Board of Northwest’s Pilot Union Ousts Chief

The leader of Northwest Airlines’ pilot union has been ousted about six weeks after pilots agreed to a 24% pay cut and other concessions to help the carrier emerge from bankruptcy protection.

The Air Line Pilots Assn.’s master executive council at Northwest voted 6 to 5, with one abstention, to recall Mark McClain from the chairman’s job. Council members will choose a new leader today.

Northwest Airlines Corp.’s 5,700 pilots approved a new 5 1/2 -year contract May 3 that would save the carrier $358 million a year, with almost two-thirds of members voting in favor. Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest wants concessions from all of its unions to reduce labor costs by $1.4 billion a year.