Delta Air Lines Co-Pilot Arrested After Flight to San Francisco

Federal Agents Board Plane After Landing

A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was taken into custody shortly after Flight 2809 landed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday. The flight, which came from Minneapolis, was delayed briefly due to fog and low visibility but arrived safely at the gate just under ten minutes behind schedule.

Before passengers could leave the Boeing 757, around 10 federal agents boarded the aircraft. According to a passenger report, the group included agents from Homeland Security Investigations and individuals identifying themselves as Federal Air Marshals. They moved directly to the front of the plane and arrested one of the co-pilots. The pilot’s identity has not yet been released to the public.

Confusion Inside the Cockpit

The arrest surprised many on board, including the other pilot, who was seen sitting in the cockpit as the incident unfolded. According to reports, he told passengers he had no idea what was going on. A few images shared by the travel site View from the Wing show the pilot watching the agents from his seat, looking just as confused as the passengers.

Cellphone footage taken by someone on board shows federal agents in plain clothes wearing visible badges. Their faces were not shown, and it’s unclear if they were wearing masks. A witness told the San Francisco Chronicle that the agents had different agency markings and appeared serious as they moved up the aisle toward the cockpit.

Possible Charges and Delta’s Response

At least one Minnesota news outlet reported that the arrest may be linked to charges involving child sexual abuse material. However, there has been no official statement from law enforcement to confirm this information. When asked for comment, Delta Air Lines told KTLA that it was directing all questions to law enforcement. KTLA has also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and is still awaiting a response.