Accidental Discharge in US Airways Cockpit

[BKK]

WASHINGTON -- A gun carried by a US Airways pilot accidentally discharged in the cockpit Saturday during a flight from Denver to Charlotte, N.C., the Transportation Safety Administration said Monday.

The incident, which occurred as Flight 1536 was preparing to land, marked the first time that a weapon issued under a federal program to arm pilots had been fired.

A statement posted by the TSA on its website noted that "the pilot was authorized to be in possession of the weapon and he completed the appropriate training."

Citing the investigation, officials of the TSA and US Airways declined to identify the pilot or provide information about the position of the gun or what the bullet struck. TSA spokesman Dwayne Baird said the pilot had been grounded.

The Airbus A319, which landed safely and without any injuries to the 124 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants, has been pulled from service, also pending the investigation. According to the TSA, passengers were not aware of the incident.

"Our safety record is superb," Bob Hesselbein, chairman of the national security committee of the Air Line Pilots Assn., said in an interview Monday. "This was truly an anomaly. At a minimum, 130,000 flights a month are protected by armed pilots. We are an integral part of the protection of airlines in our sky.

"After 9/11, we became convinced an armed flight deck was the ultimate deterrent to stopping a hijacking plan. From a terrorist standpoint, the hardest thing to do is take control of the cockpit. That's why the deterrent value of this program is just staggering."

The Federal Flight Deck Officer program, created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, trains eligible flight crew members in the use of firearms, use of force, legal issues, defensive tactics, the psychology of survival and standard operating procedures. Officers who carry firearms are required to requalify for the program twice a year.

"The training is very rigorous and extensive," Baird said, adding that crew members who completed the program were issued Heckler & Koch .40-caliber semiautomatic handguns. Some pilots carry guns that are loaded and ready to go, he said.

The pilot whose gun discharged Saturday last requalified on Nov. 7, according to the TSA statement.

"They go through same process it takes to join the FBI or other federal law enforcement organizations," Hesselbein said. "It's a stringent program. This was an accidental discharge -- no one wants to see this happen again. But it's a known risk, and they're going to see what they can do to make sure it doesn't happen again."

[RGR.Montcalm]

I can see it now- clearing barrels on jetways for the pilots.

Big posters describiung what 'RED', 'YELLOW", and 'GREEN' status are.

I wonder if this ass clown was screwing around with the pistol and it 'accidentally' went off

and BTW its 'negligent discharge' not 'accidental'; an accident is when you bump into someone else and spill your coffee, negligence is when you DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FUCKING DOING AND MIGHT KILL SOMEONE WITH YOUR STUPIDITY

[Sharky]

"They go through same process it takes to join the FBI or other federal law enforcement organizations," Hesselbein said. "It's a stringent program.




Their training program is a whole one week long. I think the FBI and some other agencies might tend to disagree. :rolleyes:

The funny part is that it can only go off if it was out of the holster and he pulled the trigger, neither of which he should have been doing. Most of the pilots in this program are good to go and know their role. Only takes one to fuck it up for everybody though.

[t10Guy]

The funny part is that it can only go off if it was out of the holster and he pulled the trigger, neither of which he should have been doing. Most of the pilots in this program are good to go and know their role. Only takes one to fuck it up for everybody though.

Right. this dufus fucks it up and all these guys will be under scrutiny. I for one am OK with weapons in the cockpit.. 99.9% of these guys are just fine, of course that had to be one idiot. Law of averages dictates it.

[stratiotes]

The incident, which occurred as Flight 1536 was preparing to land, marked the first time that a weapon issued under a federal program to arm pilots had been fired.


Great way to pop that cherry.

[t10Guy]

Just saw a supposed photo of the bullet hole on Fox. Looks like the guy (if I can tell by the photo) was sitting left seat and discharged the weapon low and across his lap right to left. You can see the stick in the photo with the hole almost directly to the left of it...

Guy probably had it out of his holster, right hand, (cocked and lock) and fired to his left... playing with his gun, dufus...

That or the armed pilot was a right seater, and handed a hot weapon to the guy in the left seat..

[Cubbies Suck]

Some of these guys practice at our ranges. They appear to be squared away to me.

[Carl Spackler]

Their training program is a whole one week long. I think the FBI and some other agencies might tend to disagree. :rolleyes:

The funny part is that it can only go off if it was out of the holster and he pulled the trigger, neither of which he should have been doing. Most of the pilots in this program are good to go and know their role. Only takes one to fuck it up for everybody though.

