Printable Page
04/19 16:05 CDT Federal officials are investigating a Rockies coach's cockpit
visit during a United flight
Federal officials are investigating a Rockies coach's cockpit visit during a
United flight
DENVER (AP) --- Federal transportation officials are investigating an
unauthorized inflight cockpit visit by a coach for the Colorado Rockies
baseball team during a United Airlines charter flight last week from Denver to
Toronto.
Video surfaced this week that appears to show Rockies hitting coach Hensley
Meulens sitting in a pilot's seat while the April 10 flight was at cruising
altitude. It is against federal regulations for unauthorized people to be on
the flight deck.
He can be seen and heard on the video joking with other people in the cockpit
--- including a person in a pilot's uniform and at least one other person who
does not appear to be an airline employee --- and says the plane is at 35,000
feet (10,670 meters).
"Flying the plane, here to Toronto," Meulens says as he gestures toward the
person in uniform sitting next to him.
"I'm going to land the plane tonight. So relax," he says. He then reaches
toward the flight controls and pretends to take hold, saying, "I just press
this button ... and it goes down."
Meulens posted the video on social media and later deleted it, but it had
already gone viral and was reposted, The Denver Post reported. He could not be
immediately reached for comment through the Rockies' administrative offices.
United has suffered a series of problems in recent weeks including a piece of
aluminum skin falling off a plane, a tire dropping off another during takeoff,
and an engine fire. The Federal Aviation Administration has stepped up its
oversight of the carrier, and the airline's CEO has sought to reassure
travelers the airline is safe.
A United spokesperson said the airline was conducting its own investigation of
the April 10 flight. The airline said the cockpit visit was "a clear violation
of our safety and operational policies" and was reported to the Federal
Aviation Administration.
"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," United spokesperson Russell Carlton said.
The pilots on the flight have been withheld from service while the airline
investigates, Carlton said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Chris Mullooly said the agency was
investigating but provided no further details because it's an open
investigation.
"Federal regulations restrict flight deck access to specific individuals," he
said.
The cockpit visit was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Rockies representatives did not immediately respond to emails and telephone
messages seeking comment. Major League Baseball said it was aware and
monitoring the Federal Aviation Administration probe.
|
