from www.suntimes.com – A former flight attendant on Oprah Winfrey’s private jet filed a lawsuit Friday claiming she was wrongfully fired because of false allegations that she had sex with the plane’s married pilot as the talk-show host snoozed.

Corrine Gehrls, a New Hampshire resident, was hired by Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Inc., in May 2007, according to her federal court complaint. Gehrls says she worked as a flight attendant on the plane along with Myron Gooch and Kirby Bumpus.

Gehrls claims Gooch and Bumpus devised a plan to have the pilot and her fired because of work-related disputes. Bumpus’ mother is Oprah’s best friend, Gayle King, the suit alleges. Bumpus also is Winfrey’s goddaughter, the suit says.

In early July, Bumpus and Gooch allegedly told Winfrey that Gehrls and the plane’s pilot had sexual contact outside the plane’s cockpit June 14. Winfrey fired both Gehrls and the pilot July 7, according to the suit.

Gehrls claims Winfrey knew the sex allegations were “obviously false,” since the plane was on the ground refueling when the alleged contact would have taken place and most of the plane’s passengers — including the talk-show billionaire — were dozing. The pilot has allegedly resolved his disputes with Harpo.

Harpo spokesman Don Halcombe would not comment on the suit Friday night. Gehrls and her attorney could not be reached for comment.

The suit seeks more than $300,000 in damages.