Delta co-pilot arrested at SFO after federal agents 'stormed the cockpit'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

BAY AREA // SAN FRANCISCO
Delta co-pilot arrested at SFO after federal agents ‘stormed the cockpit’

By Aidin Vaziri,
Staff Writer
Updated July 27, 2025 2:29 p.m.


A Delta co-pilot was arrested by federal agents moments after landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, stunning passengers aboard Flight 2809 from Minneapolis.
Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

A Delta Air Lines co-pilot was reportedly arrested by federal agents Saturday night, moments after Flight 2809 from Minneapolis landed at San Francisco International Airport.
The Boeing 757-300 touched down at approximately 9:35 p.m. after a delayed second approach due to heavy fog. What began as a routine deplaning quickly turned chaotic, according to eyewitness accounts.

“A group of people with badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings were pushing their way up through the aisle to the cockpit,” passenger Sarah Christianson said in an email to the Chronicle.

Seated in first class, Christianson said she counted at least 10 law enforcement officers, including agents from Homeland Security Investigations and people identifying as air marshals. … The officers reportedly “stormed the cockpit, cuffed the co-pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle, and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach.”

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[JoseBalow]

1. "The reason for the arrest has not been disclosed."

[Sessuch]

10. Had he been a pilot of Epstein's jet?

[Ocelot II]

2. ICE? DEA?

I can't think of any other reason why there would be such an intense arrest - even those situations where a pilot was suspected of flying while intoxicated are handled with a lot less fanfare.

[ret5hd]

3. overdue library book.

they’re tired of people walkin’ all over ‘em.

[underpants]

5. Joy boy

https://imgur.com/gallery/bit-of-perhaps-most-hilarious-scene-ever-on-seinfeld-library-cop-lt-joe-bookman-berates-jerry-CTz8JqW

[Journeyman]

8. Thank you. The exact scene came to mind when I saw "overdue library book" . . .

[underpants]

4. If I were to bet

I’d say moving something illegal.

[Ocelot II]

11. Possible kiddie porn, according to this:

https://www.fox26houston.com/news/delta-co-pilot-arrested-flight-from-minneapolis-child-porn-charges-report

[underpants]

12. I figured drugs, cash, or sadly that.

[BadgerMom]

15. Do they know about Trump and Epstein?

Asking for a few million friends.

[Justice Brandeis]

16. Ok. He needs to go to jail.

But storming the cockpit and traumatizing innocent passengers?

They couldn't have arrested the pilot as soon as he disembarked? The pilot is the last one off the plane.

[Ocelot II]

17. Yes, it does seem excessive.

It would have been easy to arrest him after all the passengers were off the plane. The crew leaves last; they could have been waiting for him in the jetway.

[Justice Brandeis]

6. They better have a damn good reason for taking such a drastic measure

But I doubt that they do.

[Attilatheblond]

7. Maybe some unwelcome (by the airline) Union Activity?

[Ocelot II]

13. No, DAL gets along pretty well with ALPA, and union activity isn't a federal crime anyhow.

There's a recent report of possible child pornography.

[Diraven]

9. A JD Vance meme

Was found on his social media

[BidenRocks]

14. Always overkill

This is a closed tube!
Two agents at the cockpit and two covering the windows on the ground.

Overcrowding a door is idiotic and dangerous.

[Ocelot II]

18. They've ID'd the guy and what he's accused of.

Eww.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/delta-pilot-arrested-sfo-identified

[Retrograde]

19. Don't pilots have to do some paperwork after they land?

They always stay on the plane after all the passengers leave - surely the so-called police could have waited until all the passengers were off and then escorted the suspect off the plane. Or they could have arrested him at the hotel where the flight crew stays, or at his own home. But that wouldn't make them look like tough guys.