A Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested in the cockpit of a commercial flight moments after landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, according to US federal authorities.
The pilot, whose identity has not yet been publicly released, was taken into custody by federal agents on suspicion of crimes related to child sexual abuse material, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Monday.
The arrest occurred aboard Delta Flight 2349, which arrived in San Francisco from Minneapolis. Passengers shared video clips online showing agents walking down the aisle of the plane shortly after it reached the gate.
DHS has not disclosed the nature or scale of the allegations. The timing of the investigation or the jurisdiction leading the case also remains unclear.
Delta Air Lines has declined to comment directly on the arrest. On Sunday, a spokesperson for the airline said, “We defer all questions to law enforcement.” A follow-up message left with Delta on Monday was not returned at the time of this report.
As of Monday evening, no formal charges have been made public, and authorities have not confirmed whether the pilot is still in custody or has been arraigned.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about airline oversight and screening, though law enforcement officials stress that the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation and not connected to the flight operation itself.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
