A former Delta co-pilot was once federally indicted previous this month, accused of threatening to shoot the captain of a business flight ultimate yr if he diverted the aircraft as a result of a passenger on board could have been struggling a scientific emergency, government showed Tuesday. In step with courtroom paperwork got by means of CBS Information, on Oct. 18 a Utah grand jury indicted Jonathan Dunn with one depend of interference with a flight group.
The purported incident passed off on an Aug. 22, 2022, flight, the Division of Transportation’s inspector common’s place of work stated in a information liberate Tuesday, however didn’t specify the airline the place the flight originated from, or its vacation spot. Alternatively, a Delta Air Traces spokesperson showed to CBS Information that Dunn was once running for Delta as a Delta first officer on the time of the incident.
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In step with the inspector common, Dunn, the co-pilot, had “a war of words” with the captain, who sought after to probably divert the flight “because of a passenger scientific tournament.”Dunn then allegedly “advised the captain they might be shot more than one instances” if the flight was once diverted, the inspector common stated. Officers didn’t supply any more main points on how the location performed out.Dunn was once licensed to hold a gun as a part of the Transportation Protection Management’s Federal Flight Deck Officer program, the inspector common stated. Federal flight deck officials are airline pilots licensed by means of the TSA to be armed within the cockpit on home flights. They go through particular coaching to take action and are supplied with a TSA-issued weapon to shield the flight deck in opposition to an tried hijacking. The 2-page indictment, got by means of CBS Information Tuesday, alleges that Dunn “did attack and intimidate a group member of an airplane…and did use a perilous weapon in assaulting and intimidating the group member.”
In a remark Tuesday night, a spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Management advised CBS Information, “TSA is conscious about an incident involving a Federal Flight Deck Officer.” The company says Dunn has been got rid of from the FFDO program, however may no longer remark additional because of the “pending investigation.”Delta advised CBS Information in a remark Tuesday night that Dunn was once now not hired by means of the airline and avoided commenting additional pending the investigation.Felicia Martinez, a spokesperson for the U.S. Legal professional’s place of work for the District of Utah, additionally advised CBS Information in a remark that “at this degree within the case, we wouldn’t have numerous data to percentage with out jeopardizing the integrity of the case.”Dunn is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 16.
The inspector common’s place of work stated it’s getting the aid of the FBI and the Federal Aviation Management in its investigation. The FAA and FBI declined to remark.It’s not straight away transparent if Dunn has a attorney representing him forward of his scheduled arraignment.On Oct. 22, government allege that an off-duty Alaska Airways pilot attempted to close off a aircraft’s engines right through a business flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California. The suspect, Joseph Emerson, has been charged with 83 counts of tried homicide.— Robert Legare and Katie Krupnik contributed to this document.
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Kris Van Cleave
Kris Van Cleave is CBS Information’ senior transportation and nationwide correspondent primarily based in Phoenix.
