Delta Airlines co-pilot arrested upon landing at SFO, Homeland Security storms cockpit 27 Jul 2025

[Bounceycat]

Delta co-pilot arrested by Homeland Security after landing at SFO

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/delta-pilot-arrested-sfo-20788655.php

“A group of people with badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings were pushing their way up through the aisle to the cockpit,” a passenger said in an email to the Chronicle.

The officers reportedly “stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach,” she said.

The remaining pilot told passengers that he had “no idea what just happened.” The reason for the arrest has not been disclosed.

 

[Bounceycat]

Delta Airlines co-pilot arrested at California airport moments after landing | KTLA

https://ktla.com/news/california/delta-airlines-co-pilot-arrested-at-california-airport-moments-after-landing/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17536673220184&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fktla.com%2Fnews%2Fcalifornia%2Fdelta-airlines-co-pilot-arrested-at-california-airport-moments-after-landing%2F

Before anyone was allowed off the Boeing 757, a passenger reported watching around 10 federal agents, including Homeland Security Investigations and others identifying as Federal Air Marshals, “stormed to the front” of the plane and arrested one of the co-pilots.

At least one news outlet in Minnesota has reported that the co-pilot was arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material, though, so far, there has been no official confirmation of that from authorities

 

[Inthedetails]

Delta Airlines co-pilot arrested at California airport moments after landing | KTLA

https://ktla.com/news/california/delta-airlines-co-pilot-arrested-at-california-airport-moments-after-landing/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17536673220184&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fktla.com%2Fnews%2Fcalifornia%2Fdelta-airlines-co-pilot-arrested-at-california-airport-moments-after-landing%2F

Before anyone was allowed off the Boeing 757, a passenger reported watching around 10 federal agents, including Homeland Security Investigations and others identifying as Federal Air Marshals, “stormed to the front” of the plane and arrested one of the co-pilots.

At least one news outlet in Minnesota has reported that the co-pilot was arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material, though, so far, there has been no official confirmation of that from authorities

Seems odd to storm the plane unless a dire emergency. I can imagine it was upsetting to crew and passengers, when the co-pilot clearly wasn't going to go anywhere at that point. It couldn't wait until everyone was deplaned? Unless LE had information he was about to do something??

Have to await more news to understand, I suppose.

jmo

 

[musicaljoke]

Seems odd to storm the plane unless a dire emergency. I can imagine it was upsetting to crew and passengers, when the co-pilot clearly wasn't going to go anywhere at that point. It couldn't wait until everyone was deplaned? Unless LE had information he was about to do something??

Have to await more news to understand, I suppose.

jmo

It's ridiculous. All for theatrical effect, no doubt. There was no need to alarm all the passengers.

 

[LadyL]

hopefully they release his name and some details soon

 

[starlightstarbright]

I hate to say it, but I hope this wasn’t politically motivated and no ICE officials were involved.

 

[Inthedetails]

I hate to say it, but I hope this wasn’t politically motivated and no ICE officials were involved.

Welp, I hope when the information is known, we'll understand why a planeload of passengers and crew had to be put through that upsetting scenario. From what we know now, it seems excessive and unnecessary for the arrest.

jmopinion

 

[Rita7]

Actually, LE chose the best place and time to detain the alleged child predator, right after landing + in the cockpit, as it's important to apprehend him with surprise, speed, and minimum risk for public. Plus, no way to escape for him and minimum confrontation risk for LE.
IMHO

 

[musicaljoke]

I hate to say it, but I hope this wasn’t politically motivated and no ICE officials were involved.

That was my first thought.

 

[Rita7]

I hate to say it, but I hope this wasn’t politically motivated and no ICE officials were involved.

Delta Airlines pilot/co-pilot was arrested by Homeland Security agents, not ICE.

 

[mickey2942]

It's ridiculous. All for theatrical effect, no doubt. There was no need to alarm all the passengers.

I don't know, maybe there is something else going on, and they wanted to be sure to arrest him on the spot in the cockpit for no way to deny drug use or drinking.

 

[musicaljoke]

Actually, LE chose the best place and time to detain the alleged child predator, right after landing + in the cockpit, as it's important to apprehend him with surprise, speed, and minimum risk for public. Plus, no way to escape for him and minimum confrontation risk for LE.
IMHO

That isn't true. Were they afraid that he'd take off with the plane from the co-pilot's seat? With no fuel, no flight path, no landing permission, an entire load of passengers? They could have apprehended him in the pilot's lounge. Sheesh!

Actually, I think that the title of "Storming" the cockpit is pretty dramatized too. Every plane I've ever been on has barely had room for a single, skinny passenger to enter the plane and move toward the cockpit area.

 

[Toniab329]

Actually, LE chose the best place and time to detain the alleged child predator, right after landing + in the cockpit, as it's important to apprehend him with surprise, speed, and minimum risk for public. Plus, no way to escape for him and minimum confrontation risk for LE.
IMHO

There's only one way off a plane.

 

[Dotta]

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[Inthedetails]

Actually, LE chose the best place and time to detain the alleged child predator, right after landing + in the cockpit, as it's important to apprehend him with surprise, speed, and minimum risk for public. Plus, no way to escape for him and minimum confrontation risk for LE.
IMHO

They couldn't wait for passengers to disembark? Couldn't arrest him outside the plane? What was the urgency to enter the plane full of passengers and crew? The guy couldn't go anywhere, yet they "stormed" a full plane upon reaching the gate. Why??

jmo

 

[meanmaryjean]

That isn't true. Were they afraid that he'd take off with the plane from the co-pilot's seat? With no fuel, no flight path, no landing permission, an entire load of passengers? They could have apprehended him in the pilot's lounge. Sheesh!

Actually, I think that the title of "Storming" the cockpit is pretty dramatized too. Every plane I've ever been on has barely had room for a single, skinny passenger to enter the plane and move toward the cockpit area.

And of course planes cannot back away from the gate without help.

 

[Inthedetails]

There's only one way off a plane.

If the charges are what is suggested - Child SA - those are serious charges. But as far as we know, there was no IMMEDIATE danger (or chance of escape) that required the arrest to go down like that.

We're missing info that explains the urgent show of force.

jmo

 

[Toniab329]

If the charges are what is suggested - Child SA - those are serious charges. But as far as we know, there was no IMMEDIATE danger (or chance of escape) that required the arrest to go down like that.

We're missing info that explains the urgent show of force.

jmo

I agree, that's just what I meant.

 

[Rita7]

There's only one way off a plane.

Exactly. This is one of the reasons why he was arrested right in the cockpit, and not in the airport building, including the pilot's lounge.
IMHO

 

[Trino]

I agree, that's just what I meant.

This seems to be the recent - not thinking straight - method of arrest. Lots of examples. Seems the co-pilot probably had no idea of arrest.