Shit happens. AD's are not uncommon even for the BTDT.

[M18ClaymoreHeadbanger]

Their training program is a whole one week long. I think the FBI and some other agencies might tend to disagree. :rolleyes:

Reading this line on your post I could not help but think of the scene in "The Rock" where Cage says, "Fine I'll do it myself, I'll take on a whole platoon of Marines, I had one week's weapons training":D

[NightLandNav]

Shit happens. AD's are not uncommon even for the BTDT.

If everyone else ran around with hot weapons the same amount of time, for as many days, doing the same shit with as much sleep.... -Just sayin'

[SN]

How long is the average LEO weapons training course? More then a week? There have been some pretty spectaculer LEO fuckups with a weapon too, I seem to rememebr one guy shooting himself in a classroom awhile back.

[Sharky]

How long is the average LEO weapons training course? More then a week? There have been some pretty spectaculer LEO fuckups with a weapon too, I seem to rememebr one guy shooting himself in a classroom awhile back.



True. But a roomful of people wont fall out of the sky from 35K and possibly kill hundreds more on the ground from an ND. Not many places a bullet can go in the cockpit of an airliner where it's not going to hit something important.

Most LEO academies are in the 4-5 month range.

And for the record, that DEA guy who shot himself in the classroom was one of the most successful long term undercover agents in DEA history. He had a brain fart. No excuse. But, as was said before, it happens sometimes.

[CB]

Some pilots carry guns that are loaded and ready to go

Is there any other kind?
That's the difference between a weapon and a paperweight.

[Parajuevos]

How long is the average LEO weapons training course? More then a week? There have been some pretty spectaculer LEO fuckups with a weapon too, I seem to rememebr one guy shooting himself in a classroom awhile back.

We had a cop shoot a phone off the wall in the locker room with an AR 15. He had been an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam.

Another cop that I knew, shot himself in the ass, with a derringer, while getting off of the toilet.

Still another one, grazed his stomach with a .45 auto. He was the subject of cartoons for the next 25 years, which always portrayed him with a scar across his torso and a bullet passing by.

The worst one and a tragic one to boot was when a cop that I knew accidentally shot his partner to death in a locker room accident.

All of the above were caused by inattentivness and carelessness. No excuses, but it happens, even to those who are trained and know better.
These events were spread out over a 30 year time frame but that doesn't really mean anything when you consider a dead officer, his family and the mental devastation that the officer, who fired the shot, has to live with for the rest of his life.

[The91Bravo]

He fucked up big time. The H&K does not 'just go off'. Playing grabass, and BANG, followed by that look on his face; "How am I gonna get out of this, without someone knowing"

[Balls]

Does anybody know what trigger is on the H&Ks issued to these pilots? It would be hard to ND with the normal trigger. Do they replace the DA/SA trigger with the LEM?

[WS-G]

...preparing to land...
...means running the descent checklist, verifying you've got the correct approach plates out and basically that the flight deck is squared away for an uneventful arrival. I have yet to see a descent checklist with the item "Glock 19/22.....UNHOLSTER AND TWIRL" or any other provision for doing stupid sh!t with one's sidearm.

This guy should have verified he was wearing his golf shoes before stepping on his Johnson like that.


TSA spokesman Dwayne Baird said the pilot had been grounded.
I bet every check captain for that company has a serious hard-on to be the one giving that guy his next checkride. :eek:

Somehow, I don't envision him passing, no matter how well he performs. If an examiner makes up his mind --- for whatever reason --- that he doesn't want a certain examinee passing, he can and will find something to fail him for.

[Saw7616]

For your Edutainment

[OSU]

I'm sorry did you say Accidental Discharge or Negligent Discharge? Cause I've only heard of a Negligent Discharge w/ a loaded firearm...

[t10Guy]

I'm sorry did you say Accidental Discharge or Negligent Discharge? Cause I've only heard of a Negligent Discharge w/ a loaded firearm...

Point made before. Started with the title of the article. WE all know its a Negligent Discharge, but how is the airline or TSA going to put it out.. sounds better as an "accident".

[t10Guy]

For your Edutainment

Said he was "stowing" it but it looked like they redacted WHAT happened and why it was being stowed vs stowed the entier flight. There is probably some opsec around their procedures and how / where they stow and keep the weapon so I wont ask for details. But that report doesnt tell us too much.

