Delta Pilot Threatens to Shoot Captain Over Medical Diversion

Federal authorities in Utah have indicted a former Delta Air Lines pilot for allegedly threatening to shoot the captain during a flight last year. Jonathan Dunn was indicted in a Utah District Court on October 18 for disrupting the crew's operations on a commercial flight. 

According to an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Inspector General, Dunn used a firearm to assault and intimidate the flight's captain. This incident happened on a Delta flight between two unspecified destinations on August 22, 2022. The DOT released this statement about the incident:

"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."

Meanwhile, the federal court in Utah said about Dunn's indictment:

"The indictment alleges that, on or about August 22, 2022, Dunn, the crew's First Officer, interfered with the performance of a crew member by using a dangerous weapon to assault and intimidate the Captain. Dunn was authorized to carry a firearm through the Transportation Security Administration's Federal Flight Desk Officer program."

Why Was There a Gun Onboard?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) created the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program as an additional security measure after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The FFDO program allows flight crew to receive specialized training and carry weapons onboard to protect against terrorism. The participants are federal law enforcement officers certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FFDOs have jurisdiction over the cabins of commercial or cargo aircraft while on duty.

It is unknown what caused Dunn to misbehave while on duty. Dunn had no health issues severe enough to prevent him from flying since he had a medical certificate while working at Delta. Dunn got his medical certificate revoked after the incident, with Delta later revealing in a statement that he was no longer employed there. The DOT, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are conducting the investigation. Dunn is scheduled to be arraigned in a federal court in Salt Lake City on November 16.

There have been several incidents involving pilot misconduct over the past few months. In October, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot was charged with over 80 counts of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shut down an aircraft's engines during a flight. The pilot later revealed that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours before the incident, which occurred on a flight between Paine Field (PAE) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). He also said that his depression caused him to have a mental breakdown.

Mental Health and Aviation

This incident also signifies the importance of mental health in the aviation industry. Some pilots may hide their underlying mental health issues to avoid being removed from their jobs. Being a pilot can be stressful due to the workload and being responsible for the safety of hundreds of passengers on any given flight. This stress can negatively impact their mental health and, thus, their job performance. 

The stigma around mental health in aviation is still a serious problem, even though pilots are required to get their mental and physical fitness checked out every six months. Mental health is a discussion that should happen more as we see more incidents occurring. Not doing anything can be catastrophic for pilots, airlines, and the passengers who also become victims of these incidents.