, it has been argued that inclusive recruitment helps to decrease bias and discrimination in the workplace.

In a video posted to the Candace Owens Podcast YouTube channel on Friday, Owens defended recent comments that were made by Charlie Kirk, founder of conservative group Turning Point USA.

While on the podcast he co-hosts, ThoughtCrime, Kirk said: "I'm sorry, if I see a Black pilot, I'm gonna be like boy I hope he's qualified...that's not who I am, that's not what I believe." His comments came during a conversation about United Airlines DEI policies.

Kirk received backlash for these comments, with people on social media calling him racist.

"I said the exact same thing on this show just a couple of weeks ago," Owens, who used to work with Kirk at Turning Point USA as communications director, said about his comments. "I remarked that now when I even am watching a commercial, if I see a commercial and I see a Black person, a Hispanic person, an Asian person, my thought process is 'Did they just get this because DEI?' I no longer think the person is qualified."

She continued: "It makes me upset that that's my thought process when I see a commercial and when I see a movie, is this person actually even a good actor or are they just checking a box? But unfortunately that is the reality of what happens when it comes to DEI and what he is remarking on is true.

"I would be terrified if I got onto a plane and I saw a woman flying the plane and I know that we have the United CEO saying that he just wants to fulfill a quota. He just wants there to be more women and wants there to be more Black people and he's not concerned at first with qualifications. That is something that should alarm all of us guys."

Owens called arguments that inclusive hiring helps to decrease bias and discrimination "foolish" in a comment to Newsweek via email on Friday.

"When it comes to flying planes (and every other occupation) individuals should be hired based on merit. The most qualified person should be hired for every position, irrespective of race or sex. Positively shocking that this is considered even remotely controversial," she added.

Newsweek reached out to Kirk's podcast via email for comment.

A 2021 interview of United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby talking about DEI initiatives within the airline's aviate academy has recently resurfaced, garnering backlash.

During the interview, Kirby was asked by Axios' Dan Primack, "How is diversity and diversity targets working into the aviate academy?"

Kirby responded at the time: "We have committed that 50 percent of the classes will be women or people of color. Today, only 19 percent of our pilots at United Airlines are women or people of color. And by the way, from the data I've seen, that's the highest of any airline in the country."

A United spokesperson told Newsweek via email on Friday: "United is proud to maintain the highest standards in our pilot hiring, training, and safety practices. Every aviator who joins our ranks must meet them. No exceptions."

Update 1/26/23, 6:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from United.

Update 1/27/23, 10:13 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Owens.