Game On! at US Airways

[bchjetdrvr]

Pilot's gun discharges on US Airways flight 7:24 AM


[SIZE=-1]07:24 AM EDT on Monday, March 24, 2008[/SIZE]


[SIZE=-1]By DIANA RUGG / WCNC [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]E-mail Diana: [email protected][/SIZE]

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- A US Airways pilot’s gun accidentally discharged during a flight from Denver to Charlotte Saturday, according to a statement released by the airline.
The statement said the discharge happened on Flight 1536, which left Denver at approximately 6:45 a.m. and arrived in Charlotte at approximately 11:51 a.m.
The Airbus A319 plane landed safely and none of the flight’s 124 passengers or five crew members was injured, according to the statement. It was a full flight. An airline spokeswoman said the plane has been taken out of service to make sure it is safe to return to flight.
A Transportation Safety Administration spokeswoman reached by WCNC Sunday said the pilot is part of TSA’s Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which trains pilots to carry guns on flights. Andrea McCauley said the gun discharged in the cockpit, but she could not release how the gun was being transported at the time. She did not release the pilot’s name, but said he was authorized to carry the weapon and was last requalified in the FFDO program last November.
A statement from TSA said the airplane was never in danger, and the TSA and the Federal Air Marshals Service are investigating the incident.

WCNC reporter Diana Rugg is following up on this story. If you or someone you know were on that flight, please e-mail her at [email protected].

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-032308-sjf-gunonplane.1c4cabd1.html

___________________________:uzi: _______________

Accident.....sure it was... .. I think maybe he saw his old boss MS trying to board his plane..

 

[blueridge71]

DOH! I think that guy must have screwed up. That weapon would not have discharged if it was in his holster.

 

[batsky2000]

I knew this would happen some day, this is by far the stupidest law our gov't. ever made, to allow pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. I am still betting on the day that one of these FFDO's has a very bad day, divorce, hates his job, etc.... and shoots himself and the other pilot, stuff like this has happened before, Remember FEDEX? he used an ax and other weapons, now a pilot who has a mental breakdown can use a gun, and our gov't is the one to blame when that happens!!

 

[blueridge71]

I disagree. It is a great program and one of the most cost-effective things the government has ever done. Screening is very intensive. There might be a few bad apples, but they are definitely in the minority.

If a pilot is going to snap, he could just as easily do in the other guy with a crash axe or just lock him out of the cockpit when he goes to the lav. You could make the same generalities and assumptions about any LEO who carries on board an aircraft.

The alternative is to either hire massive numbers of FAMs or leave flights open to hijackers. I'd much rather take my chances with an FFDO at the controls than an Mad Mullah up front and an F16 off my wing.

I'm guessing you probably have issues about guns in general.

 

[Bruce Dickenson]

I knew this would happen some day, this is by far the stupidest law our gov't. ever made, to allow pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. I am still betting on the day that one of these FFDO's has a very bad day, divorce, hates his job, etc.... and shoots himself and the other pilot, stuff like this has happened before, Remember FEDEX? he used an ax and other weapons, now a pilot who has a mental breakdown can use a gun, and our gov't is the one to blame when that happens!!

What would prevent the pilot from using the FLIGHT CONTROLS to kill everyone??

 

[Helmsalee]

BS2000, you are way off. The guy probably was showing off to the other pilot and screwed up. I know several pilots in the program and they are the most stable people you could imagine. Personality profiles, background checks and intensive training. BR71 is correct, this is one of the most effective and cost efficient programs ever conceived.

 

[dime line]

I knew this would happen some day, this is by far the stupidest law our gov't. ever made, to allow pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. I am still betting on the day that one of these FFDO's has a very bad day, divorce, hates his job, etc.... and shoots himself and the other pilot, stuff like this has happened before, Remember FEDEX? he used an ax and other weapons, now a pilot who has a mental breakdown can use a gun, and our gov't is the one to blame when that happens!!

