FAA opens investigation, pilots pulled from active duty after Colorado Rockies coach posted video from UA cockpit

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

Link to tweet

The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation, according to several media reports, after Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens posted a video on Instagram showing himself in the cockpit on the Rockies’ flight from Denver to Toronto on April 10.

In a since-deleted video, Meulens is seen sitting in the captain’s seat of the cockpit, pointing over to the first officer at one point. Meulens and another man joke about him landing the plane and starting descent. Meulens’ post had several elements to it, but the recovered footage cuts off after swiping to a second video that briefly shows the cockpit bathed in sunshine.

United Airlines spokesperson Anoushah Rasta confirmed the investigation to SFGATE on Friday and said the airline has since removed the pilots from active duty.

“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’s wrote in a statement. “As a clear violation of our safety and operational policies, we’ve reported the incident to the FAA and have withheld the pilots from service while we conduct an investigation.”

https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/faa-investigate-united-cockpit-video-sf-giants-19412277.php

[Just_Vote_Dem]

1. The coach needs to face repercussions as well as the pilots n/t

[sop]

2. The pilots are obviously MLB (major league baseball) fans.

This would never happen on a regular flight. It was a Colorado Rockies team charter flight, the pilots were probably trying to impress the coach and players. Even the president invites sports teams into the White House and oval office for photo ops.

[pfitz59]

3. Photo ops on the ground, not in the air

If the fool had bumped the controls, or accidentally pushed the wrong button all hell would break loose. Plus, the pilots need to be at the controls for any emergency. The First Officer could do a lot, but an untrained sandbag in the left seat is dangerous.

[sop]

4. You're right, the pilots violated all sorts of rules.

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have done it had this been charter flight full of people making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hardcore baseball fans act irrationally at times.

[pdxflyboy]

5. At 35000 feet?

If there were a violent encounter with another aircraft’s wake turbulence, or an explosive depressurization, that entire aircraft with all people aboard could have been lost. I’ve heard that the pilots HAVE been fired. I hope it was worth it for those two pilots to be hobnobbing with the pro sports team.