Chemical engineer fired over racist slur during flight

Zachary Easterly was caught on video yelling homophobic and racist slurs while being ejecting from the flight, resulting in his firing from his job

By Edward Barbacena

A chemical engineer was fired from his job after being caught on video yelling homophobic slurs during a flight — and then repeatedly hurling the N-word after getting kicked off the plane.

Zachary Easterly was terminated by his employer, pharmaceutical and biotech company GlaxoSmithKline, after cellphone recordings surfaced showing the employee having an epic, booze-fueled meltdown shortly after boarding a flight at the Philadelphia International Airport, TMZ reported.

The first clip that TMZ obtained shows Easterly, dressed in a black T-shirt, yelling profanities while being removed from the flight.

Easterly, who is white, sarcastically remarks that he is “a white male that picked a black bag because I’m racist.”

He adds: “You’re kicking me off the plane because I’m racist.”

Easterly insists he didn’t do anything but admits that he’s “a little intoxicated.”

As flight attendants search for the unruly passenger’s bag in the overhead compartments, Easterly exclaims that his carry-on is “a better bag than most of y’all can afford.”

After being reunited with his backpack, Easterly makes his way toward the exit. On his way out, he yells that everyone on the plane is a “liberal f—-t” and expresses hope they “crash the f—ing plane.”

Just before leaving, Easterly whips around and declares that he is a chemical engineer who works for GlaxoSmithKline.

“I’m going to quit the f—ing job this week,” he says, before boasting that his soon-to-be former employer is “one of the best f—ing companies in the world.”

The incident took place aboard a flight from Philadelphia to Dallas last Tuesday. By Thursday, GlaxoSmithKline announced that Easterly had been terminated by the company.

The London-based multinational pharmaceutical giant released a statement condemning the engineer’s remarks as “reprehensible” and not reflecting the company’s culture.

“At GSK, diversity, equity and inclusion is embraced and celebrated and we are committed in policy, principle and practice to maintaining an environment which prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all persons,” the statement continued.

In the wake of Easterly’s firing, a second cellphone video has emerged on TMZ, showing what happened after he had been ejected from the plane.

In the clip, a visibly agitated Easterly could be heard repeatedly using the N-word, which he directs at a black airline employee.

As he is escorted through the terminal, Easterly — who confidently describes himself as a “cool motherf—er” — threatens to grab his pistol and shoot black workers.

Easterly again boasts that he’s a chemical engineer and tells a black manager escorting him through the terminal that he has “10 times your IQ.”

When a bystander overhears Easterly’s foul remarks, he warns him to watch his mouth, prompting the out-of-control traveler to stop in his tracks and issue a deadly threat: “I’ll pull my pistol, I’ll kill your f—ing family!”

Easterly could not be immediately reached for comment.

Philadelphia police could not say whether the airport confrontation resulted in any arrests.