[harley681]

Three problems: 1) Weapon not on safe, 3) Finger on trigger 4) Pilot with weapon

[Parajuevos]

Three problems: 1) Weapon not on safe, 3) Finger on trigger 4) Pilot with weapon

Agree with#1 and #2. Disagree with # 3. I think pilots should be trained and armed. If one screws up, like this pilot did, remedial training and disciplinary action can be taken. Don't disarm the whole lot for the mistake of one. Hell, if that standard was applied to the police, in this country, the American Police would be walking around like their unarmed brothers in England. Cops have had their share of accidental discharges.

[ZAT]

Three problems: 1) Weapon not on safe, 3) Finger on trigger 4) Pilot with weapon

I agree on the finger on the trigger part, but I cant with the rest.

I am going to assume that there isnt some form of massive cover up going on, but the tone of that report doesnt seem like the guy was doing something out of the ordinary, well aside form discharging the weapon that is. I know that if I am the first officer and the Cpt was playing John Wayne I would have noted that in my report and not simply put had AD while stowing weapon. Dont care how good a buddies you are, when people needlesly, and knowingly (as in playing with gun on flight) endanger lives they stop being buddies RFN.

I remember when the debates went round about arming the pilots, there were a LOT of people both inside and outside TSA not too keen with the idea. So I wouldnt put it past them to make the program a beurocratic cluster fuck forcing pilots to handle their weapons administratively for no value added reason. They are a government agency after all.

Ultimately it is the guys fault for having his finger on the trigger, but you gotta ask why he was in a situation where he was handling his weapon when appearently there was no such need. At least none that I can see.

[TigerDad]

Didn't notice what kind of gun he had - was it an auto?

I know that the Army did not trust their helicopter pilots to carry the 45, which is a pretty safe gun. But they felt that too many people failed to remember that there might be a round in the chamber. So, we were issued S&W 38 Specials, Revolvers in stead. Perhaps, in this case, the Army knew what they were doing.

TigerDad

[TigerDad]

Three problems: 1) Weapon not on safe, 3) Finger on trigger 4) Pilot with weapon


Ok, I've got to say it since no one else has - 1, 3, 4? :D

TigerDad

[Fergie]

Another cop that I knew, shot himself in the ass, with a derringer, while getting off of the toilet.

I can only imagine what kind of hell he went through for that. I think I might consider not reporting it. Any nicknames come out of that one?

[Fergie]

Ok, I've got to say it since no one else has - 1, 3, 4? :D

TigerDad

1, 3, 4 ...1, 2, 3. Whatever it takes.

[t10Guy]

He was inserting a trigger lock is what I am hearing now... Which is a requirement before landing.

[Parajuevos]

I can only imagine what kind of hell he went through for that. I think I might consider not reporting it. Any nicknames come out of that one?

The bullet in the ass guy didn't get a nickname. He recovered and the last I heard had gone to the midwest, where he joined another department.

The belly crease guy got the nickname "Louella Pus Gut." Partly because he had a big belly and partly because he was the champion of rumor mongering. I gave him the name myself.:D The bullet in the cartoons, that traversed his stomach, was like an exclamation mark.

The cop that murdered the phone went on to a successful career and became a well respected inspector and an expert on interrogation techniques.

[NightLandNav]

He was inserting a trigger lock is what I am hearing now... Which is a requirement before landing.

I'll bet the "trigger lock device" block of instruction gets at least 15 additional minutes added to it by ADMIN.

[t10Guy]

I'll bet the "trigger lock device" block of instruction gets at least 15 additional minutes added to it by ADMIN.

This kinda goes back to a thread I had a couple of months ago asking about an article I read that showed a Holster with a normal pad lock on it.

But in any case almost every trigger lock I ahve seen says to unload the weapon first... since you are putting a round solid object THROUGH the trigger guard.

[WS-G]

He was inserting a trigger lock is what I am hearing now... Which is a requirement before landing. A mere eight minutes before landing? I'm calling BULLSH!T on that one. If that were a real procedure, then it should have already been accomplished before the descent phase. Eight minutes out, that flight crew was already well into their approach, meaning the flight deck was much too busy a place for anyone to be dicking around with his personal sidearm.

I have yet to speak to a fellow aviator since this came out who doesn't think this jackass is an absolute moron.

