Pilot's gun discharged in flight

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/03/25 - 8:18am.

A U.S. Air pilot "accidentally" discharged his/her weapon on approach to Charlotte. No one was injured and the flight landed without further incident. According to the news reports, it is the first time this has happened since allowing pilots to carry guns after 9/11.

Personally, I'm OK with arming pilots as long as they are trained and qualified. It appears this pilot wasn't adequately trained. There is no excuse for an "accidental" discharge. Also, how much you want to bet it was a Glock?

11
vote

gonzone's picture
Probably

Probably was a Glock.
They are fine handguns I must admit.
This pilot should be suspended.
If he can't be trusted to properly handle a sidearm then how can he be trusted to pilot a plane full of people?
So the remaining question, is the pilot a gun nut or an imprudent owner of a firearm? (or is that the same thing?)

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

"We know that there was

"We know that there was never any danger to the aircraft or to the occupants on board," Alter said.
...
Officials did not say where the bullet hit.

The service declined to release additional details.

I'm pretty sure if I was a passenger on that plane I would be pissed.

Terry Troll's picture
On the other hand

Pissed yes, but not as much as the folks taking off yesterday and the main cabin door fell off. I suspect an inspection deficit.

Never have cared much for US

Never have cared much for US Air. Which airline was it that had the cabin door fall off?

Terry Troll's picture
OK here is a link.

Link...
I am also embarrassed about the way I spelled embarrassed.

Terry Troll's picture
Gettin old

Embarresed to say, I don't remember. Heard the story on the news and can't remember where it was. Private jet took off, door took off, jet returned to airport. No injuries.

"This is an extremely safe

"This is an extremely safe and reliable weapon," said Greg Alter of the Federal Air Marshal Service. "It's not going to discharge on its own, is the bottom line."

The pistol — a .40-caliber semiautomatic H&K USP — discharged Saturday aboard Flight 1536 from Denver to Charlotte, as the plane was approaching to land. Photos obtained by The Associated Press show a small entry hole in the lower side of the cockpit wall and a small exit hole on the exterior below the cockpit window.
...
And it's also not something that goes off by itself. ... Someone would have to squeeze the trigger."

Well, dang! How did it discharge? Will we ever know?

A U.S. Air pilot

A U.S. Air pilot "accidentally" discharged his/her weapon on approach to Charlotte. No one was injured and the flight landed without further incident.

In totally unrelated news:

Charlotte, Pedestrian shot while walking dog, strangely enough, bullet entry wound apparently was in the very top of persons head and exit wound was in persons foot. No suspects or motive known.

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