The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation following unauthorized access to the cockpit during a United Airlines flight. The incident involved a member of the Colorado Rockies coaching staff who was recorded seated in the captain’s chair while the plane was in flight, breaching safety protocols.

This event occurred on April 10th during a Boeing 757 charter flight operated by United Airlines, transporting the Major League Baseball team the Colorado Rockies from Denver to Toronto. The team’s hitting coach, Hensley Meulens, shared a video on Instagram, which he later removed, depicting him in the captain’s seat during the flight. The video also showed the first officer and, presumably, a flight attendant behind the camera.

In the video, the cockpit door is left open, and another unauthorized person enters. The individual filming asks Meulens about the current altitude, to which he replies, “35,000 feet,” and indicates the altimeter. Meulens mentions an upcoming descent and simulates operating the yoke.

The Instagram post by Meulens seemingly included additional videos or images that were not captured in screenshots. Although the initial video is recorded at night, a quick glimpse from a subsequent clip shows daylight visible through the cockpit window, indicating that the cockpit remained open for a considerable duration, not merely a short visit.

United Airlines has suspended the involved pilots pending an investigation, and the FAA is also investigating the breach of regulations.

A spokesperson for United stated,

“We’re deeply disturbed by what we see in that video, which appears to show an unauthorized person in the flight deck at cruising altitude while the autopilot was engaged. 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.”

A spokesperson for United

The airline has faced multiple incidents recently, leading the FAA to place it under increased scrutiny. Notable incidents include a tire detaching from a United 777 during takeoff at San Francisco International Airport, and a runway excursion involving a 737 MAX in Houston.

Featured image by Angel Di Bilio | iStock