A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was arrested by federal agents moments after landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, reportedly on charges related to child sexual abuse materials.
The arrest unfolded on Delta Flight 2348 from Minneapolis in full view of passengers. Homeland Security Investigations agents boarded the aircraft immediately after it reached the gate and made their way to the cockpit, where they placed the co-pilot in handcuffs and removed him from the plane.
“A group of people with badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings were pushing their way up through the aisle to the cockpit,” said Sarah Christianson, a first-class passenger, in an email to The San Francisco Chronicle.
She called the situation “shocking and unnerving,” adding, “Nobody told us anything. The crew seemed just as confused as we were.”
Federal officials have not publicly named the co-pilot or confirmed the exact charges, but Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin, citing a senior federal source, reported the arrest stemmed from an investigation into child pornography.
Delta confirmed the incident occurred but referred all inquiries to law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Francisco has not yet issued a statement, and no court records have been released.
FAA Under Pressure Amid Mounting Incidents
The arrest comes just hours after another dramatic aviation emergency — this one involving American Airlines Flight 3023 — which was forced to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport after a tire-related landing gear fire broke out underneath the aircraft.
The Denver Fire Department responded to the runway and extinguished the blaze. Emergency slides were deployed, and passengers fled from the Boeing 737 Max 8 as thick smoke rose from the plane.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m. on July 26. “Passengers evacuated on the runway and are being transported to the terminal by bus,” the FAA stated.
American Airlines confirmed a “mechanical issue on take-off roll” and apologized for the ordeal. “All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” the airline told FOX Business.
Five people were evaluated on the tarmac for injuries. One was transported for minor medical treatment. The remaining 173 passengers and six crew members were rebooked on a replacement flight to Miami later that evening.
The Denver incident was followed by a ground stop at the airport, delaying dozens of flights for nearly an hour.
Pattern of Concern
The Delta arrest and American Airlines tire fire come on the heels of yet another recent scare: A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas nosedived shortly after takeoff on Friday to avoid a potential mid-air collision. Passengers reportedly hit the cabin ceiling due to the sudden drop.
As these incidents stack up, federal investigators are under growing pressure to reassure the public and address concerns over both mechanical reliability and crew vetting procedures.
The Delta co-pilot case remains under investigation, and The Dallas Express will provide updates as official records are made public.