Cockpits are getting attention for all the wrong reasons , and subjects are related to Aviation safety ! Court filing shows that a co-pilot has been indicted for allegedly threatening to shoot the Captain, if he diverts their flight because of a potential medical issue involving a passenger.
Allow us to take you to another cockpit incident last month. On October 22nd 2023 , a pilot occupying the jump seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air 2059 Everett-San Francisco flight, tried to shut down the engines mid-flight suddenly. He was quarantined later in the aft cabin area, followed by a precautionary diversion landing.
For that case, the off-duty pilot claimed to have been on psychedelic mushrooms, as per court affidavit.
"EMERSON denied taking any medication, but he stated that approximately six months ago he became depressed. The officer and EMERSON talked about the use of psychedelic mushrooms and EMERSON said it was his first-time taking mushrooms."
The current suit is between the United States Of America as plaintiff and Jonathan J. Dunn , the co-pilot as the defendant . A grand jury in Utah issued the indictment against the Delta Air Lines pilot and certified Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) "Jonathan J. Dunn" on Oct. 18 over an incident that happened in cockpit in August 2022, charging him with interference with a flight crew, according to federal court records.
The Transportation Department's inspector general's office said in an email sent Tuesday that Dunn was the first officer, or co-pilot, on the flight and was authorized to carry a gun under a program run by the Transportation Security Administration.
“After a disagreement about a potential flight diversion due to a passenger medical event, Dunn told the Captain they would be shot multiple times if the Captain diverted the flight,” the inspector general's office said.
The inspector general's office, in its statement said that it was working with the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration on the investigation.
The two-page indictment in federal district court in Utah says only that Dunn “did use a dangerous weapon in assaulting and intimidating the crew member.” An arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
The indictment did not indicate which airline the incident occurred on. The inspector general identified it only as a commercial airline flight and did not say what was its scheduled route or whether it was diverted.
TSA says ,
"TSA is aware of an incident involving a Federal Flight Deck Officer. Dunn was removed from the FFDO program.”
Delta Says,
"Out of respect for the ongoing aviation authority investigation of this incident, Delta will refrain from commenting on this matter but will confirm that this First Officer is no longer employed at Delta."
The inspector general has been able to identify Dunn as a California pilot. Worth noting here is, Interference with a flight crew operations is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
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