Hensley Meulens, hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies, found himself in hot water after a since-deleted video surfaced showing him sitting in the pilot seat during the team’s charter flight from Denver to Toronto. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident, which has raised serious concerns about aviation safety.
In the video, shared on Instagram by Meulens himself, he can be seen joking about landing the plane while sitting in one of the pilots’ seats. United Airlines, the company operating the charter flight, has condemned the behavior as a “clear violation of safety and operational policies.” The airline confirmed that the plane was at cruising altitude with autopilot engaged when Meulens entered the cockpit.
The pilots involved have been grounded pending the outcome of the investigation, and the Rockies have declined to comment on the matter. Meulens, a former MLB player who has also coached for the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants, joined the Rockies as hitting coach in 2022.
The incident has sparked outrage and disbelief among aviation professionals and baseball fans alike. The safety and security of passengers and crew on board flights are of utmost importance, and any breach of protocol is taken very seriously. As the investigation unfolds, many are left wondering how such a breach could have occurred and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