Failure to follow procedures + poor judgement = marginal pilot (at best)

[ZAT]

A mere eight minutes before landing? I'm calling BULLSH!T on that one. If that were a real procedure, then it should have already been accomplished before the descent phase. Eight minutes out, that flight crew was already well into their approach, meaning the flight deck was much too busy a place for anyone to be dicking around with his personal sidearm.

I have yet to speak to a fellow aviator since this came out who doesn't think this jackass is an absolute moron.

Failure to follow procedures + poor judgement = marginal pilot (at best)

I am going to agree that the guy is a complete moron for having his finger or any other object inside the trigger guard of his gun. But I am also going to say that whomever came up with a procedure that required administrative gun handling for no value added reason is also a MORON of galactic proportions. Both need to be promptly fired for a case of possible terminal stupidity. Last time I checked guns didnt jump out of holsters, lock boxes, whatevers...during ascent or descent and shoot up the cockpit unless they were properly muzzled.

[t10Guy]

Doesnt sound like the Finger was in the trigger ZAT. from this link: http://www.asap.co.uk/news/gun-firing-pilot-identified-5632520.html

"The holster of the gun itself is being investigated, as Airline Pilots Security Alliance president David Mackett explains: “The locking holster was designed to be used to lock a gun away at the end of the day. You need to put the firearm on an officer where he can control it and not touch it.”

From another article:
"Other details released Thursday also indicate that the gun's holster is being investigated in the shooting. Some pilots have criticized the locking holster system for the Heckler & Koch USP pistol as inappropriate for the program that arms pilots. Transportation Security Administration procedures require a pilot to transfer the gun and holster from his flight bag to his belt multiple times during a flight, pilots said in interviews."

Not that the weapon should be hot when you have a metal bar ran through the trigger guard.

I brought this up way back when.. here is a picture of a "locking holster" they are talking about:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_G-EWSfJ1PwE/R-vK7GmaPWI/AAAAAAAAAR4/J-imb_aqQFE/s320/Holstervault_key_2.jpg
From:
http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/2008/03/tsa-stupidity-puts-pilots-at-risk.html


On site claimed "The holster can become misaligned with the gun, allowing for the lock to be placed over the trigger instead of behind it"

[Sharc1]

Firstly, I am NOT a Federal Flight Deck Officer, but I have some knowledge of the REDICULOUS regulations that they are held to. The FDO must keep the weapon in a holster in a bag that is locked unless they are on the flight deck. When they enter the flight deck, they must unlock the bag, take the holster out, with the weapon in it, remove their belt, thread the belt through the holster, and re-fasten the belt. If they leave the flight deck for any reason, for any length of time, they must complete the whole process in reverse, then commit to it again upon re-entering the flight deck. They only have "jurisdiction" on the flight deck. From time to time they will flash a cred to get out of a ticket, but they ARE NOT COPS!! The holsters they wear are crazy look http://www.desantisholster.com/01l.html
I dont know what happeded, but it is easy to see how it could happen. I am also not defending the FDO as a ND is totally unacceptable. I am just saying that the more it is required to "handle" the weapon, the more likely this is to happen. Just let them wear the weapon at all times and be done with it, no more of this put it on, take it off crap. If you want to do that, at least make it a paddle back or soulder rig, and forget the STUPID lock!

Nothing further...

[BlackHorse]

But Quickstraw
Shut up Bubba Louie, I do the flying around here.

[NightLandNav]

This kinda goes back to a thread I had a couple of months ago asking about an article I read that showed a Holster with a normal pad lock on it.

But in any case almost every trigger lock I ahve seen says to unload the weapon first... since you are putting a round solid object THROUGH the trigger guard.

Found your previous thread. You called it on this one. While some can argue that such a prediction was simply a common sense assessment of probable outcome... The TSA it seems didn't see it coming so simply or clearly in Jan.

My comment about "ADMIN" adding 15min to safety was more a jab at their cumbersome and inherently problematic safety protocol. They need more than 15min just at the water cooler during breaks in their next "re-fucking-vamp-the-whole-procedure" meeting.

The firstfuckingthing they need to do at that initial meeting is kick out anyone without professional firearms training and practical sidearm/weapons carry experience.

If that empties the room...it ought to tell them something about why things fucked up the first time.

...but hey, I'm sure they'll know just what to do to fix it. :sad_mad_disappointed_embarrassed_rolleyes:

[Ranger1]

For your Edutainment

Frightening.

8,000 ft is a long way for a 120 ton aircraft going over 200mph (probably descending) to fall because some dickhead has an ND 'stowing' his weapon when he should be busy making sure his 129 passengers get on the ground alive.

