Authorities are investigating how a former Giants coach, now on the Colorado Rockies’ staff, made his way into the cockpit during a team charter flight from Denver to Toronto this month, according to published reports.
Hensley Meulens, the Giants’ hitting coach during their run to three World Series championships a decade ago, brought attention to the situation when he posted a video on social media this week that appeared to show him sitting in one of the two pilot seats during the United Airlines flight on April 10.
The video, which went viral, has been deleted.
“Had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto,” Meulens, nicknamed “Bam Bam,” wrote in the video caption. “Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience.”
In the video, Meulens is heard saying while gesturing to a uniformed person next to him, “Flying the plane, here to Toronto. I’m going to land the plane tonight. So relax.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines are investigating how Meulens got into the cockpit, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story.
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According to the AP, United Airlines said the cockpit visit was “a clear violation of our safety and operational policies.”
The matter was reported to the FAA.
“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,” United spokesperson Russell Carlton told the AP.
Meulens coached for the Giants from 2010-2019 and has since been on the staff for the Mets, Yankees and Rockies. He played parts of seven seasons in MLB, primarily with the Yankees.
United Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating how a passenger gained access to the cockpit of a 757 at cruise altitude in violation of the company’s policy and FAA regulations. pic.twitter.com/E2yQwSbEy8
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) April 19, 2024