Pilot's gun discharges on US Airways flight

wcnc via Drudge Report ^ | March 23, 2008 | DIANA RUGG

[RDTF]

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- A US Airways pilot’s gun accidentally discharged during a flight from Denver to Charlotte Saturday, according to as statement released by the airline. The statement said the discharge happened on Flight 1536, which left Denver at approximately 6:45am and arrived in Charlotte at approximately 11:51am.

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.

-snip-

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I wonder how many lives have been saved by a spare round in the chamber versus how many legs and feet have been shot accidentally. I can see having a chambered round on patrol in a war zone. Otherwise, I think it’s stupid practice.

[MHGinTN]

That wasn’t bad mouthing, Eaker. You’ll know it if I ever bad mouth you, and it wouldn’t come on a fire arms thread to be sure!

[Travis McGee]

Everybody knows that Glocks go off by themselves.

(Ducking)

[Cementjungle]

what did it impact? No damage anywhere? Was it a magic bullet?

They're taking the plane out of service to look and see where the bullet went.

[Kirkwood]

Actually, revolvers are deceiving in that they are internally much more complicated (more moving parts) than a semiauto. Outwardly, they are indeed simpler to use. If you like them, than that is the weapon for you. I like them as well, especially in .357 although it is not my own first choice when I go shooting. I’ve recommended them many times to people who only want to own one handgun that is simple to operate.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Kinda like an SUV discharging itself into oncoming traffic?

[Lancey Howard]

All I saw in the story was this:

Three men in the car being chased by police jumped out and ran, officers said. One was tackled and it was at that point that the officer accidentally shot herself.

How do you know she was holstering her weapon?

[safisoft]

Dollars to donuts the pilot was playing with it. Weapons don’t “accidently” discharge without someone pulling a trigger. In all my years of being around weapons I have never had one discharge without some input from me.

Can't go into it, but suffice it to say, there is actually an extremely good reason for this. I am not sure what happened, but the possibility of AD is a part of the classified process, without anyone "pulling the trigger."

For the record, this group of LEOs have the lowest number ADs of any Federal Law Enforcement group - in fact, it isn't even close.

[valkyry1]

Eaker..,

Now tell us when you got this gun god complex going. (snicker, duck & hide)

[USNBandit]

FFDO's carry a .40 cal HK USP compact with the LEM trigger. The LEM trigger still uses a hammer, but the spring is partially loaded when the slide is cycled. Somewhere around a 6.5 lbs trigger pull.

As far as it being unholstered, it is supposed to be holstered in an issue holster. Recently FFDOs were being issued a new holster that had a slot to insert a padlock for transport.

[Eaker]

If I wasn’t so old and you weren’t a SEAL I’d search ya out!

;<)

[Dr.Zoidberg]

MORE Training

Agreed, start with basic flight training because this guy is in no wise a "professional" if he is stupid enough to mishandle a firearm.

It's unfortunate they didn't identify the idiot pilot so the public could avoid his flights instead of simply never flying US Airways again...

[Content Provider]

If you look closely I think you can see some clear plastic goggles on the guy with the gun to his own head. Hard to tell for sure, the pic isn’t high resolution enough.

[Red6]

Less is more.

The more knobs, levers, buttons, you add the more worthless, but lawyer and liberal Politburo acceptable, the gun becomes. Your finger is your safety. Don't put it on the trigger if you don't plan to shoot, how's that?

[mamelukesabre]

Any pistol with a decocker lever is perfectly safe with a round in the chamber. Actually, now that I’m thinking on it, any pistol is perfectly safe with a round in the chamber, so long as it’s a double action or the safety is on, or both.

[safisoft]

I believe pilots are all supposed to carry H&K USP’s. If so, there’s no ‘accident’ possible.

Close. It isn't the weapon that can cause a discharge, it is another piece of equipment, other than a finger, that can cause it.

If someone showed you pictures, you would laugh out loud, but it is no laughing matter. Don't blame the pilot.

[Eaker]

Maybe we can go yell at each other on an Obama thread!

;<)

[RDTF]

I heard the news report

I found a link that mentions it:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0308/505729.html

[safisoft]

Recently FFDOs were being issued a new holster that had a slot to insert a padlock for transport.

Ding, ding, ding... we have a winner!

Rube Goldberg would be proud.

[MartinStyles]

Well, please explain.