FAA to Investigate After Video of Rockies Staff Member in Cockpit of United Flight
April 19, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a Colorado Rockies charter flight on which a team staff member was apparently allowed into the cockpit while the plane was in the air.
Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens posted a video on Instagram of himself talking to the pilots of a United flight that was taking the team to Toronto for its series against the Blue Jays, which began April 12.
Ralph T @RalphatTahoe<a href="https://twitter.com/united?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@united</a> how many FAA rules and United policy did this flight crew break on a charter for Colorado Rockies to Toronto. Allowing anyone in the cockpit while in the air. Ever heard of 9-11. <a href="https://t.co/Je8jVer91u">pic.twitter.com/Je8jVer91u</a>
In a statement to Chris Vanderveen of 9News, the FAA confirmed it has launched an investigation into the situation and United Airlines called it "a clear violation of our safety and operational policies."
Along with the video, Meulens wrote on the post he "had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto" and thanked the captain and first officer for the experience.
Meulens is heard in the video making a joke that he is going to land the plane. Lauren Pennington of the Denver Post noted a second member of the Rockies' coaching staff is seen entering the cockpit later in the video.
Vanderveen noted that United said the pilots have been "withheld" from service as it conducts its own investigation.
The FAA did not provide additional information, noting it does "not comment on the details of open investigations."
The Rockies and Blue Jays played a three-game series in Toronto from April 12-14. Meulens has since deleted the video from his Instagram page.
Meulens, 56, played 11 years in professional baseball from 1989 to 2000. He spent seven of those years in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees (1989 to '93), Montreal Expos (1997) and Arizona Diamondbacks (1998). He also played three years in Japan and one year in South Korea.
After retiring as a player, Meulens moved into coaching in the minor leagues in 2003. He spent 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants as their hitting coach (2010 to '17) and bench coach (2018 to '19).
The New York Mets hired Meulens as their bench coach in December 2019. He spent one season in Queens before being fired. The Yankees brought him on as their assistant hitting coach for the 2022 season.
Meulens is in his second season as Colorado's hitting coach after being hired in November 2022.