Surely the most appropriate SOP is to have the weapon in some kind of locked & loaded / holstered / accessible position in the cockpit when in flight. Never gets touched when the plane is in motion of any kind unless it's to shoot an aggressor. Pilots come on board, do their thing, passengers get on, cockpit doors are locked, firearm comes out and is made 'ready', engines are fired up, plane pulls away from gangway.

Then when the plane lands, hooked up to the gangway, 'doors to automatic and cross check' and engines go off: it gets locked and cleared, confirmed by the other pilot (black box still recording here) then 'stowed' in a lock box (or if you want to play around with a trigger guard after the plane is on the ground and handgun is cleared, cool). Only then do the cockpit doors open and pilots play thankful wooden smiled hosts.

No? Too picky?

[SN]

[QUOTE=Harley681] Three problems: 1) Weapon not on safe, 3) Finger on trigger 4) Pilot with weapon[QUOTE]

Ok, I've got to say it since no one else has - 1, 3, 4? :D

TigerDad

Hey, go easy, it's his first post (so much for reading sticky's).

[TigerDad]

[QUOTE=TigerDad]

[QUOTE=Harley681] Three problems: 1) Weapon not on safe, 3) Finger on trigger 4) Pilot with weapon

Hey, go easy, it's his first post (so much for reading sticky's).

"Hey - I was smilling!

TD

[kjell]

when sidearms are issued to civilians. One week of training! Yeah! Right! Negligence? Careless incompetence! You don't play with guns -period!

[Sltwtr1]

The week of firearms training these guys get, is a full week of shooting. It is probably more rounds down range and personal instruction than half the basic LEO courses teach. Just because you go to LEO school for 6-12 weeks or 720 hours etc, doesn't mean you are shooting even 25% of the time. The bottom line is the holster is fucked up! It has been mentioned on here before this ever happened, and apparently everyone involved with the program thinks the holster is fucked up, except for whoever chose the fucked up holster.

The holster is applied to the pistol in the loaded and chambered condition, because a flight deck is not an area to manipulate, clear, or make a hot weapon.

The pistol belongs to the pilot and the pilot is responsible for it. Storing a weapon on an airplane is not practical; the weapon has to stay with the pilot, who will not stay with the plane. Pilots can carry on their person if they are "dead heading" with the passengers from point A to B and not flying.

I have no insight into the incident that is not available to the public. However, it is my educated suspicion, based on my knowledge of the airline industry that the pilot, probably had to make a tight connection, either Captain another flight at another gate as soon as he landed, or had minutes to spare to catch a flight home etc. He probably wanted to bolt off the aircraft and get off before the rest of the pax. I have seen pilots be the first ones off many times.

Therefore, I suspect he was putting his H&K in the proper carry position when transitioning from the flight deck carry (not locked up) to ground carry, locked. Following the fucked up TSA regs, he attempted to lock the gun in the fucked up TSA mandated holster and what everyone suspected would happen, happened.

I actually feel sorry for the guy. If I am wrong, and he was engaged in Tomfoolery, then I will eat crow and he should get what cometh. However, I do not feel that he should suffer for being the first FFDO to pay the price for following a fucked up procedure as proscribed in the regs. Fine kick him out of the FFDO program. This should not affect his rating as a pilot. I don't want to see his fellow check pilots fucking with him or failing him. He had a problem with weapon. Circumstances still to be determined, I don't feel it should reflect on whether the guy can pilot an aircraft unarmed. Maybe the policy is to secure the weapon on the ground and not in the air? I don't know.. If that is the case then he obviously violated the policy and caused needless danger to the aircraft. Be it on the ground or in the air, I don't see it changing the fact that a "ND" was only a matter of time with that holster and locking system.

Keep in mind that many pilots are ex-military, they are already familiar with firearms and carry one whilst flying. Many pilots in the U.S were armed up until 1987. I know current pilots who are ex FBI agents, Rangers, etc. Should these pilots not be able to carry? Don't paint pilots with such a broad brush.

I have no problem entrusting someone with the responsibility of a huge technical aircraft with a pistol. I think the training is sufficient, the policies and parameters for carry are just fucked up and need to be addressed.

Sltwtr1

OUT

[Trip_Wire]

Agree with#1 and #2. Disagree with # 3. I think pilots should be trained and armed. If one screws up, like this pilot did, remedial training and disciplinary action can be taken. Don't disarm the whole lot for the mistake of one. Hell, if that standard was applied to the police, in this country, the American Police would be walking around like their unarmed brothers in England. Cops have had their share of accidental discharges.


