Posted on 03/23/2008 6:14:42 PM PDT by RDTF
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- A US Airways pilot’s gun accidentally discharged during a flight from Denver to Charlotte Saturday, according to as statement released by the airline. The statement said the discharge happened on Flight 1536, which left Denver at approximately 6:45am and arrived in Charlotte at approximately 11:51am.
The Airbus A319 plane landed safely and none of the flight’s 124 passengers or five crew members was injured, according to the statement. It was a full flight. An airline spokeswoman said the plane has been taken out of service to make sure it is safe to return to flight. A Transportation Safety Administration spokeswoman reached by WCNC Sunday said the pilot is part of TSA’s Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which trains pilots to carry guns on flights.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at wcnc.com ...
You haven’t heard the TSA’s insane locking/unlocking procedures, of which I can’t tell you about.
I can say, it would be seen as stupid by any firearms instructor. And this pilot was likely just following that procedure.
You can do a google search for FFDO holster on the webb.
>>Dollars to donuts the pilot was playing with it.<<
Bingo.
“That was caused by multi point corrosion.”
AND a stuck outflow valve, that over pressurized the plane.
“You never chamber a round until you are ready to use the weapon.”
Wrong!
You never put your finger on the trigger, until you are ready to use the weapon.
All federal officers, and I, when I was in the Air Force; carried with a round in the chamber or else a fully loaded revolver.
It takes TWO hands two chamber a round, a pilot may need one hand to fend off a close assault or box cutter.
Please cite a single real event where a Glock discharged a round without the trigger being depressed.
I believe pilots are all supposed to carry H&K USP’s.
It was an Airbus.
I think it was the pilot, not a LEO.
It was a pilot who was ALSO a LEO.
I hate it when my weapon discharges prematurely. Leads to a lot of embarrassment.
It’s expiteful, it’s expicious, it’s explovely!!!!
have you seen an update to this story with more info?
Bond: Who are you?
Pussy Galore: My name is Pussy Galore.
Bond: I must be dreaming.
3.5# is standard on the model 34 and 35 target pistols.
6# is standard on the rest of the line, with an optional 8# disconnector that can be installed by a Glock armorer or any competent gunsmith. The New York City Police Department wanted a 12 pound trigger, so Glock made one since they issue about 40,000 handguns.
Keep in mind that the Glock trigger, even at 12 pounds, is a short trigger pull and if the trigger is pushed backwards, the pistol will fire. This is where they got a reputation for being “unsafe.” People who are not knowledgable in safe firearms handling buy Glocks because they are popular, and they put their fingers on the trigger, and . . .
If the shooter handles it properly, it is an excellent gun.
Thanks, Sig!
3 rules of Glock safety:
1. keep your finger off the trigger
2. keep your f'in finger off the trigger
3. keep your f'in finger off the f'in trigger
If you can't remember to keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot at a designated target, the trigger is not the problem - the safety between your ears is failure-prone.
I love the Glock design; it is simple, elegant, and effective. That being said, I would be extra careful with kids in the house...YMMV ;)
I have heard anecdotal evidence of someone grabbing for a falling Glock and catching it by the trigger - but again that shows a basic unfamiliarity with the design as the drop safety is highly effective.
Indeed, a Federal Flight Deck Officer, just as the story indicates.
They have to take a full week of training, and are deputized and sworn in as federal officers. From theTSA FFDO site:
FFDOs are considered Federal law enforcement officers only for the limited purposes of carrying firearms and using force, including lethal force, to defend the flight deck of an aircraft from air piracy or criminal violence.
FFDOs are not granted or authorized to exercise other law enforcement powers such as the power to make arrests, or seek or execute warrants for arrest, or seizure of evidence, or to otherwise act as Federal law enforcement outside the jurisdiction of aircraft flight decks. FFDOs are issued credentials to appropriately identify themselves to law enforcement and security personnel, as required in the furtherance of their mission.
FFDOs are issued firearms and other necessary equipment by TSA.
FFDOs are responsible for the readiness and daily security of their firearms, credentials and equipment.
FFDOs are authorized to transport secured firearms in any state for a flight on which they are flying to or from as approved by TSA as necessary for their participation and activities in the program.
So, was TSA deficient in training them, or was the pistol that they issued defective?
I seem to remember reading that the FDDOs don't have them holstered, but rather "stowed" in a manner to allow quick access. It it went off, he was messing with it.
Of course that's been known to happen. Back in the very bad old days, Minuteman, and other missile crews, had revolvers that they would strap on at beginning of each "shift" and would not take them off until they were relieved by the next crew.
Of course once the obligatory checks, test and diagnostics are run, it gets boring down in that hole. Several instances of games of "quick draw" were known to have occurred. Until somebody couldn't keep their finger out of the trigger guard of the DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER, and shot themselves (in the foot IIRC). Henceforth, the pistols were only to be unlocked and strapped on when going to a higher state of alert/DEFCON. ( There was a whole security team "up top" to protect the crew and the Launch Control Facility (LCF) anyway).
Even the SACumsized, steely eyed missile men (each pair directly controlling 10 ICBMs and either 10 or 30 nuclear warhead, and indirectly controlling 40 other bird) have been known to do dumb things... ;(
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