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A pilot who was carrying a weapon and reportedly made threats to shoot a captain due to the decision to change course for a passenger’s medical emergency has been charged in connection with the incident.
According to reports, Jonathan Dunn is accused of using a weapon to attack and threaten the plane’s pilot. He allegedly threatened to shoot multiple times if the plane’s route was changed.
On October 18th, Dunn was charged by a grand jury at the US District Court in Utah for disrupting the crew of a commercial flight.
The DOT-OIG stated that the incident took place in August 2022.
The accusation states that Dunn, the co-pilot, disrupted a crew member’s duties by using a dangerous weapon to physically harm and intimidate the Captain.
“Dunn warned the captain that if they diverted the flight due to a passenger’s medical emergency, they would be shot multiple times after a disagreement.”
The DOT-OIG statement stated that Dunn was granted permission by the Transportation Security Administration to have a firearm while on a flight. This privilege was granted to pilots following the terrorist attacks in September 2001.
He participated in the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, which was created after the attacks. This program trains and equips pilots to handle potential in-flight attacks, such as hijacking attempts.
“After successfully finishing the training, the pilot is designated as a federal law enforcement officer and given a TSA-approved weapon and federal flight deck officer identification,” stated the Transportation Security Administration.
The statement from DOT-OIG did not mention a particular airline, but Delta Air Lines stated that Dunn is no longer working for them. The airline declined to provide further comment, citing the ongoing investigation by aviation authorities into the incident.
The investigation is being carried out by DOT-OIG in collaboration with the FBI, with significant support from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Individuals who disrupt the duties of flight crew members are subject to a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment. In cases where a hazardous weapon is employed to attack or coerce, the offender may be imprisoned for life.
Dunn was charged shortly before an Alaska Airlines pilot, who was off-duty and sitting in the cockpit jump seat, attempted to turn off the engines of a Horizon Air jet while in flight.
Last week in Portland, Oregon, Joseph David Emerson from Pleasant Hill, California entered a plea of not guilty to charges of attempted murder and interference with a flight crew.
Source: independent.co.uk