Not surprisingly, I agree with your statements 100%

As for the week's training for the pilot, I know many military people who haven't had that much training on the pistol. A large percentage of military people, are given a 'familizaration' course with the pistol, duration one day or less. Some may never, get any training or actually fire a pistol, while in the military.

Of course we also have thousands of Americans carrying concealed pistols and revolvers with a permit, who have had no training and have no requirement to have any training, etc.

[TigerDad]

I wouldn't blame Pilots any more than anyone else from suffering from statistical probabilities. Given enough opportunities handling a hand gun, eventually, everyone is going to pop one off somewhere he or she didn't intend. Soldiers have, cops have, sportsmen have... Hence the efforts to foolproof the system with special hoster, special procedures, special locks, etc. All that does is improve the odds - but, as you can see, eventually that one in a million has to hit someplace.

Going forward - a way to improve odds is to go to Single Action Revolvers for pilots - Why? I would assume that we are not expecting the pilot to get in a pitched gun battle in the cockpit - rather he should be able to hold and maintain the high ground - if a hyjacker gets on board with his own weapons our pilot is probably not going to fare well regardless of the type of weapon he has.


TigerDad

[Axe]

The week of firearms training these guys get, is a full week of shooting. It is probably more rounds down range and personal instruction than half the basic LEO courses teach. Just because you go to LEO school for 6-12 weeks or 720 hours etc, doesn't mean you are shooting even 25% of the time.

I did a three-day (approx 21 hours of trigger time) pistol course at Mid-South and shot more rounds in those three days than I did in approximately 240 hours of "training" through the police department with quarterly qualifications in 8 yrs as a cop, canine handler and entry team member.

Given the choice, I would trade those three days of intensive training with good instruction over anything I got from the police academies and department qualifications in a heartbeat.

Shooting on my own helped my skills a little, but after two hours with a good instructor fine-tuning things to improve me at Mid-South, I was shooting better than I ever had. I came away an exponentially better pistol shooter from those three days of good saturation training.

My police academy training was designed to teach someone who had never heard of a gun before and get them to qualify to minimum standards, and was taught to the lowest common denominator. If you could already handle a pistol and could shoot, you were getting zero attention from the instructors.

Quarterly qualifications made sure I met a fairly low state-mandated standard, which I did easily because I shot a lot on my own. I would come in, bang out 50-60 rounds, and those 50-60 rounds would take three hours to shoot because of all the bureaucracy, jaw-jacking, playing range chicken, etc. I had to sit a lot more than I ever got to shoot, but hey, it was all part of my "hours of training" even though I was just sitting there talking about the weather.

The number of hours spent in training do not equate to quality. Quality of instruction and quality of learning equate to quality, along the line of the old saw that some people have 25 years of experience, some people have one year of experience repeated 24 times.

I think every pilot willing to do so and able to meet standards should be encouraged to carry, rather than discouraged. I think those holsters are one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in my life.

[ZAT]

when sidearms are issued to civilians. One week of training! Yeah! Right! Negligence? Careless incompetence! You don't play with guns -period!

Sorry, but it has little to do with civilians carrying guns after only a week of training. I am a civilian and have a whopping 4 hours of official training aside from the legal courses required to meet TX carry laws. Have carried guns for over a decade and put tousands upon thousands of rounds down range without an ND (knock on wood). But then I am not part of a beurocratic cluster fuck system that forces me to administratively handle a firearm for no logical reason. The flight deck of an airplane, especially while preparing for decent, is ABSOLUTELY no place to be handling a gun. Unless you are in the process of ventialting a threat that is. The guy made a mistake and should pay the price for it, but so should the band of morons who came up with the idiotic procedures that put people at risk.

What I dont understand is why cant a certified deck officer simply carry his gun at all times inside the security zone. I mean, arent airports, especially security zones, considered special places where FAA and TSA regulations superceede local laws and ordinances? How simple would it be for the guy to simply be allowed to carry his weapon on his body using a proper retention rated concealment holster, of which there are gazillions available, while he is inside the security area. When he is done with his day he can go to the locker room and safely lock up his gun in his lock box without having to deal with the space constraints of a flight deck or the stress constraints of having to do it while making sure the plane stays aloft. I mean, we arent dealing with rocket science here...