Always need to blame someone else. Eaisest thing to do. what about police that go bad, and use there power? I'm all for "Capable" pilots carring guns.

Funny thing a person can work McDonalds on day and go to the police accademy the next.

 

[Ticker]

Up until (I believe) the spring of '01, the FAR's actually allowed for the carrying of guns in the cockpit. That summer, they changed the law. Until that time it was at the discretion of the air carrier weather or not their pilots carried a firearm. I've spoken to a few old timers who used to carry while on duty.

...oh yeah, the crew of Egypt Air flight 990 weren't carrying. http://ntsb.gov/Publictn/2002/aab0201.htm

 

[50Pesos]

Hey Mods

what is this doing in the frac section?

 

[batsky2000]

name one other airline in the world that allows guns in the cockpit, the answer is easy NONE not even El El allows its pilots to carry guns in the cockpit, and thay have someone trying to blow them up daily, so why are we any different? Plus, an FFDO is not allowed to carry a gun Int'l, if anything, using it on an int'l flight is more of a plus than domestic, but no other country will allow a pilot to carry a gun in the cockpit, so what is the point, to look cool having a gun, I am not against guns, I own 3, I just don't believe a gun belongs in a cockpit.

Plus the idea that just because you are an FFDO excludes you from having your bags go through the x-ray machine is pure BS, what makes them so special, that makes it too easy for one of them to transport illegal stuff, that day will come, then things will change again

 

[JoePa]

pilots should stick to flying! not againts it, but accidents happen, and innocent people get hurt.

 

[Chairman]

I was against it too. So I decided if I felt that way I would go through the training so I could have a true argument. My tune changed after a week in New Mexico. Weither you carry or not the training is invalualbe!

 

[Donsa320]

Up until (I believe) the spring of '01, the FAR's actually allowed for the carrying of guns in the cockpit. That summer, they changed the law. Until that time it was at the discretion of the air carrier weather or not their pilots carried a firearm. I've spoken to a few old timers who used to carry while on duty.

...oh yeah, the crew of Egypt Air flight 990 weren't carrying. http://ntsb.gov/Publictn/2002/aab0201.htm

Guns left the cockpit long before 2001. The FAR's and CAR's never addressed the issue. What ended it was the X-raying of our Flight Kit bags by security. That started some time after the frequent diversions to Cuba started. A long time ago.

 

[Wiskey Driver]

I knew this would happen some day, this is by far the stupidest law our gov't. ever made, to allow pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. I am still betting on the day that one of these FFDO's has a very bad day, divorce, hates his job, etc.... and shoots himself and the other pilot, stuff like this has happened before, Remember FEDEX? he used an ax and other weapons, now a pilot who has a mental breakdown can use a gun, and our gov't is the one to blame when that happens!!

Apples to oranges!! Any pilot on any given day can grab the crash ax and do the same thing as what happened duing the fed ex deal. No I think it's a good thing to have FFDO's just not dumb A__ FFDO's.

WD.

 

[batsky2000]

Apples to oranges!! Any pilot on any given day can grab the crash ax and do the same thing as what happened duing the fed ex deal. No I think it's a good thing to have FFDO's just not dumb A__ FFDO's.

WD.

Yea, those FedEx pilots all lived because they all could defend themselves from an ax, if that same idiot had a gun, those 3 pilots would all be dead in 3 quick shots, so my point is that yes there is an ax that you at least have a chance to defend yourself against, but what defense do you have to a gun? None, it would be quick.

As to this incident, What if that bullet hit the windshild at altitude? think about that, rapid decom., and possible crash all do to pilot error, I hope that I am not on that flight

Just like the other guy said, pilots should just stick to flying, too many things happen and can go wrong just flying, worrying about shooting someone in the cabin should not be the pilots job, we are trained to fly not shoot people, that is why the door should not be opened, and as I stated, no other country allows its pilots to carry guns, so for you FFDO's that think that the US will force other countries to allow us to carry weapons, keep dreaming