In a shocking turn of events, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into a video that showed Hensley Meulens, hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies, sitting in one of the pilots’ seats during a charter flight from Denver to Toronto. The video, which was shared on Instagram by Meulens himself, showed him joking about landing the plane while inside the flight deck.
The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about safety and operational policies at United Airlines, who employed Meulens. The airline released a statement expressing deep concern over the video, calling it a clear violation of their safety and operational policies. As a result, the pilots involved have been suspended from flying pending the outcome of the investigation into this incident.
Meulens, 56 years old, has had an impressive career as a hitting coach and player. He was hired by the Rockies in 2022 to fill this role and had previously coached for several MLB teams including New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Prior to his coaching career he played for two MLB teams and in Japan and Korea between 1989-2000. This incident raises questions about how Meulens gained access to the cockpit at cruising altitude which is against FAA regulations and company policy.