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Having been an airline captain for years before going to work for the feds, I can say that a fair percentage of what you read in the media related to aviation is not fully correct. Sometimes key details are left out, sometimes it's poor reporting, just trying to get the story out before the competition does, and sometimes it's exaggerating a bit to make an attention grabbing headline (NOT saying this is the case here, but it happens). In this case, the "storming the cockpit" statement came from not a crewmember but a single first class passenger in a statement given to the media.
Pilots operating for a US FAR Part 121 Air Carrier must all be either US citizens or a legal resident alien with an unrestricted right to work. So, unlikely ICE involvement. FBI - yes, Homeland Security - yes (for federal child p-rn charges). Based on the response, this is likely a child pornagraphy charge, rather than stand-alone sex abuse. Here's some info on the federal charges for that.
I won't comment as to the Air Marshall role in this if there were indeed Marshalls involved as Air Marshall protocols and duties are classified to the public for security reasons since 9-11. But HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) works in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other federal, state, and local agencies to help solve cases and rescue sexually exploited children. Having worked one case (years ago) involving an airline pilot involved with transportation of a minor across state line for sexual purposes, I can say, they do NOT take this stuff lightly.
But I can't personally fault them for NOT waiting until he leaves the airplane - you've got someone that knows that if apprehended (1) their career is OVER (and marriage and home and everything else they might hold dear) and (2) they're likely going to jail for a long time and suddenly they spot LE in an open terminal area full of people and children? In my opinion, that has a LOT more risk to the public than arresting him on the plane with agents between the cockpit and pasengers, despite it being "alarming" to passengers. No warning, done quickly. (there is a crash axe in the cockpit - and some pilots are armed as part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program).
There was a case not too long ago of a pilot for another airline charged with 2nd degree sexual exploitation of a child (arrest just prior to flight) killing himself as officers approached (NOT the initial apprehension, but later). NOT releated, but it gives you an idea of how serious this can end up being. JetBlue pilot arrested at Logan Airport in Boston last month kills himself as officers approach, police say
Pilots operating for a US FAR Part 121 Air Carrier must all be either US citizens or a legal resident alien with an unrestricted right to work. So, unlikely ICE involvement. FBI - yes, Homeland Security - yes (for federal child p-rn charges). Based on the response, this is likely a child pornagraphy charge, rather than stand-alone sex abuse. Here's some info on the federal charges for that.
https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-child-🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
(you know the word that's been edited, type that in your browser and it will take you to the DOJ gov link gg)I won't comment as to the Air Marshall role in this if there were indeed Marshalls involved as Air Marshall protocols and duties are classified to the public for security reasons since 9-11. But HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) works in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other federal, state, and local agencies to help solve cases and rescue sexually exploited children. Having worked one case (years ago) involving an airline pilot involved with transportation of a minor across state line for sexual purposes, I can say, they do NOT take this stuff lightly.
But I can't personally fault them for NOT waiting until he leaves the airplane - you've got someone that knows that if apprehended (1) their career is OVER (and marriage and home and everything else they might hold dear) and (2) they're likely going to jail for a long time and suddenly they spot LE in an open terminal area full of people and children? In my opinion, that has a LOT more risk to the public than arresting him on the plane with agents between the cockpit and pasengers, despite it being "alarming" to passengers. No warning, done quickly. (there is a crash axe in the cockpit - and some pilots are armed as part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program).
There was a case not too long ago of a pilot for another airline charged with 2nd degree sexual exploitation of a child (arrest just prior to flight) killing himself as officers approached (NOT the initial apprehension, but later). NOT releated, but it gives you an idea of how serious this can end up being. JetBlue pilot arrested at Logan Airport in Boston last month kills himself as officers approach, police say
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