Due to change of flight route: Co-pilot threatens to shoot the captain during the flight

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Dramatic scenes on a scheduled flight of the American airline Delta: On August 22, 2022, co-pilot Jonathan D.* threatened his captain with death if he changed the flight route. Charges have now been filed against D.

The cockpit altercation was caused by a passenger’s medical emergency, according to the complaint, which is available to CBS News. As usual in aviation, the captain then wanted to land at the nearest accessible airport. Co-pilot D. didn’t like that: he quickly drew his weapon. He would shoot the captain if he diverted the plane.

The co-pilot was allowed to carry a weapon

Why was the co-pilot armed? As part of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Federal Flight Deck Officer program, he was cleared to carry a weapon in the cockpit on domestic flights. The Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management reported this in a press release on Tuesday. The officers are specially trained and equipped with a weapon to defend the cockpit against a hijacking attempt.

The indictment accuses D. of “assaulting and intimidating an aircraft crew member… and using a dangerous weapon to assault and intimidate the crew member.”

D. laid off from the airline

But the threatened captain was able to prevent something even worse. As CNN reports, he was able to stop the co-pilot from using the weapon and land the plane safely. It is unclear whether this was the planned or the alternative airport.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration confirmed to CBS News: “TSA is aware of an incident involving a Federal Flight Deck Officer.” D. is suspended. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further comment can be made. D. is also no longer employed by Delta Airlines, the airline announced more than a year after the incident. (gs)

*Name known

Source: Blick