SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A pilot for Delta Airlines reportedly threatened to shoot the captain of a plane “multiple times” while in the air over a dispute on whether to divert the flight because of a medical event involving a passenger.
A news release from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General says Jonathan Dunn was indicted on Oct. 18 by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah on a charge of interfering with the crew of a commercial airline flight. If convicted, Dunn would face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The incident occurred on Aug. 22, 2022, the news release says. Dunn was the first officer on the flight. He is accused of using a firearm “to assault and intimidate the captain.” Dunn threatened to shoot the captain “multiple times” if the flight was diverted, the news release says.
The news release says Dunn was authorized to carry a firearm through the Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Flight Deck Officer program. CNN reports the Federal Flight Deck Officer program was started following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 1, 2001.
Delta tells KATU Channel 2 that Dunn is no longer employed by the airline.
