A since-deleted Instagram video appearing to show a Colorado Rockies hitting coach in the cockpit of an active United Airlines flight is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The coach, Hensley Meulens, wrote in the caption of the April 10 Instagram post that he “had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto. Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience,” according to ESPN.
In addition to purportedly showing Mr. Meulens in a pilot’s seat, another member of the coaching staff also entered the cockpit during the video, according to the Denver Post.
Passengers have been banned from the flight decks of active flights since regulations were tightened after 9/11. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
“Federal regulations restrict flight deck access to specific individuals. We do not comment on the details of open investigations,” the FAA told KDVR-TV.
The pilots, who have not been named by government officials or United Airlines, have been grounded while the incident is being investigated.
“We’re deeply disturbed by what we see in that video, which appears to show an unauthorized person in the flight deck at cruise 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,” United Airlines told KDVR-TV.