A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was arrested by federal agents at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday evening on charges related to child sexual abuse materials, according to a senior official with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and multiple media reports.
The arrest occurred shortly after Delta Flight 2809 from Minnesota landed at about 9.35pm, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Passengers told media outlets that around 10 law enforcement officers, including agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), boarded the plane before passengers were allowed to disembark. The agents reportedly arrested and removed one of the co-pilots.
One passenger described how officers “stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane”. Another witness said a second group of officers later retrieved the co-pilot’s belongings. A DHS spokesperson confirmed the arrest on charges pertaining to child sexual abuse materials, adding that the agency assisted local authorities in executing an arrest warrant.
Delta Air Lines stated: “Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement. We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation.” The remaining pilot appeared to have no knowledge of the incident, according to a passenger.
