She was pilot in command. The warrant officer couldn’t take controls from her, even if he had more flight hours. She was a commissioned officer.
Even if a flight student of mine is a four-star general and he freezes at the controls, causing a dangerous situation, you needn’t ask me whether I’d punch his lights out and take control of the aircraft before I let him kill everyone in the plane.
If I didn’t believe I could overpower each of my students, I’d never fly with that person. But yes, I do generally keep that fact to myself.
WO Eaves was as qualified an instructor pilot as he was ever going to get for the Blackhawk flight that day. We may be darned sure knew he was authorized to take over control of the helo.
He hesitated and was lost.
She was the copilot, there is no rank in the cockpit, just Aircraft Commander and copilot. Only person that can take over from the guy who signed for the AC is a General in his chain of command. Since they are a general they probably didn't get there by being stupid.