A former Delta Air Lines first officer, or co-pilot, who threatened to shoot the Captain of a commercial flight if the aircraft was diverted due to a passenger who needed medical attention, has been indicted by a grand jury in Utah.
The incident in question occurred aboard a commercial flight in August 2022, and the Utah grand jury indicted the former Delta co-pilot flight crew member on October 18, when he was charged with interference with flight crew.
The individual, named as Jonathan J. Dunn was acting as the first officer on the flight and had been authorized to carry a gun under the auspices of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Flight Deck Officer program.
According to ABC News, the Inspector General’s office stated: “After a disagreement about a potential flight diversion due to a passenger medical event, Dunn told the Captain they would be shot multiple times if the Captain diverted the flight.”
The Inspector General’s office is now reported to be working with both the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the matter.
If found guilty of the charge, Dunn faces a potential punishment for the felony offence of up to 20 years in prison. An arraignment hearing in the matter is now scheduled to take place on November 16.
It is understood that the airline has declined to comment on the matter but has confirmed that Mr. Dunn is no longer employed by the US carrier.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly Emergencies and Incidents newsletter.
