FAA and United Airlines Investigate Incident on Colorado Rockies Charter Flight
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United Airlines are probing a concerning incident after a video emerged showing an individual unauthorized to be in the pilot’s seat during a flight chartered by the Colorado Rockies baseball team.
Violation of Safety Policies
United Airlines removed at least two pilots from duty following the occurrence on April 10 on a flight from Denver to Toronto. The airline expressed deep concern, stating, “We’re deeply disturbed by what we see in that video, which appears to show an unauthorized person in the flight deck at cruise altitude while the autopilot was engaged.” The airline reported the incident to the FAA, emphasizing it as a clear breach of safety and operational protocols. The pilots have been withheld from service pending an investigation.
FAA Investigation
The FAA has initiated its investigation into the matter but refrained from divulging specifics, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry. Emphasizing the importance of flight deck access limitations, the FAA highlighted that federal regulations dictate access to be restricted to designated individuals.
Colorado Rockies’ Response
CNN reached out to the Colorado Rockies for comment on the incident. The baseball team has yet to provide a statement regarding the unauthorized individual in the cockpit during the flight. CNN reporters Amanda Jackson and Jacob Lev contributed to this report.