By The newspaper
01 Nov 2023, 17:34 PM EDT
Jonathan J. Dunn, a former Delta Airlines pilot, has been formally charged with threatening to shoot his captain during a commercial flight in August 2022, leading to legal consequences and an ongoing investigation.
The indictment, returned in October by a Utah grand jury, accuses Jonathan Dunn of interfering with the crew of a commercial flight. The charges stem from his alleged threat to shoot the flight’s captain.
According to a BBC report, the captain had considered diverting the flight due to a sick passenger on board. At the time, the incident shocked the aviation industry.
Former Delta pilot’s serious crime
Court documents, recently made public, reveal the seriousness of the allegations against Dunn. According to these documents, seen by CBS, Dunn “assaulted and intimidated an airplane crew member… and used a dangerous weapon to assault and intimidate the crew member” during the flight.
He allegedly threatened multiple times to shoot the captain if the flight diverted. These charges have led to a joint investigation by the Department of Transportation’s office of inspector general, with assistance from the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While details of what happened next have not been revealed, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of passengers and flight crew.
Dunn is scheduled to be arraigned in November and the legal process will continue to unfold. Interfering with a flight crew is a serious crime that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. This case has attracted significant attention and underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of commercial flights.
Dunn fired from Delta
A Delta Airlines spokesperson confirmed that Dunn was employed as a first officer at the time of the incident. However, he is no longer associated with the airline. The aviation industry takes these allegations seriously and safety remains a top priority for both airlines and regulators.
Jonathan Dunn was authorized to carry a firearm as part of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Federal Flight Deck Officer Program. This program allows qualified pilots and flight crews to act as law enforcement officers to protect airliners from acts of violence.
However, in light of the charges, Dunn has been removed from the program, highlighting the strict measures implemented to maintain the safety of commercial flights.
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