AvTalk Episode 240: First officer threatens to shoot captain over medical diversion

On this episode of AvTalk, we’re flabbergasted to learn about the events aboard a Delta flight last August as the first officer threatened to shoot the captain if they diverted the flight due to an onboard medical emergency. Elsewhere, the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger trial is underway in Boston, Southwest might flight to the other Dallas airport a few years from now, and Lufthansa might need to start lifting weights.

First officer threatens to shoot captain

According to an indictment issued this week in Salt Lake City, a first officer on a Delta flight last August threatened to shoot the captain if they diverted the flight due to an onboard medical emergency. The first officer was part of a program that deputizes flight crews and allows them to carry a gun onboard, so this was not an idle threat. We walk through the sequence of events laid out by the government and discuss if the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program has outlived its usefulness.

JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger trial begins

The trial over the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger began this week in Boston, pitting the two airlines against the US Department of Justice, which is arguing the merger should be blocked on competition grounds.

SAS, Sky Team, and a lucrative joint venture

Brett Snyder at Crankyflier published an excellent piece detailing the wisdom of SAS’ move to Sky Team with the real money in joining the AF-KLM, Delta, Virgin Atlantic transatlantic joint venture.

Spirit Aerosystems loses $204M in the third quarter

A major supplier of fuselages and other components to Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems lost $204 million in the third quarter, largely in part due to quality issues and rework necessary on a large number of aircraft.

Southwest orders more MAX and might go to DFW

Southwest Airlines order an additional 108 737-7 MAX aircraft this week, bringing its total 737 order book over 500 aircraft. And the airline also said that by 2025 it could be operating flights out of DFW.

Lufthansa is trying to make weight

Lufthansa may need to install a counterweight in the rear of its 747s after installing its new Allegris cabin, thanks to the weight of the business class seats. The airline may also need to forgo installing the new seats on the upper deck of the 747 because of the cabin width.

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Click here for a transcript of this episode.