DENVER (AP) – Federal transportation officials are investigating the unauthorized visit of a Colorado Rockies coach to the cockpit of a United Airlines charter flight from Denver to Toronto last week.
This week, video was released showing Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens sitting in the cockpit while the April 10 flight was at cruising altitude. It is a violation of federal regulations for unauthorized persons to be on the flight deck.
He is seen and heard in the video joking with other people in the cockpit (including a person in a pilot’s uniform and at least one person who does not appear to be an employee of the airline), and the plane 35,000 feet (10,670 feet).
“I’m going to get on a plane and go here to Toronto,” Mullens said, gesturing to the uniformed person sitting next to him.
“We’re landing the plane tonight. So relax,” he says. He then reached for the controls, pretended to grab them, and said, “Just press this button…and it will go down.”
Mullens posted the video on social media and later deleted it, but it has already gone viral. Reposted, denver post report. Mullens was not available for comment in the Rockies’ clubhouse Friday, but manager Bud Black said Mullens is remorseful and his job is not in jeopardy.
“Bang bang, he apologized,” Black said. “As this matter is under investigation, we cannot comment further. As for Bam Bam, he apologized to the Rockies, he apologized to United, and he apologized to the team.”
United has suffered a series of problems in recent weeks, including a piece of aluminum skin falling off a plane, a tire falling from another plane during takeoff, and an engine fire. The Federal Aviation Administration is increasing its oversight of airlines, and the airline’s CEO is trying to reassure travelers that the airline is safe.
A United spokesperson said the airline is conducting its own investigation into 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 are extremely disturbed by footage that appears to show an unauthorized person on the flight deck at cruising altitude while the autopilot is engaged,” United spokesman Russell Carleton said in a statement.
Carleton said the flight’s pilot has been removed from duty while the airline investigates.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Chris Mulloley said the agency is investigating, but declined to provide further details because the investigation is public.
“Federal regulations limit access to the flight deck for certain individuals,” he said.
The cockpit visit was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Major League Baseball said it is aware of and monitoring the Federal Aviation Administration investigation.
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