The Southwest Airlines pilot who accidentally broadcast a four-minute anti-gay rant has apologized, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported.

The airline earlier suspended Taylor after he accidentally broadcast over the Houston Center air traffic control frequency a cockpit conversation in which he is heard complaining to his co-pilot about the lack of “do-able” flight attendants.

“Well, but I had Tucson to Indy all four weeks,” the pilot is heard saying. “And, uh, Chicago crews 11 out of 12. There's 12 flight attendants – individuals – never the same flight attendant twice, 11 f**king over the top f**king ass f**king homosexuals and a granny.”

“11! I mean think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party land. After that, it was just a continuous stream of gays and grannys and grandes. Well, I don't give a f**k. I hate a hundred percent of their asses.”

“So, six months I went to the bar three times. In six months three times. Once with the granny and the fag, and I wish I hadn't gone. At the very end with two girls, one of them that was part doable.”

At one point, a controller cuts in to say, “We don't need to hear that.” (The audio is embedded in the right panel of this page.)

The Wall Street Journal reported that the FAA chided the pilot for his behavior: “The FAA expects a higher level of professionalism from flight crews.”

According to the Dallas Voice, Taylor is married. He and his wife live in the Dallas suburb of Argyle, Texas.

Taylor addressed his written apology to all Southwest flight attendants and employees.

“Because of the impact of my comments, I wanted to communicate with you directly. Please accept my most sincere apology for the inappropriate and disrespectful remarks I made in March with an open microphone. I deeply regret the derogatory remarks I made and the hurt I have caused — I take full responsibility for those comments. It was truly insensitive of me and I would like all of you to know that from now on, I will show nothing but the utmost respect during my interactions with all employees. In addition, I would like to extend a special apology to all Flight Attendants, and especially those of Houston. I hope you will allow me to maintain a working relationship with all of you that will provide me the opportunity to extend an individual, personal apology to each one of you whenever we fly together. Please know that this event has forever changed me and I hope that others can learn from my mistake. I have learned a much-needed lesson to be more sensitive of others and I hope you will see me as a more tolerant and considerate person. I am proud to be employed by Southwest Airlines and I am committed to representing our Company, and its employees in the most professional way possible.”